Prof. Yoshitaka Kimura received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from Japanese Government

December 14, 2016

Dr. Yoshitaka Kimura, Professor Emeritus of KEK
In the fall of 2016, Dr. Yoshitaka Kimura, Professor Emeritus of KEK, received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, from Japanese Government for his long term contribution in the field of education and research activities.

In 1966, he received a Ph.D. at University of Tokyo, and started his career as Research Associate, School of Science, at University of Tokyo. From 1967 to 1968, he developed experimental facilities for nuclear physics using cryogenics and superconductive technologies as Lecturer, School of Engineering. During 1970 and 1971, Dr. Kimura was engaged in the high energy physics experiments with Proton Synchrotron at CERN.

When National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (KEK), the predecessor of High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), was established in 1971, he came to KEK as Associate Professor. Then he joined design and construction of KEK's 12 GeV Proton Synchrotron (KEK-PS). Above all in the machine design, construction of beam transport system, and beam development studies, he played leading role and led KEK-PS to success.

After that, Dr. Kimura contrived the TRISTAN Project and took the initiative in design, construction and operations as one of the responsible person for accelerator research in KEK. Thanks to his contribution, TRISTAN has realized the world highest performance as electron-positron collider at that time. He became deputy director of KEK in 1994, and made his effort for management of laboratory, promote research and development many projects represented by the B-factory project and the long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment project.

In 1997, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) was established and Dr. Kimura appointed to Director of Institute of Materials Structure Science (IMSS). He took leadership for formulating IMSS's guideline on research activities and management. In addition, he promoted many research projects, for example upgrading Photon Factory, neutron and meson experimental facilities, and construction of J-PARC in cooperation with JAEA.

He had also done many duties as member of Management Council of KEK, Council for Science and Technology, Management Council of Center for National University Finance, Management Council of SOKENDAI. Needless to say, he fostered many distinguished young researchers as Dean of the School of Mathematical and Physical Science, SOKENDAI.

The research achievements of Dr. Kimura have been awarded with the Inoue Prize for Science, the Encouragement Prize by Foundation for High Energy Accelerator Science, as well as the APS Fellowship by American Physical Society.

"I have been very happy because I was able to work on many research activities with Dr. Tetsuji Nishikawa, who led the Japanese high energy physics, from the pioneer days of this research field. The most of my achievements are thanks to KEK, therefore I think this decoration was awarded not for me but for KEK." he looks back on his past life as a scientist. At the same time, he encourages young researchers and students with this message "In every research field, making a discovery becomes more difficult when it transited from early phase to mature phase. On the other hand, the recent situation surrounding researchers had improved thanks to establishment of research organizations and large scale research facilities. That is, you are ready to engage in the research activities to realize your distinguished idea. I hope you try new research bravely and gain fruitful results"

Thanks to Dr. Kimura, KEK has grown up one of the world's leading accelerator science laboratories. KEK progress the endeavor more and more in the field of accelerator science and related research fields.

Related web sites
Japanese Cabinet Office Decorations and Medals in Japan
KEK-PS
From TRISTAN to B-Factory（IPAC'10 special lectures）