Kotaro Honda KS steel, New KS steel

(Prepared by Pubulic Relations Section Genneral Affairs Division)

During World War 1, Japan was faced with the prospect of complete reliance on domestically produced magnetic steel due to the extreme difficulty of obtaining imports. Amidst this situation, Dr. Kotaro Honda of Tohoku Imperial University was engaged in research on the magnetism of steel. His research resulted in the invention and patenting in 1932 of KS steel, permanent magnetic steel with three times the magnetic resistance of tungsten. Further research in 1933 produced new KS steel, with many times the magnetic resistance of KS steel.

Dr. Honda's invention of KS steel laid the foundation for further developments in the field of magnetic materials in Japan and greatly contributed to developments in industry such as improvement of the performance of measuring equipment.

Kotaro Honda left us with the saying "industry is the dojo of learning." Research useful to industry was the very essence of Dr. Honda, and his efforts toward cooperation between industry and academia resulted in the birth of a great number of companies.

Linked from [Ten Japanese Great Inventors]

[Last updated 7 October 2002]