The LED light bulb is more than ten times the efficiency of regular incandescent lighting, so it can save the world hundreds of billions of dollars in electricity costs.
Basically, I like research because research is like to solve the quiz, you know. Always there is a problem, and I have to solve the problem. So I like those patterns. It's almost like research is sort of in a quiz.
My dream was to work for one of the big electronics companies like Sony or Panasonic.
For people who currently have to burn fossil fuels to produce meager, polluting light, LED lighting is a game changer.
There are still people in Japan who think money is something evil.
The most important thing I learned at the University of Florida is that a Ph.D. and writing papers is very important in the United States.
I wanted to quit Nichia. I didn't care about anything. It was OK for them to fire me. I was not afraid of anything.
A small company like Nichia should do niche products.
I am thankful to Nichia Chemical Corporation and its founder Nobu Ogawa, who gave me the research opportunity to create a blue LED.
I couldn't achieve the American dream in Japan.
The promise of energy savings, reduced carbon emissions and affordable lighting was there from the inception. The proliferation of the technology into areas such as displays, automotive, medicine and horticulture was unexpected.
You work to earn money. But in Japan, that idea has a bad image, and you're not supposed to say that.
The Japanese press likes me a lot, but the problem is the Japanese government. It's very bureaucratic.
It is very satisfying to see that my dream of LED lighting has become a reality.
It's good to have high-quality competition. It helps drive research forward at a faster pace.
I was so surprised because I'm not too sure whether I could win a Nobel Prize, you know, because basically, physics, it means that usually people was awarded for the invention of the basic theory. But in my case, not a basic theory, in my case just making the device, you know.
I'm not sure whether I could win a Nobel Prize or not, but the Nobel Committee called me, and, 'You got the Nobel Prize.' So, I was so, so happy, and I was so surprised.
When I started on my research, I never expected I could invent the LED and laser diode.
I have been very fortunate to be supported by many people in my career. I also appreciate my personal friends, business friends, and my family who have been patient and understanding of my long working hours.
Many researchers have joined the field and applied the LED to many new markets such as mobile phone screens, LED TV, and LED Lighting.
