Professor Konosuke Fukai: a great scientist and excellent diplomat

Abstract

Everyone who contacted Professor Konosuke Fukai, a scientist renowned as an innovator and virologist, was impressed by his unique character with humanitarian and unselfish attitude. He helped developing countries enormously to improve their public health by introducing the newest knowledge and techniques especially in vaccine production. He supported many young scientists throughout the world in their study of basic research resulting in improvement of research ability in their countries. Though it is almost 10 years since Professor Konosuke Fukai passed away in 1998 at the age of 78, we can easily remember him not because he was taller than the average Japanese but because of his distinguished achievements in fields ranging from basic research to public health. He was a pioneer in the field of virology in Japan that got going after the Second World War. In addition, impelled by his humanism, he applied his techniques and experiences to the promotion of medical research and public health in many developing countries. It is, therefore, not too much to say that he was not merely a great scientist but an excellent diplomat with scientific knowledge.