Three Japanese won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2014!!!!!!!

The Christmas light by blue LED 

The winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics this year, three Japanese researcher, Mr. Isamu Akasaki of the Meijo University Professor, Mr. Hiroshi Amano of the Nagoya University Professor, Mr. Shuji Nakamura of the University of California's Professor were chosen!!!

They succeeded in the development of bule LED (light emitting diode) which emits blue light and it made the way to a variety of applications such as the realization of a large full color screen.

These three people worked on the development of the blue LED which was told that it is very difficult technically among the LED and the development is even impossible during the 20th century.

In 1986, Mr. Amano and Mr. Akasaki were focusing on gallium nitride at the time which nobody even look at and they were successful for the first time in the world for crystallization of the high quality gallium nitride to produce the blue light.

In 1993, Mr. Nakamura was successful for the first time in the world for development of extremely bright blue LED by using a device that has been developed by himself.

Now we have LED of the three primary colors - red, green and blue because of the achievement of these three Japanese people and we can make all colors by the combination.

For this reason, we have broadened the possibilities of practical application of LED in various fields such as full-color display.

This technology which emits a short wavelength blue color also leads to the development of Blu-ray disc, which can significantly increase the storage capacity and DVD. It has become a technology that is indispensable in modern society to exchange large amounts of information. 

Japanese to win the Nobel Prize, it will be 22 people in total including Mr. Yoichiro Nanbu and Mr. Nakamura ot this time has acquired American nationality and Mr. Shinya Yamanaka since the year before last.

Three people Mr. Toshihide Masukawa, Mr. Nanbu and Mr. Makoto Kobayashi, they won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008 six years ago, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics will be 10 people in total.

I can wait to see their presentation ceremony. Congratulations!!! 

Left: Mr. Shuji Nakamura, Center: Mr. Isamu Akasaki, Right: Mr. Hiroshi Amano

[STAP Cell] May Mr. Yoshiki Sasai's soul rest in Peace.

From NHK website

I think people already know that Mr. Yoshiki Sasai commits suicide at RIKEN on Aug 05 2014. So I don't have to say much about it. 

He left 3 notes for CDB's executives, the member of lab and Ms. Obogata. He said on his note to Ms. Obogata, "please reproduce the STAP cells". 

I don't know what is happening in RIKEN. Why did he have to...? The only way to solve this mess problem is to "reproduce the STAP cells". Ms. Obogata has to do it but I think she is having a major depression right now. 

People around Ms. Obogata have to take care of her very very gently. I hope she can recover from this very very sad situation...

May his soul rest in Peace.


Thank you.

"Abeno Harukas", the tallest building in Japan

Japan's tallest building "Abeno Harukas" is in Osaka, Japan. This building is made by Kintetsu Corporation (近畿日本鉄道株式会社 Kinki Nippon Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha), named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as Kintetsu (近鉄).

They broke old buildings and made this Abeno Harukas in March 2014. Originally they had planned to height of 270 m because of the limit of the aviation law in 2006. But the limit is no longer due to the revision of the aviation law in spring 2007. Kintetsu announced the revised plan to rebuild the skycraper of 300 m in height and the total project cost is about 130 billion yen.

There are the shopping mall inside and outside of the building.

This is from the official website.

You can buy a ticket for the observation deck on the second floor of the building. The cost was 1,500 yen for an adult.

It took about 45 seconds to go up to 300 m by the latest elevator.

And you can see the very nice view of Osaka city from this tallest building.

Approximately 2,670,000 people lives in Osaka city.

There was a hanging garden inside the building. That feels good!

There were so many nice restaurants just below the observation deck.
"Miso ramen (noodle soup) was sooo good!

Next time, I want to go there at night time. It must be so nice! Tokyo is the biggest city. Osaka is the third largest city by population in Japan. There are a lot of remarkable places in Osaka. Like this Abeno Harukas, Universal Studio Japan, Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle, etc. If you have a chance to go to Japan, please go to Osaka to get nice atmosphere.

Thank you!

TOYOTA announced they will start to sell FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) in 2015

This picture is from TOYOTA's website

TOYOTA announced today for FCV in Japan. 

This picture is from TOYOTA's website

The car will launch in Japan before April 2015, and preparations are underway for launches in the U.S. and European markets in the summer of 2015. After one year later from today. The price will be around 7,000,000 yen (about 68,800 USD).

This picture is from TOYOTA's website
Executive Vice-President of TOYOTA: Mr. Mitsuhisa Kato

"After the 20th century, we want to consume large amounts of fossil fuel because of increase of motor vehicles by the global development of industry and technology. But air pollution is increasing and we have anxiety about the future of oil, increased emissions of CO2 (global warming). The global crude supply is increasing yearly.

And the traffic demand growth along with the growth of the economy, the environmental issues will continue to get more acute by rapid population growth."

So, TOYOTA is making eco-friendly car like Prius (HV) and trying to use a next generation energy which makes a sustainable mobility society. Their Hybrid technology can apply to EV, PHV and this FCV. 

They are thinking the electricity and hydrogen will be a good energy for the sustainable mobility society in the future.

"Hydrogen has higher energy density than electricity, can be produced using sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power, and is easily stored, making it an important fuel source for the future. That’s why Toyota has positioned fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), which are fueled by hydrogen, as promising eco-cars for the future. 

It is a vehicle equipped with a “Fuel Cell” that generates electricity through the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to power the motor driving the vehicle. Hydrogen, which replaces gasoline as fuel, is an environment-friendly energy source that can be produced from various raw materials.
Toyota has also made use of hybrid vehicle core technology in the development of this vehicle."

"We believe hydrogen will be a leading energy source in the future." 

Hydrogen has been used for over 200 years for gas lamps at urban areas, utility gas in homes, fertilizer and oil refining in manufacturing and as an automotive fuel. TOYOTA has started to make FCV since 1992.

The high cruising range (700 km) is less than Prius because normally I can drive about 860 km by my Prius. 

2014/6/26. It is about 21.28 km/l

But how much is hydrogen? If hydrogen is cheaper than gasoline, FCV is considered of value. Still there are some problems but the CO2 emissions during driving is zero. FCVs are ideal eco-cars. They decided to make FCVs so the goverments will support the infrastructure development. It should be OK.

I hope I can see and try to drive this FCV in 2015.

Thank you!

[STAP Cell] Ms.Obogata agreed to dismiss the papers

There are 2 papers regarding STAP cell from Ms. Obogata's team, "Letter" and "Article". And they decided to dissmiss "Letter" today.

A professor of Harvard University, Dr. Charls Vacanti is opposed to dismiss the paper until now. But he said to Ms. Obogata, "To dismiss the paper also whether it is another way." 

Their lawyer, Mr. Miki Hideo said, "She lost her mental stability. She can not have precise understanding of this situation right now. She decided to dismiss the papers because she had no other choice." 

But she still has a belief in the existence of STAP cell. She said, "Even if we dismiss the paper, the fact is not going away." She hopes to join the verification experiment of STAP cells by RIKEN. "There is no choice but to respond in order to join the experiment."

The papers will be the blank sheet of papers. But her challenge is not over yet. I am still hoping the existence of STAP cell too.

Thank you!

I had a chance to touch Panasonic Toughpad 4K at Panasonic Canada Inc.

I went to Panasonic Canada Inc the other day and had a chance to touch Toughpad 4K. It was about 1cm thick and not so heavy than I thought (2.4kg). It was very nice handleability like iPad. 

 I wanted try to use the Anoto's digital pen but I didn't have a chance. But you can see this video. It seems the writing pressure is very good.

You can buy Toughpad 4K now but you can not buy this at an electrical appliance store. If you want it, you have to ask closest Panasonic directly. I believe they are making Touchpad 4K in Japan. 

Now Panasonic is active in the area of school business and surveillance. They are thinking that they want to bring a solution to those kinds of areas by using their products.

Teleclass system
"Anything is possible if approached with conviction."- Konosuke Matsushita

Surveillance system

"The 'untrapped mind' is open enough to see many possibilities." - Konosuke Matsushita

Panasonic ran in the red (about - 5,750 million dollar) in 2012 but they are out of the red in 2013 (about 2,240 million dollar). Their stock price rose too. It was 400 yen in November 2012 but it is 1,206 yen in February 2014.

Their performance is well for now. However, they subjected to structural reform boldly. If they don't create a hit product and a pillar of business, it might be painful. I hope Thoughpad 4k will be the hit product and the teleclass system and the surveillance system will be the pillar of business for them.

Konosuke Matsushita is the founder of Panasonic. He left so many great phrases and words. I think Panasonic can keep the business running with his philosophy. I want to introduce their new products and Konosuke Matsushita's book on this blog in the near future. 

Thank you.

[STAP Cell] Ms.Obogata's apology and objection

(Former article: >[STAP Cell] Does it really exist????)

Ms. Obogata appeared in front of journalists to against the result of the board of investigation in RIKEN.  

First of all, she apologized about her paper. "I deeply apologize for the inconvenience to RIKEN, my co-authors and everyone because I rise many suspicions from my carelessness, lack of industriousness, immaturity."

She bowed deeply.

She also said, she couldn't show up in front of people for a while because RIKEN didn't let her do that. But she believes STAP phenomenon is useful for someone someday so she has continued to research.

Her comments:

"From the perspective of many researchers, I think it is a huge mistake but it does not affect the conclusions of the research results of the paper by this mistake. The experiments surely have been conducted and the data is also present. I would like you to understand that I never finished the paper maliciously."

She gave way to tears.

"If I had presented a chart correctly in the first place, there is no need for investigation committee. I would like to thank and apologize sincerely to the investigation committee members for taking the time."

 "However, the result of the investigation, it have been determined to be illegal without a good understanding of the facts. If I get a enough opportunity for the excuse and description, you shall be able to understand the background of mistake. That is why I am here today with my lawyer."

"STAP phenomenon is the truth that has been confirmed many times." 

She said, she made STAP cell over 200 times.

There were 2 unjustified things from RIKEN's investigation.

3. One of the photo of gene analysis is cut-and-paste? >> Unjustified: falsification
6. Did Ms. Obogata divert the photo from her doctor's thesis? >> Unjustified: fabricated

RIKEN defines fabrication, falsification and plagiarism as research fraud. 

Fabrication is to build up the experimental data and result.
Falsification is to change or omit the date.
Plagiarism is to divert the sentences of others without acknowledgment.

However, RIKEN has not included the honest errors as research fraud. 

Ms. Obogata said, she did the 2 things but they were the honest errors. So she can not accept the result of the investigation.

I don't know why I just want to believe her because if she really did the falsification or fabrication, she will never show up and apologize in front of people like this. She just want us to understand that there is a STAP cells.

This is not only her problem. I think RIKEN has a big responsibility. We don't know she can join a reproductive experiment. I hope we can know there is a STAP cell or not as soon as possible.

Hang on, Obogata-san!

Thank you.