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The 1995 Kyoto Prize
1995
11 /11 Sat
Place：Kyoto International Conference Center
The 1995 Kyoto Prize Kyoto Prize Laureates
Lecture topics
My Life Working with Liquid Crystals—and How They Work for Us
Abstract of the lecture
The initial feelings of pleasure and pride experienced on learning of the Award of the 1995 Kyoto Prize Laureate in Advanced Technology are described, coupled quite naturally with some personal doubts about the recipient's worthiness of the high honour, stemming from his recognition of his own human fallibility. There follows an analysis of why he and not some other member of the audience is this year's Laureate, and the conclusion reached is that while much depended upon his particular knowledge, education and training, strongly influenced in the early stages by his father, a very important part was played by chance factors related to particular personalities, encounters and events, and in relation to his research in display technology to the fortunate coincidence in timing in relation to two important inventions, his own and one other. Although not a technical lecture, a description of a scientist's career and attainments cannot be given without the injection of some science, and the importance of scientists making real efforts to communicate their science to non-scientists is discussed. The great importance of communication and education in breaking down barriers between scientists and non-scientists, between rich and poor, cannot be overstressed. Using simple terms and analogies therefore, a brief description of liquid crystals is given and the reasons for their importance are described in terms of their elegant duality of property D order coupled with fluidity. In particular, unique optical properties of Nematic liquid crystals are demonstrated. The timely, almost coincident discovery of (1) the Twisted Nematic Device and (2) the first, stable, room temperature liquid crystals is described, emphasising that the materials' discovery was based on sound knowledge established during earlier fundamental research D basic research of the kind we must be careful to foster. Full exploitation of the materials of course relied on collaborative interactions with other groups. The overall effect was the provision of a secure basis for the now highly wealth D creating Liquid Crystal Electro-optical Display Industry. Because of its effect upon the whole field of information technology and society, this aspect of the recipient's work will always be the best known, but there were other important outcomes stemming from over 40 years of his research, resulting overall in international recognition and the affectionate title of "Father of Liquid Crystals". After giving some criteria required for success by the young people of today, the address ends with further acknowledgement of Mr. Inamori's vision and philosophy in creating the Kyoto Laureates and providing for the speaker the most outstanding and memorable occasion of his career.
Lecture topics
Astrophysics and I—Motivations, Methods, and the Outline of My Research—
Abstract of the lecture
Theoretical research in astrophysics has been a major part of my life. On this occasion, I would like to recall my past days and talk about what made me choose astrophysics as my field of study, what research subjects I selected, what method I used in my researches, and what results I obtained. My research method has been consistent: I applied fundamental physical laws to clarifying evolutionary processes of the universe and various heavenly bodies. There are two types of fundamental physical laws: "micro-laws", such as the laws of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics; and "macro-laws", such as Newton's theory of gravity and the general theory of relativity. Evolutionary processes occurring within a heavenly body (microprocesses) and those in the entire body (macroprocesses) influence each other tremendously. To explore stellar evolutionary processes, I pursued changes over time in both macro and microprocesses. My research themes can be roughly classified into the following three: the synthesis of elements in the early phase of the Big Bang universe; the internal structure of red giant stars, as well as stellar evolution induced by nuclear fusion; and the origin of the solar system, namely, how earth and other planets were born. Regarding these three themes, I will briefly explain researches conducted prior to my own, and then my own research results. I will begin my presentation with this question: in element synthesis processes during the early phase of the universe, what quantity of protons and neutrons combined to form helium, and what quantity of protons remained in the form of hydrogen. (During the initial high-temperature period of the universe, there were protons and neutrons.) Next, I will describe the structure of red giant stars. Their temperature and density distributions differ greatly from those of the sun. Then, I would like to proceed to two topics of stellar evolution. One is the evolutionary stages at which heavy elements were synthesized sequentially in the cores of stars, and the other is the evolution of primordial stars prior to the commencement of nuclear fusion reactions. Finally, I would like to outline the formation of the solar system. This process comprises multiple stages. In the primordial solar nebula, the separation of dust from gas first occurred. The dust then accreted to form many planetesimals. Some of these planetesimals accreted further, growing into solid planets.
Lecture topics
A Review of My Work Since 1961
Abstract of the lecture
In this slide presentation I hope to point out some of the progression of ideas in my work and show how one thing led to another, if one thing did, indeed, lead to another. Also I'd like to tell you of some of the meanings I intend to convey. This presentation starts with drawings of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse done in 1958. The reason I'm showing these drawings rather than a painting is because the paintings I did in this style no longer exist. Next is the first Pop painting I did in 1961 called "Look Mickey", and I'd like to discuss some of my reasons and aims for referring to cartoons as the subjects for my work, as well as the simplification of my colors and the use various dotting (pointillism) techniques. I would then like to show a group of paintings of single objects that I did around 1964, specifically "Turkey", "Golf Ball" and "Composition"; a number of paintings which I did starting in 1963, in which I took works by various famous modern masters like Picasso and used them as my subjects; and then a series of Brushstroke Paintings that I started in 1965. Following that I'd like to introduce a series showing the relationship between my geometric painting of the seventies and minimal art, examples of paintings with the subjects taken from Matisse, as well as my own past works, surrealistic paintings done during the latter half of the seventies, and paintings done in the French trope l'oeil style. After discussing the techniques I took from the cubism, futurism and expressionism schools, I'd like to end up by talking about my interior series of the nineties and my most recent works. From the more than 50 slides spanning the years from the 1960s to the present and the explanation of the meanings I have tried to convey, I hope that you have gained an understanding of the transition of ideas in my work and the association of each individual painting.
