Kuwaki Ayao

A researcher of theories and history of science. A pioneer in this field in Japan. Born in Tokyo as the son of a samurai of the former Kanazawa domain, his older brother was the philosopher Kuwagi Gen'yoku. After graduating from the First Higher School, he studied theoretical physics at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Imperial University, and after graduating (1899), he became a lecturer and then an assistant professor at the same university. He served in the military during the Russo-Japanese War, but after the war he became a professor at Meiji Senmon Gakko (now Kyushu Institute of Technology), and studied in Europe for two years from 1907 (Meiji 40), during which time he met Einstein, Mach, Poincaré, Lorentz, and others. After returning to Japan, he became a professor at the Kyushu Imperial University's Institute of Technology (1911) with the founding of the university, where he lectured on mathematics and mechanics, and later also taught physics. After retiring from the government in 1938, he served as the principal of Matsumoto Higher School until 1942 (Showa 17). He is a Doctor of Science (1916) and a Professor Emeritus at Kyushu Imperial University.

He had an early interest in the theory and history of science, stressed the importance of this field, and wrote many books about it. He became the first president of the Japanese Society for the History of Science when it was founded in 1941, a position he held until his death. He is also known as the person who introduced Einstein's theory of relativity, and his book "The Life of Einstein" (1934) is a masterpiece. He is also known for his books such as "Physics and Recognition" (1922) and "Thoughts on the History of Science" (1944).

[Jun Fujimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

科学論、科学史の研究者。日本におけるこの分野の開拓者。旧金沢藩士の子として東京に生まれ、兄に哲学者桑木厳翼(げんよく)がいる。第一高等学校を経て、東京帝国大学理科大学物理学科に学び理論物理学を専攻、卒業（1899）後、同大学の講師、続いて助教授となる。日露戦争で軍務についたが、戦後は明治専門学校（現、九州工業大学）教授を務め、1907年（明治40）から2年間ヨーロッパに留学、この間、アインシュタイン、マッハ、ポアンカレ、ローレンツらとの面識も得た。帰国後、九州帝国大学の創設に伴い、同工科大学の教授となり（1911）、数学および力学を講じ、のち物理学の講座をも担当している。退官（1938）後は松本高等学校校長として1942年（昭和17）まで在職した。理学博士（1916）、九州帝国大学名誉教授。

　早くから科学論、科学史に関心をもち、この分野の重要性を強調し、また多くの著作を著した。日本科学史学会の創立（1941）とともにその初代会長となり、没年までその職にあった。アインシュタインの相対性理論の紹介者としても知られ、その著『アインシュタイン伝』（1934）は名著。『物理学と認識』（1922）、『科学史考』（1944）などの著書も知られる。

［藤村　淳］

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