（5）In Memoriam:
Honorary Member Yoichi Konishi, M.D., Ph.D., 1935–2012
It is really regret that Dr. Yoichi Konishi,
Honorary Member of the Japanese Society ofToxicologic Pathology (JSTP) and Professor
Emeritus of the Nara Medical University, passed
away at the age of 77 years old, on December 21,
2012. He died so suddenly without any omens thateveryone had nothing to do but was just surprised.
Such a dramatic end well fits Dr. Konishi’s life,and I wish him to enjoy an eternal peace thatÀnally he received.
Dr. Konishi graduated Nara MedicalUniversity in 1963, obtained the M.D. license in
1964, and was enrolled in the Pathology Courseof the Postgraduate School of Medicine, the Nara
Medical University, where he met his mentor, Dr.
Nobuyuki Ito (Honorary Member of JSTP) anddevoted himself to his studies in toxicologic and carcinogenic pathology. Dr. Konishi then obtained thePh.D. degree in 1968 and worked in the Fels Institute, the Temple University (U.S.A.), where he met anothermentor, Dr. Emanuel Farber. Dr. Konishi always told us that the knowledge and experience obtained inthis period became the basis of his lifework, the research on carcinogenesis in the pancreas, lung and liver.
After coming back to Japan, Dr. Konishi assumed the post of the assistant professor of the Department of
Oncological Pathology, the Nara Medical University in 1974, and professor of the department in 1981. Dr.
Konishi built a wide network of personal relationship with numerous domestic and foreign researchers
during his vigorous research career, which he lavishly used to educate and promote his staffs and students.
Dr. Konishi pushed ahead with his researches in toxicologic and carcinogenic pathology and obtaineda high evaluation by their epoch-making results. Especially, the research on the experimental pancreatic
carcinogenesis and its control was the one that gave Dr. Konishi a worldwide recognition, and for which thePrincess Takamatsu Cancer Research Fund Prize was awarded
Dr. Konishi was very active in scientiÀc societies, played roles of their ofÀcers and organized the 44th
Annual Fall Meeting of the Japanese Society of Pathology and the Nara Satellite Meeting of the 8thInternational Conference of Environmental Mutagens. Among these, Dr. Konishi recognized JSTP as themost important organization for him. Dr. Konishi participated in the founding of JSTP, played its director
and councilor for a long time, Ànally becoming its honorary member, and organized the 8th Annual Meetingin 1992. In addition, Dr. Konishi was deeply involved in the founding of the International Federationof Toxicologic Pathologists (IFSTP), played a role of its president and organized the 5th Triennial
Meeting in conjunction with the 20th Annual Meeting of JSTP organized by Dr. Shoji Fukushima in2004. Furthermore, Dr. Konishi was also deeply involved in the founding of the International Academy ofToxicologic Pathology and played a role of a regional director for Asia. This enthusiasm for JSTP and its
related organizations came from Dr. Konishi’s love to the toxicologic pathology, and he not only conducted
researches on toxicologic pathology with his staffs, but also largely contributed to the promotion of the
toxicologic pathology and its researchers, as well as the education of young toxicologic pathologists. People
in this Àeld mush remember that Dr. Konishi organized the International /ife Sciences Institute (I/SI)
International Toxicologic Pathology Seminar for 17 years, which I Àrmly believe one of the most excellent
accomplishments of Dr. Konishi.
The contribution of Dr. Konishi to the life sciences was really great. I believe that Dr. Konishi’s
achievement and thought are inherited by researchers in toxicologic and carcinogenic pathology and live
eternally. I thank what Dr. Konishi gave me and grieve over his decease.
Dai Nakae, M.D., Ph.D.
The Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences
The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health