Piezoelectricity of bone and electrical callus

The year 2012 is the 60th anniversary of the discoveries of the piezoelectricity of bone and electrical callus, which were reported by Dr. Iwao Yasuda of our department for the first time in 1953, only 8 years after the end of World War II. The historians of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association have designated these accomplishments as "a great and proud Japanese achievement for orthopedics". Amazingly, Dr. Yasuda carried out these studies while facilities and human resources were extremely lacking. His frontier spirit must have encouraged young researchers to overcome difficulties and develop innovative ideas. I believe that his outstanding creativity had been partly brought about by the fact that he was studying in Kyoto.