著者
金 凡性
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.232, pp.211-220, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)

In this paper, I describe the process through which Japanese seismology tried to contribute to the development of a new technology, seismic exploration, in the interwar period. Even though the former authority enjoyed by Japanese seismology had been in decline since the early 1920s, the skill of the scientists who had devised seismographs and analyzed seismograms could be applied to the new technology. Seismic exploration, i. e., prospecting for oil using artificial seismic waves, was welcomed as a new way of contributing to Japan's quest for petroleum. On the other hand, some civil engineers who worked for the National Railway adapted this new promising technology for their own purpose, which further disseminated the application of the earthquake science. Because of the cooperation of scientists and engineers, seismic exploration in Japan developed, by the mid 1930s, to the extent that it was recognized as a military science. However, the conflict as to the purpose, leadership, and identity of seismic exploration had been born in the process, which disturbed the unification of the practitioners.

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.232, pp.247, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)
著者
高橋 幸紀 杉山 滋郎
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.231, pp.138-149, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)

This paper deals with a string of gravity measurements conducted by TANAKADATE Aikitu(1856-1952), one of the first graduates from the College of Science, University of Tokyo. These measurements were conducted with no substantial help from the Western scholars in the 1880s, when approximately only a decade had elapsed since the beginning of full introduction of Western sciences into Japan, and only a couple of years had passed since Tanakadate's graduation from the college. The aim of the measurements, the hypothesis considered prior to each measurement, and the manner of dealing with the data acquired are clarified to the maximum possible extent by careful examination of the existing documents. Some common features are found in their studies when compared with those conducted by the Western researchers at the same period. Tanakadate and other Japanese scientists, who worked with him, aimed at confirming their hypothesis that the gravity anomaly around the Japan islands should be positive. The gravity anomaly at Bonin island, in particular, was known to be the largest in the world and a geodesic or geophysical explanation for this was expected. When Tanakadate became aware of the anomaly, he considered that it could be caused by 'some failure in measurements', which led him to attempt a second measurement of the gravity at the same point. On the other hand, scholars in Europe had already acknowledged that gravity anomalies on isolated islands were generally larger than those observed on the continents and along the coasts, and no longer raised any doubt regarding the reliability of the data provided on isolated islands. They subsequently tried to determine the geophysical cause of the large anomalies and attempted to invent a suitable method for reducing the data, while Tanakadate and other Japanese researchers never applied the necessary reduction techniques to the data they had obtained.
著者
額賀 淑郎
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.231, pp.150-160, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)

This paper analyzes the development and use of visual tools known as "family trees" that allow medical practitioners to see hereditary family diseases. Family trees, consisting of family names and a tree diagram on personal traits, became popular among neurologists during the late 19th century. However, social scientists have devoted only scant attention to the historical and social processes through which, before the rediscovery of Mendelian laws, medical practitioners came to use family trees as scientific devices for nosographical classification of hereditary diseases, such as hereditary chorea(one of the initial terms used to describe Huntington's disease). The purpose of this paper is to trace the complex processes by which family histories, namely the descriptive nosography of family members, and family trees became distinct during the late 19th century. This paper argues that family trees of hereditary chorea became an important clinical tool, with the establishment of teaching hospitals, although, in the case of hereditary chorea, family trees were used to support different interpretations of the notion of heredity. The use of family trees was made possible by three conditions including the centralization of medical care, the standardization of medical records, and the circulation of medical information among medical practitioners.

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.231, pp.186-189, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.229, pp.57-62, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)
著者
田中 明恵 杉山 滋郎
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.230, pp.65-73, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)

Juichi Obata (1888-1947) was a member of the Electrotechnical Laboratory for approximately ten years, since he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1910. Since 1922, he was with the Aeronautical Research Institute, till the end of WWII. In the history of science, so far Obata has been recognized as a scientist of acoustics. However, we have unveiled another aspect of his study which has not been mentioned in the history of science until now, that is "the measuring of minute vibrations by the electric method. " This paper clarified the following two points : 1) In the early stages of Obata's membership at the Aeronautical Research Institute, before he began his research on sound, he developed an interest in the methods of measuring minute vibrations. He conducted several measurements of minute vibrations by improving the meter that measures minute vibration by the electric method (=using the electronic circuit containing vacuum tube). 2) Thereafter, Obata adopted the approach of exploring "an objective state (vibrating state) through sound, " by paying attention to the correspondence relation between minute vibrations (object), measured using the method of measuring minute vibrations and the sound emitted by the vibrations.
著者
高橋 浩 赤羽 明 所澤 潤 玉置 豊美 森下 貴司 滝沢 俊治
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.230, pp.74-82, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)
被引用文献数
1

In Japan, education in modern Western science started with the Meiji era (1868-1912). Midway through the Meiji era, a change occurred in the science curriculum in Japan. During the early Meiji years, individual subjects, such as physics and chemistry, had been taught in elementary schools. However, a new and comprehensive subject, termed "rika " in Japanese, was then instituted. So far, evaluations of this change have been carried out from mainly a national perspective, based on analyses of educational statutes enacted by the Japanese government and the contents of the widely used textbooks of those days. For a deeper understanding of the significance of the change, however, it is essential to examine it at the level of prefecture, or district, and individual elementary school, as well. We report on the process of this change in science education in Gunma Prefecture. We draw on sources from the archives of Gunma Prefecture and also examine the teaching materials (tests and text books) actually used at the elementary schools of Gunma Prefecture in those days in order to paint a detailed picture of the change. The change in science education in Gunma Prefecture was accomplished considerably later than its official announcement in national statutes. The Normal School of Gunma Prefecture had an overwhelming influence on education in Gunma Prefecture in the Meiji era. Thus, we also discuss the Normal School's views on science education, based on Meiji - era archives kept in the Gunma Prefectural Archives and at Gunma University. These archives suggest that the Normal School regarded the subject physics as playing an important role in the acceptance of Western scientific thought, and that the school was critical of the new comprehensive science subject, "rika ".
著者
山崎 正勝 奥田 謙造
出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.230, pp.83-93, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)
被引用文献数
1

In March 1954 a Japanese fishing vessel, Daigo Fukuryu Mam (Lucky Dragon No.5), suffered from radiation exposure from an American nuclear test at Bikini in the South Pacific. After this incident there appeared both in the US and in Japan a nuclear policy debate that the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in general, and nuclear reactors in particular should be introduced into Japan in order to counter the communists' propaganda against American nuclear tests and anti-American movements in Japan. The Operation Coordinate Board of the US National Security Council adopted this policy very soon after the Bikini Incident. This was followed a wide range of strategic programs for Japan. Hidetoshi Shibata, then an executive of the Nippon Television Network Corporation, started his press campaign in January 1955 in the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun together with its owner Matsutaro Shoriki, later the first president of the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission, for promoting nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Shibata and Shoriki apparently were working together to fight against anti-nuke movements and anti-American activities in Japan. In May they invited John J. Hopkins, President of General Dynamics Corporation, Nobel laureate Ernest Lawrence from the University of California at Berkley, and Lawrence Hafstad, director of the division of reactor development of the American Atomic Energy Commission. Their talks in Tokyo were reported to have impressed many Japanese. This paper shows that Yomiuri Shimbun group's activities were in fact supported by the US government, and were carried out within the framework of the US foreign policy.

1 0 0 0 OA 紹介

出版者
日本科学史学会
雑誌
科学史研究 (ISSN:21887535)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, no.230, pp.115-125, 2004 (Released:2021-08-12)