The rise of an ordinary man
A legendary man named Koichi TanakaIn lives in Kyoto, Japan. In 2002, he unexpectedly won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. During his university years, Tanaka was a “poor student” who often failed courses and repeated grades. Even in his forties, he remained an ordinary, low-level employee, earning a meager salary and living a life perceived as a failure.
Despite his unremarkable appearance and lack of exceptional talents, Koichi Tanaka became a national idol in Japan. What made him so beloved? Koichi Tanaka, at 43, was as unassuming and unnoticed as any of us.
A gift from fate
In 2002, a phone call disrupted Koichi Tanaka’s life like a bolt from the blue. The caller spoke in English, and Koichi Tanaka only understood two words: “Congratulations” and “Nobel.” Confused, he hung up, wondering what the Nobel Prize had to do with him. Meanwhile, his office erupted excitedly as news reports announced: “The 2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to Koichi Tanaka (Japan).” The entire nation was in an uproar.
The media scrambled to update their lists, and chemists were bewildered. Koichi Tanaka was neither a renowned expert nor a dedicated researcher. The entire country had one urgent question: Who is Koichi Tanaka? Even his wife, hearing the news on the radio while in a taxi, thought she had misheard.
Watching the news at home, his mother calmly remarked: “This person’s name is the same as my son’s.” No one who knew Koichi Tanaka believed he had any connection to such a prestigious award. After all, to the world, he was just an ordinary failure, accustomed to silence and mediocrity. Eventually, the media found his company: the little-known Shimadzu Corporation.
Reporters eager to get the scoop surrounded the company. Koichi Tanaka, caught off guard, was still wearing his blue lab coat. Nervously stepping onto the stage at the press conference, he blushed and said: “If I had known earlier, I would have worn a suit.”
At that moment, his wife’s call came through, and the ringing echoed through the hall. Amid the flashing cameras, Koichi Tanaka awkwardly answered the call, whispering: “Reporters are interviewing me…” He then apologized to the reporters: “It’s my wife.” This endearing scene, broadcast live, amused viewers nationwide. There was not an aloof Nobel laureate, but a friendly neighborhood uncle.
Koichi Tanaka’s authenticity was a breath of fresh air in a world accustomed to pretense and formality. He became a sensation, dominating headlines and appearing on TV shows. Social media buzzed with discussions about this “ordinary scientist,” proving that even an unremarkable middle-aged man could reach the pinnacle of success.
Koichi Tanaka became an inspirational figure and a symbol of hope during Japan’s economic downturn. Fans lined the streets to welcome him with balloons and streamers, treating him like a top celebrity. Yet he was distraught: Winning the Nobel Prize was a huge surprise! He felt unworthy of the award.
The hidden effort behind the prize
Koichi Tanaka won the Nobel Prize for inventing the “mass spectrometry method for analyzing biological macromolecules.” In simple terms, previous methods of analyzing macromolecules required laser irradiation, which would cause them to break apart. Koichi Tanaka ingeniously added glycerol as a buffer, solving this problem. He humbly admitted that his lack of theoretical knowledge led him to make this accidental discovery. He had accidentally spilled glycerol and, being frugal, didn’t want to waste it, inadvertently creating a patented method.
After some internal struggle, he publicly stated that his win was a fluke and hoped the award would be revoked. The Nobel Committee responded warmly: the Nobel Prize is awarded for original contributions that change human thinking. Your win was a careful and fair decision. To those feeling down, don’t quickly dismiss your achievements. The world is praising you; don’t abandon your brilliance.
Koichi Tanaka’s frugality was no exaggeration. Born in Toyama Prefecture in 1959, he grew up in poverty. Even throwing away a piece of waste paper would prompt his grandmother to say: “Koichi, you’re being wasteful; you can still use it to wipe your nose.” Little did she know, her casual remark planted the seed for his future success.
His father, a craftsman, was also a man of few words, but taught young Tanaka to focus on his work. Koichi Tanaka inherited this perseverance and was determined to do his best regardless of fame or fortune. After winning the prize, the first person he thanked was his elementary school teacher, Mr. Sawaguchi. Sawaguchi, A chemistry graduate, encouraged Koichi Tanaka and his classmates to think independently and experiment freely rather than stick to textbook answers.
Despite his lack of talent, Koichi Tanaka eventually enrolled in Tohoku University’s electrical engineering program. He later learned that he was adopted, and his biological mother had died of illness shortly after his birth. In his second year, he failed German and had to repeat the year, solidifying his reputation as a poor student. After graduation, he eagerly applied to Sony but was rejected in the first round. With his mentor’s help, he barely got into Shimadzu Corporation, only to be assigned to an unrelated chemistry department.
Koichi Tanaka’s unremarkable appearance and introverted nature made his career challenging. After nearly 20 years, he was still a low-level employee. Even his wife was found after over 20 arranged meetings, and they married when he was 35. He had faced almost every misfortune imaginable. Like anyone in a deep slump, he wondered if there was any choice other than accepting mediocrity.
The unexpected Nobel Prize hit him like a bolt from the blue
Upon hearing the news, the company president immediately returned to Japan and presented Koichi Tanaka with a 10 million yen reward. However, Shimadzu Corporation’s stock price soared by 35 percent after his win and continued to rise by 150 percent over the next few years. When he invented his patented method in 1985, the company rewarded him with just 10,000 yen out of a 100 million yen profit.
His alma mater hastily added his name to the school emblem and awarded him an honorary doctorate, inviting the “poor student” back for a lecture. During his speech, Koichi Tanaka’s humble nature shone through as he mused aloud: “Now that I have a doctorate, I can upgrade to business class for free on flights!” leaving the audience of leaders and teachers stunned. The government also awarded him several honorary citizen titles and added his name to the prestigious Order of Culture.
Everyone assumed that Koichi Tanaka, now rich and famous, would spend his days giving lectures and basking in applause. But after saying: “Leave me alone,” at a press conference, he retreated to his lab, focusing on his experiments and disappearing from the public eye.
Unwavering in the face of glory
Koichi Tanaka returned to his ordinary life. He continued his routine of going to work and coming home, still wearing his lab coat and refusing promotions. It was as if he had never won the Nobel Prize, except for one change: He was determined to conduct research genuinely worthy of the award, and this period of silence lasted 16 years.
Fans grew disheartened, and praise turned to skepticism: Maybe he was lucky. Officials and businessmen left, taking their funding, seeing him as a reclusive oddball. Koichi Tanaka felt the external pressure, but remained steadfast, diligently conducting his research year after year, decade after decade.
Those who are not swayed by glory will have a more splendid life. The gifts of fate come with a price, and some people have already paid with perseverance.
Koichi Tanaka’s name resurfaced in February 2018 when his latest research was published in the journal Nature. With just a few drops of blood, Alzheimer’s disease could be predicted 30 years in advance. In fact, upon learning of his biological mother’s death 40 years earlier, he had resolved to pursue medical research.
The fortunate Nobel Prize was merely a reminder to stay true to his original intent. In February 2019, NHK invited Koichi Tanaka to participate in a documentary reviewing 30 years of scientific achievements in the Heisei era. By then, Koichi Tanaka’s eyes reflected calm and confidence, contrasting his nervous demeanor 16 years earlier. Luck may bring temporary success, but perseverance and determination ensure lasting “luck.”
We are born ordinary and must face life’s many challenges. May you never give up “perseverance” in the face of adversity. Heaven favors those who work hard.
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