Isao Sugai

Isao Sugai was born in Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan and moved to Tokyo when he was 18 years old. He began to work at the Institute for Nuclear Study (INS), University of Tokyo. While working at INS he completed his study at the University of Tokyo. After graduating he continued working at INS focusing on the development of thin foils preparation methods. His dedication was recognised with doctorate degree. Throughout all the years of working at INS, later known as KEK (High Energy Accelerator Research Organization) he devoted himself with great enthusiasm to target production, developing methods of production especially carbon stripping foils and powder targets.

He passed away just few weeks before the INTDS meeting to be held for the third time in Japan this August. Isao-san was very happy and proud to organise the first Japanese meeting of target makers that was a capstone after years of serving to Society as member of the Board. He took care not only of the scientific programme but cared as well about participants’ comfort. Every day we were supplied with fresh apples arriving from his home area, from Aomori Prefecture.

Isao-san, we will miss you a lot. As an outstanding target maker with fantastic ideas for target preparation, just to mention HIVIPP, invented at 1998 or much earlier centrifugation method published at 1977. But also as a person full of joy of life. Many of us remember Isao-san mastering ‘evening sessions’ during the 2006 meeting.