Origins & Early Life

Akira Yoshino (吉野 彰, Yoshino Akira; born 30 January 1948) is a Japanese chemist. He is a fellow of Asahi Kasei Corporation and a professor at Meijo University in Nagoya. He created the first safe, production-viable lithium-ion battery, which became used widely in cellular phones and notebook computers. Yoshino was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 alongside M.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Stanley Whittingham and John B. Goodenough. Yoshino was born in Suita, Japan, on 30 January 1948. He graduated from Kitano High School in Osaka City (1966). He earned a B.S.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

in 1970 and an M.S. degree in 1972, both in engineering from Kyoto University, and a Dr.Eng. degree from Osaka University in 2005. During his time in elementary school, one of his teachers suggested that he read The Chemical History of a Candle by Michael Faraday, and this sparked a multitude of questions for Yoshino regarding chemistry, a subject he had not been interested in prior to reading the book. During his college years, Yoshino had attended a course taught by Japanese chemist Kenichi Fukui, the first recipient of East Asian ancestry to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Yoshino spent his...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Contemporary (Died in 1948) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Abdulrazak Gurnah — Contemporary (Born in 1948) (1948): Acclaimed Tanzanian novelist and Nobel laureate exploring themes of colonialism and refuge.
• Akira Mutō — Contemporary (Died in 1948) (1948): Imperial Japanese Army General implicated in war crimes during WWII.
• Barbara W. Tuchman — Shared historical date (01-30 · Born) (1912): Pulitzer Prize-winning historian renowned for vivid accounts of pivotal moments in world history.
• Bobby Hull — Shared historical date (01-30 · Died) (2023): Iconic 'Golden Jet' of hockey, celebrated for speed and scoring prowess.
• Al Gore — Historical peer (Born in 1948) (1948): American politician, businessman, and leading voice on environmental issues.
• Alan Lightman — Historical peer (Born in 1948) (1948): Physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur exploring science's intersection with humanities.
• Agnès Varda — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): Pioneering French filmmaker, artist, and documentarian celebrated for her unique vision.
• Akihito — Historical peer (Died in 2019) (2019): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
• A. R. Rahman — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• 1948 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1948
• January 30 (01-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 30