Hisako Koyama

Hisako Koyama

Sunspots are hypothetically the most conspicuous features on the photosphere above the solar atmosphere. They have been argued to be the most significant players in solar and terrestrial interference. Notably, sunspots are dark spots that appear on the surface of the sun and which are cooler than other parts. These regions are results of magnetic bipolar magnetic loops that find their way onto the surface of the sun (Knipp et al., 1216). The occurrence of sunspots is variable and may happen for days or even months, presenting threats of flares and coronal mass ejections. The existence of sunspots, and their study thereof, can be traced to thousands of years ago. Writings of Chinese astronomers, dating back to 28 century BC acknowledge visual observation of the sun having ‘dark vapour’ at its centre.  However, despite the length of time over which they have been studied, sunspots have proven to be a particularly elusive thermal phenomenon, with knowledge about them evolving each day. This notwithstanding, the evolution of human consciousness on sunspots, cannot be isolated from the contributions of various remarkable individuals, who helped clarify our understanding of the phenomenon (Hayakawa et al., 4525).

Hisako Koyama is arguably one of the most remarkable contributors to the study of sunspots. The Japanese national, who was born in 1916 and died in 1997, is renowned for the dependability and authenticity of her works which were spread along forty years of her lifetime. She lived through the Second World War and experienced its rigours first hand (Knipp et al., 1220). During bombing drills, wherein people were required to shelter from bombs, Koyama often risked her life by sneaking from the hideouts in the dark of the night to observe the stars alongside a reference map.  Koyama, being an avid observer and an enthusiast of astronomy, graduated quickly from being a mere amateur to a writer and staff member of The National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, Japan. Her consistent, accurate drawings of sunspots have been instrumental the recalibration of the global record of sunspots, that provides information on weather and outer space for more than one thousand years. It has also aided in understanding the dynamics of the solar sequence. She was much intrigued by the solar system and spent most of her time observing the stars, reading books on outer space and studying the workings of telescopes (Hayakawa et al., 4516).

At the initial stages of her career life, Koyama intended to join the moon section of Oriental Astronomical Association (OAA) but was turned down owing to her low-quality telescope. She then opted to join the solar segment, wherein she managed to make her first sketch of sunspots which was approved. This marked the beginning of her career with OAA, first as a volunteer and later as a staff member. Interestingly, Koyama was consistent with the use of her 20cm telescope until retirement. It is this tendency that did her works consistently throughout her lifetime. Her works, therefore, have served as a benchmark for the comparison of images generated by numerous astronomers before and after her time (Hayakawa et al., 4520)

Koyama managed to come up with a guideline on how to count sunspots, emphasizing consistency and the emphasis on the umbra alone, to ensure precision. Moreover, Koyama is credited with developing several sunspot butterflies diagrams, which ideally, are visual representations showing the positions of sunspots concerning latitudes or groups of sunspots for every solar rotation over a given time frame. The three sunspot diagrams she developed, which were situated on both hemispheres of the sun, as well as at the centre, were useful in that they were more comprehensive and consistent, compared to similar diagrams from her past.

In conclusion, Ms Hisako Koyama indeed made vast contributions to the study of astronomy in general and sunspots in particular. Here consistency and determination lead to the development of a guiding framework that has conducted the review of sunspots to date. Despite the interference of the second world war, in her endeavour to mystify the sunspot phenomenon her minimum initial experience and the inferiority of her equipment,  Koyama managed to continue her works, which at present are acknowledged all over the world

TSUTOMU YAMAGUCHI

Introduction

The Second World War is remembered in history as one of the most impactful occurrences in the history of mankind. Its debut, on the first of September 1939 laid the foundation for a near unforgettable apocalypse that resulted in massive life and property loss. Its impacts were felt in most of the world, with approximately fifty million civilian lives being lost (FIELD) (Shimura et al., 116). The war lasted six years with its culmination being marked by the dual bombing of Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bombs, which were dropped by the United States of America, were so devastating that japan opted to unconditionally surrender. The two nuclear bombs resulted in the immediate loss of over seventy thousand lives, with the two cities being destroyed. Temperatures reached a record 4000 degrees Celsius, and massive radiation ensued resulting in more human casualties which lasted for an extended period. Despite the harm caused by the explosions, several individuals were lucky to survive despite being habitants of the affected cities. However, Tsutomu Yamaguchi is documented and officially recognized as the individual who survived both bombings.

Yamaguchi was a japan national born in the year 1916 in the city of Nagasaki. After the first bomb, he was forced to return to Nagasaki, where three days later, the second atomic bomb was dropped. Nevertheless, Yamaguchi also survived the second incident, which became a turning point in his life and that of his family. However, he was severely wounded, partially lost his hearing and lived in bandages for more than 12 years. While he died at the age of 93 of stomach cancer, his wife succumbed to kidney and liver cancer at 88 years of age. His son died at 59 years of age from body cancer, and his daughters experienced symptoms of radiation throughout their lives. The two daughters, who had been born after the bombings, inherited the pollution genetically from their parents (Svalgaard et al., 2680.

After the war, Yamaguchi took to being a teacher, clerk and translator, teaching in various schools in Nagasaki. He then resumed work as an engineer at Mitsubishi, which was still working on ship production. However, he decided to campaign intensively against atomic weapons and at some point, had written to the US president Barrack Obama asking him to abolish nuclear weapons. He furthered his anti-nuclear weapon campaigns through the United Nations, wherein in the year 2006, he featured in a documentary dubbed ‘Twice Bombed, Twice Survived’. Notably, Yamaguchi considered his double ordeal, and that of his family, as a learning experience on the effects of war and that of nuclear weapons (Svalgaard et al., 2670).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the experience of Tsutomu Yamaguchi and his family, though harrowing, can be considered a lesson to the world on the effects of war and the use of weapons of mass destruction. His family’s experience of the atomic bombings was indeed devastating, resulting in tremendous health problems for them. Nevertheless, Yamaguchi appreciated the experience and used it to advocate for the abolishment of nuclear weapons in the world, through writings, documentaries and individual action.

Comparison of both events

The Second World War experience was very profound, and its effects which were devastating render the phenomenon unlikely to recur shortly of our world. Many families were torn apart as a result of massive life and property loss, permanent physical injuries and even long-lasting psychological issues. However, despite the war, some individuals were able to outdo the normal human expectations, by striving, amid the numerous challenges, to give hope where there was none, advocate for non-use of weaponry, especially nuclear weapons of large-scale destruction. Other individuals, on the other hand, made numerous discoveries, and expanded the frameworks of human knowledge, resulting in a better understanding of our world and even extraterrestrial reality.  Such is the story of the two renowned individuals, Hisako Koyama and Tsutomu Yamaguchi (Shimura et al., 117).

Surprisingly, Koyama and Yamaguchi were both Japanese nationals who were born in the year 1916, albeit being residents of different cities within Japan, they had a similar experience of the second world war at nearly the same age, with Koyama experiencing it in full measure at 28 years of age, and Yamaguchi having an even worse experience at 29 years of age. However, both individuals, to some extent, remained oblivious of the war and chose to continue their pursuit of happiness. Koyama, for instance, stayed in her attempts to understand sunspots, to the extent of bypassing bombing drills to study the stars. Yamaguchi, on the other hand, chose to report to work barely two weeks after his double bombing ordeal (Hales et al., 1038).

Despite the two individuals facing significant limitations in their lives, the limitations greatly influenced their lives in different ways. Koyama, for instance, was from a poor background and could not purchase a proper telescope; relying on the inferior one her father had gifted her. The long-term use of this telescope, however, resulted in outstanding consistency in her works, making it preferable as a guide in the field of astronomy, more so in the study of sunspots. Similarly, Yamaguchi’s encounter influenced his later life, in which he became an aspiration in his anti-nuclear weapon campaigns all over the world. Moreover, despite his exposure to radiation, Yamaguchi decided, alongside his wife, to continue their family and had two more daughters, despite possibilities of genetically influenced cancer (Wright n.p).

Conclusion

Therefore, it is agreeable to assert that the experiences of Hisako Koyama and Tsutomu Yamaguchi were very similar and that despite the destructive nature of these experiences, their lives were greatly influenced. In fact, despite the limitations both individuals encountered, theirs are success stories which have literally and instrumentally changed the world for the better (Hales et al., 1043).

Works cited

Hayakawa, Hisashi, et al. “Sunspot observations by Hisako Koyama: 1945–1996.” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 492.3 (2020): 4513-4527.

Knipp, Delores, Huixin Liu, and Hisashi Hayakawa. “Ms Hisako Koyama: From amateur astronomer to long-term solar observer.” Space Weather 15.10 (2017): 1215-1221.

Svalgaard, Leif, and Kenneth H. Schatten. “Reconstruction of the sunspot group number: the backbone method.” Solar Physics 291.9-10 (2016): 2653-2684.

Hales, Steven D., and Jennifer Adrienne Johnson. “Dispositional optimism and luck attributions: Implications for philosophical theories of luck.” Philosophical Psychology 31.7 (2018): 1027-1045.

Shimura, Tsutomu, et al. “Lessons learned from radiation biology: Health effects of low levels of exposure to ionizing radiation on humans regarding the Fukushima accident.” Journal of the National Institute of Public Health 67.1 (2018): 115-122.

Wright, Gregory Harrison. Atomic activism: the history and legacy of Japan’s Hibakusha activists. Diss. 2018.