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SACHIO MATOBA
1899-1987
BY MERTON C. FLEMINGS
SACHIO MATOBA pioneer in physical chemistry of steelmaking,
died on September 2S, 1987, shortly before announcement of
his election as a foreign associate of the National Academy of
~ · .
engineering.
He was internationally known as early as 1927 to 1935 for his
work on the physical chemistry of reactions of importance in
iron and steelmaking, especially the equilibrium between car-
bon and oxygen in liquid iron with CO/CO2 gas mixtures, based
on his original papers in Japanese. He was a leader in research
on iron and steelmaking systems and in promoting through
papers, lectures, and education of students the understanding
and use of physical chemistry as applied in the steel industry. He
led in developing participation by Japanese technical people
from industry and academia in international committees, con-
ferences, and exchange programs. He was a leader in the 1940s
and 1950s in establishing a strong technical base for the develop-
ing steel industry in Japan.
Professor Matoba was born in Tokyo on March 23, IS99, the
first son of Professor Naka Matoba of the University of Tokyo. He
gracluated from Kyushu Imperial University in 1924, when Pro-
fessor Kuniichi Tawara and Kotaro Hondawere planning to start
the new department of metallurgy at Tohoku Imperial Univer-
sity. Professor Tawara invited Professor Matoba to Tohoku as a
lecturer. He took up his duties there, first in the area of physical
195
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196
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
metallurgy, and then, after two years, in his first love of chemical
thermal dynamics. He married Yasuko Nakahara in 1926, ant! in
their lifelong marriage they had two children who have (listin-
guished themselves personally and professionally, Naoya and
Koko.
He was a faculty member at Tohoku University from 1924 to
1962 ant! served as dean of the faculty of engineering from 1959
to 1962. He was a member of the National Science Council from
1960 to 1963. In 1962 he joined Fuji Iron and Steel Company as
vice-president and director of the Central Research Laboratory,
and later became executive vice-president. When Fuji Iron and
Steel Company became a part of the newly formed Nippon Steel
Company, he served the new organization as executive adviser
and later as adviser until his passing in 1987.
Professor Matoba's leadership in Japanese engineering and
scientific organizations was an inspiration to Japanese scientists.
He was a strong proponent of emphasis on quality, which has
been so successful in the Japanese manufacturing segment and
has raised quality to unmatched levels of achievement in that
country.
He was widely recognized for his accomplishments and contri-
butions to the iron and steel industry. He received the Tawara
Prize of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (IS0) in 1963; the
Honorable Prize, ISIS, 1965; Honda Memorial Golf! Medal,
1966; Nishiyama Medal, ISIJ, 1968; Gold Medal of Japan Institute
of Metals; ant! Tawara Gold Mecial, IS0, 1980. He held honorary
memberships in the American Iron and Steel Institute, 1970; the
German Iron and Steel Institute (VDEH), 1970; Iron and Steel
Institute of Japan, 1973; and Korean Institute of Metals, 1983.
Professor Matoba's works on physical chemistry of ironmak-
ing, steelmaking, and ore beneficiation played major roles in
awakeningJapanese metallurgists to the importance of physical
chemistry in metallurgy. His equilibrium studies and chemical
kinetic studies showed operational metallurgists how to improve
their operations. In other important work at that time, he
studied sintering and reduction behavior of many kinds of iron
ores, sinters, and pellets. These studies were critical to the
Japanese steel industry, because prior to 1950 it was necessary
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SACHIO MATOBA
197
for them to use low-grade iron ore and high ash coal. During his
long research career, he also contributed much to improve
chemical analysis of steel, iron ore, and slag, and especially
determination of gaseous elements in liquid steel.
Later, as dean of the faculty of engineering, he made a most
significant contribution to Tohoku University through his lead-
ership role in establishing the new campus of the Faculty of
Engineering on the hill Aobayama. Professor Matoba under-
stood that for future development of the Faculty of Engineering,
more space was required, space that could be found at Aobaya-
ma, and so he took the initiative, over much faculty resistance, to
initiate the move. The government supported the move, and the
new campus was established much earlier than expected lead-
ing directly to the current great strength of the engineering
school of Tohoku University.
Later, Professor Matoba's leadership was critical to the deci-
sions of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan and to the Japan
Institute of Metals to publish their transactions in English. This
was just one of the ways in which Professor Matoba contributed
greatly to turn Japanese metallurgists' eyes outward to the rest of
the world. In another example, he invited Professor and Mrs.
John B. Chipman to Japan in 1965 when he was vice-presiclent,
Fuji Steel Company. Professor Chipman at that time was a
leading U.S. academician in the field of steelmaking. Matoba
did not monopolize Professor Chipman's time simply for Fuji
Steel, but arranged for him to visit most of the leading universi-
ties and leading steel companies from Hokkaido to Kyushu.
Professor Matoba was a man who made everyone, indepen-
dent of age, occupation, social status, or race, feel friendly and
warm-hearted. He was fair and impartial, with compassion for
all, but keeping to himself his good works, making way or room
for others even if honors were given to them instead of to him,
and heartfully celebrating his friends' or students' honors.
Nonetheless, he was strict in training students en cl staff in his
laboratory. It was rare for him to directly order his students, but
rather he was patient until his students themselves overcame
their difficulties based on his suggestions. He was strict with
himself and deeply introspective.
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
Professor Matoba was a great reader, interested in books on
religion, literary works, essays, and travel. He was interested in
classical music and loved sports, especially walking with his
family and mountain climbing. He climbed most of the high
mountains in Japan and was a head of Tohoku Academic Alpine
Club while he worked at Tohoku University.
Professor Matoba would surely consider as one of his greatest
honors the establishment of the Matoba-Kawatabi Seminar. The
seminar was planned and initiated in 1974, following the style of
the Gordon Conferences. The Seminar is unique in Japan, held
in August each year at the Kawatabi Seminar House, about one
hundred kilometers north of Sendai. It is open to graduate
students and to others from the steel industry, although limited
in attendance because of the capacity of the house. Professor
Matoba would begin the seminar each year with a profound and
significant lecture. It should be adcled that, respecting Professor
Matoba's modesty, the seminar was not officially designated as
the Matoba Seminar until his passing.
Professor Matoba will be long remembered by his friends and
colleagues in Japan, the United States, and throughout the
world for his accomplishments, wisdom, and foresight and for
his leadership in academia and industry in applying scientific
principles to the technology of iron and steel production.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
steel institute
