PORTRAIT | LIFE |
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The following article is a quotation from page 2 of Mathematica Japonica, Vol. 40, No. 1, Whole number 166.
A sketch of the life of Dr. Shimizu
In 1897, born in Tokyo. In 1924, graduated from the Department of
Mathematics, School of Science, Tokyo Imperial University and continued his work
at the same department as a staff member.
He opened a new way to the generalization of Nevanlinna's theory in
meromorphic functions and established the famous theorem in the theory of
meromorphic functions, called Shimizu-Ahlfors theorem later on. In addition,
with the idea of function group, he attained a profound result on the
construction of Riemann surface of meromorphic functions.
In 1932, he became professor of Osaka Imperial Univeristy and
contributed to the establishment of the Department of Mathematics in the School of
Science. At this stage, he became interested in the field of applied mathematics
based upon his pure mathematical potentialities, especially in mathematical
methods in science and technology, non-linear oscillations, existence conditions
of limit cycles, numerical analysis, artificial intelligence, and computation
machines and devices.
On the other hand, he recognized the importance of publishing a new
mathematical journal to put on qualified papers of pure and applied mathematics
in general, when the publication of mathematical papers was so difficult,
besides the journal of mathematical society of Japan. Actually, he started
the publication of the journal "Mathematica Japonicae" using his own fund in 1948.
In 1949, he left Osaka University and became professor of Kobe
University. Around this time, he became interested in operations research and
mathematics in management sciences, and also probability theory and mathematical statistics.
In 1951, he moved again to professor of mathematical sciences of
University of Osaka Prefecture and continued the publication of Mathematica
Japonicae. On the other hand he continued his work on the artificial
intelligence, especially solving arithmetic problems via electronic computer.
Also, he continued his research work on the nonlinear oscillations.
In 1961, he became professor of Science University of Tokyo. There,
he continued his effort of research work in applied analysis, especially in
nonlinear oscillations, pursuit of solutions of ordinary differential equations,
and the pursuit of numerical solutions.
Every time, he talked at the meeting of Mathematical Society of
Japan, until 90 years of his age.
In between this period, Japanese Association of Mathematical Sciences
was established and "Mathematica Japonica" became published by this Association.
Now, Mathematica Japonica became an international journal of mathematical
sciences in its broader sense, circulating in the world, with international
advisors and referees. Such a development of Mathematica Japonica is due to
the freedom and borderless idea of mathematics of Dr. Shimizu.
He passed away in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, on November 8, 1992,
with the age 95.
June 30, 1994
Hiroshi Sugiyama
Professor Emeritus
Osaka University
Update: Jan. 17, 2000
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