as a Professor Chair of the Laboratory of Electrochemistry at the same university in 1958.
Professor Yoshizawa had devoted himself with enthusiasm to the education and the investigation of electrochemistry for more than 40 years until he retired from Kyoto University in 1983. He was one of the leading scientists in Japan to develop fundamental electrochemistry as well as to promote the electrochemical industry through the application of his work. Research work undertaken by Prof. Yoshizawa and his group covered a wide region of electrochemistry and the resulting achievements were presented in more than 350 papers in major scientific journals throughout the world.
His research interests were particularly focused on those electrolytic processes with high energy efficiency and electrochemical cells with high energy density. His early work on the rotating vertical cathode for the soda electrolyzer gave rise to a large space saving improvement in the soda electrolysis industry. On the other hand, he originated the use of fi-alumina solid electrolyte as a separator for soda electrolysis, which now draws attention as a novel type of soda electrolysis with high efficiency and quality. At the same time, as a chairman of the governmental committee on the environmental issues of the soda industry, he successfully guided the conversion of the mercury process of soda production into the diaphragm process and ion exchanging membrane process. Furthermore, Prof. Yoshizawa made great efforts to develop high grade types of electrochemical cell. His fundamental studies exerted a great influence on the battery industry in Japan to advance toward the fabrication of a variety of modem cells.
Among the many recognitions Prof. Yoshizawa received for his scientific achievements were an award for distinguished research works from the Chemical Society of Japan and a Tanahashi award for excellent papers from the Electrochemical Society of Japan. He was also noted for his service to many scientific societies. Among those, he was a National Secretary of Japan and a Vice-President of the International Society of Electrochemistry. It is particularly noted that he successfully held the 40th ISE Meeting in Kyoto in 1989 as a chairman of the organizing committee which became virtually his last service for the community.
Colleagues and friends all over the world will remember Dr Shiro Yoshizawa for his enthusiasm, many scientific initiatives and his friendship.