“The Memorial Reception” attended by more than one hundred
Following the four-day symposium, the “Memorial Reception for Prof. Shoshichi Kobayashi” was held at the Common Room, the Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Tokyo at Komaba Campus. More than one hundred people, including many mathematicians in Japan and abroad, and the family members and friends of the deceased attended.
Prof. Emeritus Takushiro Ochiai (Univ. of Tokyo) who served as Chair of the Organization Committee of the Symposium and Reception, and Dean Takashi Tsuboi (Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, Univ. of Tokyo) gave welcome speeches, followed by Prof. Shing-Tung Yau (Harvard Univ.) and Prof. Paul Vajta (Univ. of California, Berkeley) who spoke their memories of Shoshichi Kobayashi. Dr. Noboru Naito (Shinshu Univ., Nagano), who was a classmate of Shoshichi at Middle School, proposed a toast , wishing the soul may rest in peace. Then the buffet style party began.
Prof. Emeritus Gary Jensen (Washington University, St. Louis) and several others talked about their relationships with the deceased and episodes about him, and the family members delivered thanks speeches. Since the number of participants was large, they were divided into three groups for photos. The meeting adjourned at around 9:30 pm and the participants bade lingering farewell. A DVD that records Shoshichi’s lecture “Mathematics of Circles” given at Keio University and a paperback book “Classroom for Today’s Life: Thirst for Beauty” in which Shoshichi wrote a chapter on “Mathematics and Beauty” were distributed to all the participants as mementos.
The texts of all speeches are available in both English and Japanese. Please click the presenters’ names in the list below.
 MC of the First HalfProf. Kentaro Mikami (Akita University) |
 MC of the Second HalfProf. Yoshiaki Maeda (Keio University) |
 “Opening Greeting”Prof. Emeritus Takushiro Ochiai (University of Tokyo) |
 “Memory of Prof. Kobayashi”Prof. Shing-Tung Yau (Harvard University) |
 “Welcome Speech”Dean Takashi Tsuboi Mathematical Sciences (University of Tokyo) |
 “Remembrance as Book Editor” Mr. Shuji Hosoki (formerly, Shokabo Publishing Co., Ltd.) |
 Prof. Paul VojtaMathematics Deptartment (Univ. of California, California) |
 Ms. Eriko ShinozakiHigh School Math Teacher (Yokohama) |
 “Toast”Prof. Emeritus Noboru Naito (Shinshu University, Nagano) |
 “Remembering Prof. Kobayashi”Prof. Toshiki Mabuchi (Osaka University) |
 “Prof. Kobayashi and Mathematics Awareness Month”Mr. Yutaka Katase (President, SKG) |
 “Memory of Brother-in-Law”Ms. Akiko Ashizawa (Cinematograher) |
 “Remembering Kobayashi Shoshichi-san”Prof. Emeritus Shigetoshi Kuroda (Univ. of Tokyo and Gakushuin Univ.) |
 “Rediscover my brother Shoshichi”Prof. Emeritus Hisashi Kobayashi (Princeton University) |
 “Shoshichi Kobayashi as Adviser”Prof. Emeritus Gary Jensen (Washington University, St. Louis) |
 “Acknowledgments”Mrs. Yukiko Kobayashi (Shoshishi’s Wife) |
The group photos were taken by dividing the participants into three groups in alphabetical order. The family members and relatives appear in all the three photos. Click here for more photos taken at the reception.
With a large number of participants in the Reception, we generated unexpectedly a surplus of as much as JPY 123, 856. In addition, we received at the Reception donations of JPY 120,000 from 8 individuals among the invited guests . So we will contribute a total of JPY 243,856 to “The Shoshichi Kobayashi Memorial Fund” established at the University of California, Berkeley.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee and the Kobayashi Family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the participants and generous donors.
As for the status report on the Shoshichi Kobayashi Memorial Fund, please refer to the related article of this newsletter.
