IN MEMORIAM – HIDENORI WADA (1928-2018)

Hidenori Wada passed away in his home in Tokyo on August 7, 2018. He was born in Tokyo on May 7, 1928. He graduated from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, at the University of Tokyo to obtain his Doctor of Agriculture. Then he became Research Associate, at the University of Tokyo. From 1964 to 1965, he was Visiting Researcher at Ghent University, Belgium. After coming back to Japan, he became Associate Professor, at the University of Tokyo and then Professor, at the University of Tokyo until 1989. From October 1989 to February 1999, he was Visiting Expert of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Khon Kaen University, Thailand to help understand the mechanism of the soil salinity problem there and countermeasures. In 2008, he also became Emeritus Professor, Shenyang University, China.

Dr Hidenori Wada was the first Chairman of the Paddy Soil Fertility Working Group, International Society of Soil Science (ISSS), established in 1986. He was also Organizing Committee Member for the 14th International Congress of Soil Science (ICSS), Kyoto (1990) to organize SYMPOSIUM II-6 (Soil emissions affecting the environment).

He was also Councilor of the Japan Soil Association (1987.7 – 2009.5), President of the Japanese Society of Soil Microbiology (1988 – 1990) and was Advisor to organisations such as the Japan Soil Association, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Ibaraki Prefecture, the Fertilization Research Foundation, Japan.

He was awarded the Japan Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Award on “Studies on organic matter in paddy soils” in 1971 and the Japan Prize of Agricultural Science on “Studies of paddy soils based on dynamic micropedology” in 1986.

Dr. Hidenori Wada applied various micropedological approaches to the study of dynamics of paddy soils, and established a new branch of soil science called “dynamic micropedology”.

Dr. Wada was impressed by the studies of Dr. W.L. Kubiena when he was in Belgium. After coming back to Japan, he devoted himself to the study of paddy soil science on various topics such as pedogenic processes in paddy soils, the process of Mn and Fe deposition in paddy soils, aggregate and plant debris, material transformation and its accompanying microorganisms at micro-sites.

We all miss Dr Hidenori Wada contributing to soil science, his gentle smile and warm thoughts towards us. Recalling the many fond memories of the past, we pray that his soul may rest in peace.

By Kazuyuki INUBUSHI