Japan is number one. This was a worldwide topic in 1979. Japan’s scientific strength was catching up with that of Europe and the United States. In 2001, Japan proposed the “Basic Science and Technology Plan”, aiming to win 30 Nobel Prizes within 50 years. At that time, everyone was very worried about China. , People without self-confidence say: Japan in decline is stronger than China. However, now that the situation has changed, do you know where Japan’s problems lie?
Japan’s new rocket H3 almost made it to space. AP pictures
As of 2022, Japan has won 28 Nobel Prize winners. Since Hideki Yukawa won the Nobel Prize in Physics for Japan for the first time in 1949, Japan has only won five Nobel Prizes in the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, and medicine) for 50 years, which is one prize in 10 years. However, starting with Hideki Shirakawa winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000, Japan ushered in an upsurge, setting a record of winning a Nobel Prize for 19 consecutive years.
In 2019, Japan became a “Nobel Prize-mass-producing country.” The Nikkei News stated: “(After 2001) the number of Nobel Prizes won by the Japanese is still far behind that of the United States, but it exceeds that of Britain and France. Germany and other countries rank second in the world, showing the profound strength of Japan.” Amid the sound of “Japanese science is so powerful”, China’s figure slowly rose from the world. It was the Japanese cabinet members who first discovered this phenomenon.
At the commemoration meeting for the 45th anniversary of Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations in 2018, the former Minister of Education and Culture, Arima Hitoshi, pointed out in his speech: “Now the number of natural science papers in China is second only to the United States, ranking second in the world, while Japan’s status is constantly declining. .Japan jumped to second place in 1998, and the Japanese were very happy at that time, but now it has been surpassed by China.”
Japan’s 2020 Nobel Prize list is very different from Akira Yoshino’s winning the Chemistry Prize for Japan in 2019 and maintaining the grand occasion of winning one Nobel Prize every year. The Japanese media’s interest in discussing the Nobel Prize has begun to decrease. There is no magic secret in the level of scientific and technological research and development. It is roughly proportional to economic growth. After World War II, Japan created an economic miracle in the 1960s, and achieved a harvest of scientific and technological achievements after 40 years.
“Nikkei Shimbun”‘s latest report titled “Japan’s “Nobel Prize Talent” Reduction” said: “The ranking of the number of scientific papers published by the Institute of Science, Technology and Academic Policy of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology shows that Japan was second only to the 1995-1997 The United States ranks second in the world, but has dropped to fifth in recent years. On the one hand, China has risen from eleventh to second. With China and the United States as the center, many countries are vigorously carrying out scientific research to promote technological innovation. Against this backdrop, growth in R&D investment by the Japanese government, which faces financial difficulties and population decline, has slowed.”
What’s the point? “Nikkei” quoted the analysis of Japanese academics: “Japan’s national universities were legalized in 2004. The operating funds allocated by the Japanese government to the universities were reduced by 1% every year, and the university’s discretion was increased to promote competition, but the research capabilities declined.” It is understood. , the results of the Nobel Prize in Science are mostly obtained by researchers between the ages of 25 and 45. At present, Japanese universities and research institutions mostly adopt a tenure-term employment system for young researchers aged 20 to 39. “In order to pursue short-term results, it is difficult to challenge bold ideas, or to carry out basic research in a down-to-earth manner. At the same time, the number of doctoral students has also declined after reaching a peak in 2003, and Japan’s scientific strength is declining. “
Fu Gaoyi’s Japan As Number One, eloquently stated the key to Japan’s success in the 1970s, such as Japan’s “national governance” is first-class, government officials have received strict training, and senior officials form a sound and reasonable system; It is said that Japan adopts a lifetime employment system, which emphasizes group spirit and encourages individuals; Japan also has excellent education, and most families pay attention to education. In addition to receiving general education at school, they have to take tutoring after school. …
I didn’t say that Japan is bad, nor would I feel elated because China has been catching up in recent years. However, there are two lessons: the successful models of other countries can be used as a reference, and there is no need to envy or even copy them entirely; If you talk too much, it becomes a “myth”.
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