Hideki Yukawa (1907-1981) was a Japanese theoretical physicist and the first Japanese Nobel Laureate for his theory of mesons, which explained the interaction between protons and neutrons and was a major influence on research into elementary particles, the smallest and most basic constitutes of matter.
Yukawa initially published his research article in 1935, while Japan was in the midst of one of its darkest periods. Being aware that Japan was not in a favorable surrounding for scientific research between pre- and post-war periods, he continued his study in Japan. He was offered a Visiting Professor position at Princeton University in 1948, and at Columbia University in 1949. That same year, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his prediction of meson proven by another scientist’s team lead by Cecil Frank Powell, which discovered the existence of pi-meson in 1947.
His phrase, 「一日生きることは、一歩進むことでありたい 」(いちにちいきることは、いっぽすすむすことでありたい；pronounced tsuitachi ikiru koto ha, ippo susumu koto de aritai) means, “To live fully each day is to take one step at a time.” The saying reflects Yukawa’s determination to overcome obstacles and persevere in his daily life as a scientist even though he was in a disadvantageous research environment.
In the midst of COVID-19, may we all remember that we can still make progress despite challenging and restricting circumstances. Let us be hopeful that, today, we will do better than the days before and congratulate ourselves even if our progress is small.
—by Ukita-sensei