Molecular chirality plays a key role in science and technology. In particular, life depends on molecular chirality in that many biological functions are inherently dissymmetric.
My father, Kaneki, was a gifted research director of a chemical company, and his profession strongly influenced the path of my life.
RIKEN has attracted numerous outstanding scientists from inside and outside Japan, and these people have achieved creative and outstanding results.
Except for a short period at the end of World War II, I attended an elementary school affiliated to Kobe University from ages six to twelve and then moved on to Nada Middle and High School from ages twelve to eighteen. I enjoyed many out-door activities in my youth.
In 1957, at the age of 18, I entered Kyoto University, which was known to be the most active institution in the research of polymer chemistry.
I was a mere 29-year-old instructor at Kyoto, enjoying daily research work with some young students. Nothing had prepared me to be a professor at a major national university. Being too young and inexperienced to be a Full Professor, I was first appointed Associate Professor of Chemistry.
Chiral receptor sites in the human body interact only with drug molecules having the proper absolute configuration, resulting in marked differences in the pharmacological activities of enantiomers.
Enantiomers often smell and taste differently.
The structural difference between enantiomers can be serious with respect to the actions of synthetic drugs.
