Hironaka was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1931. After graduating from Kyoto University, he moved to the United States and continued his research at Harvard University. In 1970, he received the Fields Medal for his groundbreaking research on the resolution of singularities in algebraic geometry. The Fields Medal is the highest award in the field of mathematics, and he was the second Japanese recipient after Kunihiko Kodaira.
In his later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of mathematics education and contributed to the international development of mathematics, serving as president of the International Mathematical Union. He was a great mathematician who left significant achievements not only in the Japanese mathematical community but also in world mathematics research.
Vるなど= doing things such as VNのみならず= not only N (but also...)
Learning Notes
Grammar Patterns
Pattern
Meaning
Vた後
after doing V
Nに次ぐ
second only to N; after N
Vるなど
doing things such as V
Nのみならず
not only N (but also...)
Vocabulary
Word
Reading
Level
Meaning
受賞
じゅしょう
N2
winning a prize; being awarded
死去
しきょ
N1
death; passing away
特異点
とくいてん
N1
singularity (mathematics)
解消
かいしょう
N1
resolution; cancellation; dissolution
画期的
かっきてき
N1
groundbreaking; epoch-making
功績
こうせき
N1
achievements; merit; services
Language Insights
•Heisuke Hironaka is a monumental figure in mathematics. His proof of the resolution of singularities in characteristic zero is considered one of the most difficult and profound achievements of 20th-century mathematics.
•The Fields Medal is often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of Mathematics' and is awarded every four years to mathematicians under the age of 40.