Birth of Chemical Journals in Japan2006/03/27: No.2; Extensive Development of Chemistry in JapanAlthough the journals published by the Chemical Society of Japan included the "Chemical Record" under the cooperation of eight societies and corporations related to chemistry in 2001, the environment surrounding the chemical society became rapidly severe due to the end of bubble economy. In particular, the "Journal of the Chemical Society of Japan" was unable to survive due to a decrease in the number of contributions, and in March 2002 it had no choice but to cease publication. One possible reason may be an increase in the contribution of papers to English edition journals as the level of research in Japan approached that of Europe and the USA. However, the main reason may be that without contributing papers to foreign journals that yielded a greater influence, the acquirement of research funds was difficult and research results were not considered as a factor for promotion. However, presenting research results in the Japanese language is still considered to be relevant. Examples of the original papers presented by Dr. Kenichi Fukui, which were printed in the Journal of the Chemical Society of Japan and the Journal of the Society of Industrial Chemistry, can be still be found today. A well-known example is the "Aspects of Reactions of Carbenes and Their Complexes," which was featured in the Journal of the Chemical Society of Japan Vol.87 (1966), p1261, and written by my well-respected teacher Professor Hitoshi Nozaki jointly with Professor Ryoji Noyori. This research led to the discovery of asymmetric synthesis, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2001. I was a student at that time and I often used to think to myself "I hope I will be able to achieve such great things as that one day." Carbene metal complex was later proven to be a key catalyst of olefin metathesis, and it received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in December 2005. I feel that it is very important to recognize the foresight of researchers in Japan. I was fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to write several comprehensive and original papers in 1992 and 2000 in the journal. In this way, I am aware of how the times have changed. It cannot be disputed that the results of advanced research that was conducted in earnest by the distinguished predecessors of the chemical society in Japan have not received due recognition and appraisal from researchers throughout world due to the disadvantages of differences in language and geography. All those involved in the Chemical Society of Japan have considerable expectations on this occasion for the realization of the archiving of such information through the efforts of the JST. We hope that the fruits of chemical research in Japan that have been accumulated up to now will be duly evaluated, and as a result the findings of chemical research in Japan will be able to lead the world forward in the field of science.
- Tamejiro Hiyama: Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University |
