Yoji Totsuka Neutrino Museum

This corner will introduce physicist Dr. Yoji Totsuka, world famous for his research in neutrino physics and an honorary citizen of Fuji City.

Early Life to University

  • Dr. Totsuka was born on March 6, 1942 in Shizuoka Prefecture's Yoshinaga Village (currently part of Fuji City) surrounded by Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay and nature's many splendors. Through high school he remained in his home town, but afterward continued his education in the Faculty of Science at the University of Tokyo and remained there for his postgraduate studies as well under doctoral advisor Dr. Masatoshi Koshiba, where Totsuka would aspire to become a physicist.

Numerous Awards in the Field of Neutrino Research

  • Over many years researching cosmic ray physics and teaching, Dr. Totsuka's historically significant achievements have greatly contributed to the evolution of the field of physics.

    Renowned as one of the world's leading scientists, he has been presented with numerous awards both at home and overseas. For this reason, he was recognized for his contributions to Fuji City's prosperity and social cultural progress in 2003 and awarded the title of honorary citizen. In 2004, he was awarded the Order of Culture as a person of notable achievements in the development of technology and fine arts.

Dr. Yoji Totsuka's Career

  • 1942 Born March 6 in Fujioka, Yoshinaga Village
    1954 Graduated from Yoshinaga Village Municipal Yoshinaga Daiichi Elementary School
    1957 Graduated from Yoshiwara City Municipal Bokusei Junior High School
    1960 Graduated from Shizuoka Prefectural Fuji Senior High School
    1972 Traveled to DESY (German Electron Synchrotron) Research Center for an extended period
    1987 Received a Doctorate in Science from the University of Tokyo
    1987 Awarded Nishina Memorial Prize [For research involving the detection of neutrinos from supernova explosions.]
    1987 Appointed Faculty of Science professor at the University of Tokyo
    1995 Awarded European Physical Society Special Prize [For establishing the existence of gluons.]
    1995 Appointed Director of Kamioka Observatory, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo
    1997 Appointed Director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo
    1999 Awarded Asahi Prize [For discovery of neutrino mass.]
    2001 Awarded Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon [For achievements in cosmic ray physics and particle physics research.]
    2002 Awarded American Physical Society Panofsky Prize [For compelling experimental evidence for neutrino oscillations using atmospheric neutrinos.]
    2002 Honored as a Person of Cultural Merit [For contributions to the development of cosmic ray astronomy.]
    2003 Named an honorary citizen of Fuji City
    2003 Appointed Director of The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization
    2004 Awarded Order of Culture [For contributions to the development of cosmic ray physics.]
    2005 Granted special emeritus status at the University of Tokyo
    2006 Appointed Director of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Center for Science Systems
    2007 Awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal [For discoveries of neutrino oscillation phenomenon and neutrino mass.]
    2008 Died July 10