Hidetsugu Yagi

Quick Facts: Who was Hidetsugu Yagi?

Subject:

Hidetsugu Yagi

Known for:

Pioneering electrical engineer known for the revolutionary Yagi-Uda antenna.

Born:

1886-01-28

Died:

1976-01-19

Century / Era:

1886s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Hidetsugu Yagi (八木 秀次, Yagi Hidetsugu; January 28, 1886 – January 19, 1976) was a Japanese electrical engineer from Osaka, Japan. When working at Tohoku Imperial University, he wrote several articles that introduced a new antenna designed by his assistant Shintaro Uda to the English-speaking world. The Yagi-Uda antenna, patented in 1926, allows directional transmission using radio waves, and is especially useful in the very high frequency and ultra high frequency radio bands. Antennas of this type were widely used for television and radio reception, and are still common in communication and radar systems. Yagi also tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce a wireless power transmission system.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He participated in establishing the Chiba Institute of Technology. He was the fourth president of Osaka University from February 1946 to December 1946. In 1942, he became the President of Tokyo Institute of Technology, in 1944 he became the President of the Technical Institution, and in 1946 also the President of the Osaka Imperial University. He was decorated with the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon Award in 1951, with the Order of Culture in 1956, and posthumously with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1976. Hidetsugu Yagi was born on January 28, 1886, in Osaka Prefecture.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering of the Tokyo Imperial University, Faculty of Sciences, in 1909. From 1913 he studied in Germany where he worked with Heinrich Barkhausen on generating CW oscillations by electric arcs; England where he worked with J.A. Fleming who invented the vacuum diode; and the United States where he worked with G. W. Pierce at Harvard who invented the Pierce oscillator which generated a continuous wave. He earned his doctorate from Tokyo Imperial University in 1921. In Germany he continued research on generation of electric waves used for wireless communication. He returned to Japan in 1930.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1886 (1886-01-28): Birth of Hidetsugu Yagi — Pioneering electrical engineer known for the revolutionary Yagi-Uda antenna.
2. 1909: 1909 Milestone — He graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering of the Tokyo Imperial University, Faculty of Sciences, in 1909.
3. 1913: 1913 Milestone — From 1913 he studied in Germany where he worked with Heinrich Barkhausen on generating CW oscillations by electric arcs; England where he worked with J.
4. 1921: 1921 Milestone — He earned his doctorate from Tokyo Imperial University in 1921.
5. 1926: 1926 Milestone — The Yagi-Uda antenna, patented in 1926, allows directional transmission using radio waves, and is especially useful in the very high frequency and ultra high frequency radio bands.
6. 1942: 1942 Milestone — In 1942, he became the President of Tokyo Institute of Technology, in 1944 he became the President of the Technical Institution, and in 1946 also the President of the Osaka Imperial University.
7. 1946: 1946 Milestone — He was the fourth president of Osaka University from February 1946 to December 1946.
8. 1951: 1951 Milestone — He was decorated with the Medal of Honor with Blue Ribbon Award in 1951, with the Order of Culture in 1956, and posthumously with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1976.
9. 1976 (1976-01-19): Passing & Historical Legacy — Hidetsugu Yagi passed away on 1976-01-19, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hidetsugu Yagi

True or False: “The Yagi-Uda antenna was patented in 1926, making it a foundational technology for modern radio communication.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The patent for the directional transmission antenna was secured in 1926, establishing its lasting importance across various RF bands.

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• 1886 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1886
• January 28 (01-28) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 28
• 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
• January 19 (01-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Hidetsugu Yagi