Shy Japanese Nobel laureate has no passport: wife ( never traveled abroad, hates parties)

AFP ^ | 10/08/08

[TigerLikesRooster]

Shy Japanese Nobel laureate has no passport: wife

Wed Oct 8, 3:06 AM ET

Japanese Nobel Physics laureate Toshihide Maskawa, an introvert devoted to thinking about the universe, has no passport to go to Stockholm to accept the prize, his wife revealed on Wednesday.

Maskawa, 68, was one of three physicists to share the prestigious award announced Tuesday for his groundbreaking work on fundamental particles.

But his wife, Akiko, said that Maskawa does not travel overseas and feels "quite allergic to trying to speak English."

"And if he needs to go to the award ceremony, he'll need first to apply for a passport," she said at her home in the western city of Kyoto, where Maskawa is a professor of theoretical physics at Kyoto Sangyo University.

Maskawa, bespectacled with grey hair, charmed reporters after the prize was announced by trying to conceal his shyness, at one point sobbing and at another moment forcing such a grin that he stuck out his tongue.

He also raised his arms over his head and said to eager reporters, "You'd like me to do this to show I'm happy, right?"

He earlier told reporters abruptly that he was "not that happy" about receiving the Nobel Prize, which will be handed out at a ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.

"It's just a society party," he said.

[nufsed]

Who’s winning the peace prize this year, the fanatic from Iran?

[sushiman]

” Kyoto Sangyo University. “

Hey - my daughter is a junior at this university !

[TigerLikesRooster]

This is such a contrast to Carley Fiorina of the world. They go to spas and do special skincare for weeks, rehearsing their speech hundreds of times, trying to make it as moving and dramatic as possible. Invite all important people to opulent private party for celebration, in which they stage an event, proclaiming that they will boldly launch world-wide project for stopping global warming.

[robomatik]

"It's just a society party," he said.

maybe he deserves a nobel given his acknowledgement of what it actually means to win a nobel prize.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Tell her to say hello to the “shy professor.” He might stick out his tongue for her.:-)

[The_Macallan]

[Elitist, Sarah Palin-Bashers]

Pffft!

What kind of neanderthalic airhead doesn't have a passport?

This is the 21st Century!

What's the matter - does this uncouth, untraveled dullard not think it's important to experience other cultures and other countries!?

Only a dimwitted sloth would not have gotten a passport in this global community by now.

[/Elitist, Sarah Palin-Bashers]

[AmericanInTokyo]

the beauty of Japanese herikudari

modesty

modesty while holding great power

admirable

[MD_Willington_1976]

High functioning autistic adults are like that, would not be surprised if this guy fits the profile.

Look up Dr Temple Grandin, I know her mother, Eustacia Cutler.

http://www.templegrandin.com/

[sushiman]

They have his name spelled wrong ; it is Masakawa .

[AmericanInTokyo]

that is exactly how they would arrogantly talk, isn't it???

both in elite Japanese and US circles.

some people are FULL OF IT

i love stories about great people who are not full of themselves.

there is no shortage of people on this planet, with a terribly overinflated image of self importance...many of them in media, entertainment and government.

they could learn a few things about Palin and the Professor

[sushiman]

” herikudari “

Thanks for teaching me new vocabulary !

[Vigilanteman]

My first thought as well. There is no Japanese syllable which ends in a consonant other than “N”.

[BerryDingle]

maybe he deserves a nobel given his acknowledgement of what it actually means to win a nobel prize.

True, after Arafat, Carter and Algore, it is an embarassment.

[AmericanInTokyo]

謙り herikudari

"self-deprecation"

similar to 謙遜 (modesty)

[sushiman]

similar to ...ah , kenson .

[Cacique]

btt

[sushiman]

Professor Toshihide Maskawa - Recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physics

[sushiman]

Even the home page of the Univ. he teaches at has his name spelled wrong ; it is MASUKAWA !

http://www.kyoto-su.ac.jp/more/2008/305/nobel/index_e.html