Photo/Illutration A stone marker commemorates the birthplace in Japan of joint cosmic radiation research. It stands on the site of a wooden lodge known as the “Asahi Hut” in front of the Norikura Observatory in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. (Provided by the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research)

TAKAYAMA, Gifu Prefecture--A one-story wooden hut atop  a mountain was where Japanese scientists huddled when they set out to study cosmic radiation in the 1950s.

The high-altitude lodge is no more. It was torn down in 2018 after falling into disrepair.

The work done there paved the way for the country’s neutrino research and two Nobel Prizes.

To honor what was achieved at the lodge, the University of Tokyo’s Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) announced that a stone marker was erected on Mount Norikuradake close to where the Norikura Observatory was located.

The lodge, which was built in 1950 using scientific grants funded by The Asahi Shimbun, quickly became known as the “Asahi Hut.” It stood at an altitude of 2,770 meters and served as a branch after the observatory was erected in the vicinity in 1953.

The ICRR decided to erect a mountain marker after the observatory marked its 70th anniversary last year.

It is about waist-high and made of local andesite.

The marker is embedded with an inscribed tablet made of black granite that reads, “The ruins of Asahi Hut: The birthplace of Japan’s joint cosmic radiation research in highland areas.”

It also explains how the marker came into being: “It helped our country’s cosmic ray research make a great leap forward and played a major role in improving it to the world’s top level.”

Highland areas are suitable for observations of elementary particles falling on Earth from outer space because the air is thin.

Observations of cosmic rays at high altitudes were a common practice before research using particle accelerators took over.

Postwar Japan’s research had the stated aim to catch up with Western countries in terms of observations.

Since then, the country’s cosmic ray research developed into an academic field touted as “Japan’s forte.”

Masatoshi Koshiba detected neutrinos resulting from a supernova while Takaaki Kajita discovered that neutrinos have mass. Their work led to two Nobel Prizes in Physics.

“A rooted culture of researchers from around the country observing cosmic rays at joint facilities can be traced back to the Asahi Hut, where joint studies started in the postwar era,” said Takashi Sako, director of the Norikura Observatory. “It served as a basis for Japan’s cosmic ray research and contributed to its development.”

Asahi Shimbun President Katsu Tsunoda said in a congratulatory message: “It is a matter of huge pride for us and an undeserved honor as a news organization.”

Related News