Tatsuo Hasegawa
Encyclopedia
Tatsuo Hasegawa was a Japanese automotive engineer, and known as the development chief of the first Toyota Corolla
. He built the base of the economy car
s in Japan through the development of the Corolla and the Toyota Publica
.
, Tottori Prefecture
on February 8, 1916.
After majoring in aerodynamics as a self-supporting student, he graduated from the Section of Aeronautics of the Faculty of Engineering at the Tokyo Imperial University in 1939.
and was related to the development of the Tachikawa Ki-94
in 1943 as the chief designer. The high-altitude interceptor aircraft
was designed to intercept the bomber
, and proposed to the Imperial Japanese Army
. One aircraft was completed in August 1945 but before it flew, the World War II
ended.
Before the start of the development, Hasegawa had designed an airfoil
based on his theory, and publishing the paper in the scholarly journal of the Japan Society for Aeronautical Sciences (present The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences) in March, 1942. He named it "TH airfoil theory" after his name (Tatsuo Hasegawa). He used the "TH airfoil" to the Ki-94.
The idea of this theory is very similar to the Supercritical airfoil
theory that NASA
created later in the 1960s, thus, when NASA lodged the patent application of the airfoil in Japan in 1979, this patent was not admitted to the agency.
(GHQ) of General Douglas MacArthur
, but, in next year, Hasegawa was employed by Toyota which was recruiting engineers at that time.
After he joined Toyota, Hasegawa was involved in the development of the Toyopet Crown as the sub-chief (fuku-Shusa) of the development to support his chief (Shusa), Kenya Nakamura.
At the development for the Crown, the Shusa (product manager) Organization was introduced first time. It is considered that this system referred to the Chief designer system of the fighter development.
Afterwards, he led the developments of the first generation models of Toyota Publica
, Sports 800
, Corolla, Celica
and Carina
, as the chief (Shusa). He also was involved in the Toyopet SKB truck, the precursor to the Toyota Dyna
He was promoted to the general manager of the product planning office and senior director, and retired from this industry in 1982.
, Delaware, between 1982 and 1988, where he advised them on the marketing strategy aimed at automobile industry. Detroit Development Center may be one of his contributions.
Afterwards, he returned to Japan and concentrating on gardening with roses and cattleyas.
On November 15, 2004, he was elected one of 2004 inductees in Japan Automotive Hall of Fame for application of aerodynamics theory to automobile design, and main-stream product planning and management in corporate environment.
On April 29, 2008, Tatsuo Hasegawa died aged 92 in Yokohama
, Kanagawa
.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
. He built the base of the economy car
Economy car
An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. Typical economy cars are small, light weight, and inexpensive to buy. Economy car designers are forced by stringent design constraints to be inventive...
s in Japan through the development of the Corolla and the Toyota Publica
Toyota Publica
The Toyota Publica was a small car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 1961 to 1978. Conceived as a family car to fulfil the requirements of the "national car concept", it was the smallest Toyota car during that period and was superseded in that role by the Toyota Starlet, which...
.
Early years
Tatsuo Hasegawa was born in TottoriTottori, Tottori
is the capital city of Tottori Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.As of 2006, the city has an estimated population of 200,974 and a density of 262.48 persons per km². The total area is 765.66 km²....
, Tottori Prefecture
Tottori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region. The capital is the city of Tottori. It is the least populous prefecture in Japan.- History :Before the Meiji Restoration, Tottori encompassed the old provinces of Hōki and Inaba...
on February 8, 1916.
After majoring in aerodynamics as a self-supporting student, he graduated from the Section of Aeronautics of the Faculty of Engineering at the Tokyo Imperial University in 1939.
Tachikawa Ki-94
After graduating, he joined Tachikawa Aircraft CorporationTachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd
was an aircraft manufacturer in the Empire of Japan, specializing primarily in aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. It was based at Tachikawa, in Tokyo Prefecture.-Tachikawa Aircraft:...
and was related to the development of the Tachikawa Ki-94
Tachikawa Ki-94
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1 ....
in 1943 as the chief designer. The high-altitude interceptor aircraft
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
was designed to intercept the bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
, and proposed to the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. One aircraft was completed in August 1945 but before it flew, the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended.
Before the start of the development, Hasegawa had designed an airfoil
Airfoil
An airfoil or aerofoil is the shape of a wing or blade or sail as seen in cross-section....
based on his theory, and publishing the paper in the scholarly journal of the Japan Society for Aeronautical Sciences (present The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences) in March, 1942. He named it "TH airfoil theory" after his name (Tatsuo Hasegawa). He used the "TH airfoil" to the Ki-94.
The idea of this theory is very similar to the Supercritical airfoil
Supercritical airfoil
A supercritical airfoil is an airfoil designed, primarily, to delay the onset of wave drag in the transonic speed range. Supercritical airfoils are characterized by their flattened upper surface, highly cambered aft section, and greater leading edge radius compared with traditional airfoil shapes...
theory that NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
created later in the 1960s, thus, when NASA lodged the patent application of the airfoil in Japan in 1979, this patent was not admitted to the agency.
Toyota
He lost job by the end of the war because Japan was prohibited to manufacture the airplane under control of the General Head QuarterSupreme Commander of the Allied Powers
Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers was the title held by General Douglas MacArthur during the Occupation of Japan following World War II...
(GHQ) of General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
, but, in next year, Hasegawa was employed by Toyota which was recruiting engineers at that time.
After he joined Toyota, Hasegawa was involved in the development of the Toyopet Crown as the sub-chief (fuku-Shusa) of the development to support his chief (Shusa), Kenya Nakamura.
At the development for the Crown, the Shusa (product manager) Organization was introduced first time. It is considered that this system referred to the Chief designer system of the fighter development.
Toyota Publica
The Toyota Publica was a small car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 1961 to 1978. Conceived as a family car to fulfil the requirements of the "national car concept", it was the smallest Toyota car during that period and was superseded in that role by the Toyota Starlet, which...
, Sports 800
Toyota Sports 800
The Toyota Sports 800 was Toyota Motor Corporation's first production sports car. The prototype for the Sports 800, called the Toyota Publica Sports, debuted at the 1962 Tokyo Auto Show, featuring a space age sliding canopy and utilizing the power train of the Toyota Publica 700, a Japanese market...
, Corolla, Celica
Toyota Celica
The Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial"....
and Carina
Toyota Carina
Released in Japan August 1977, the next-generation Carina was available in Germany in December 1977 and in other European countries during 1978. In most markets it was fitted with the same 1,588 cc 2T engine as its predecessor. In the Carina, an output of was claimed...
, as the chief (Shusa). He also was involved in the Toyopet SKB truck, the precursor to the Toyota Dyna
Toyota Dyna
The Toyota Dyna is a light truck for commercial use. In the Japanese market, the Dyna is sold alongside its twin called Toyoace. The original Toyoace of 1956 was an improvement over the Toyopet SKB Truck...
He was promoted to the general manager of the product planning office and senior director, and retired from this industry in 1982.
After Toyota
Hasegawa was a senior consultant to DuPontDuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
, Delaware, between 1982 and 1988, where he advised them on the marketing strategy aimed at automobile industry. Detroit Development Center may be one of his contributions.
Afterwards, he returned to Japan and concentrating on gardening with roses and cattleyas.
On November 15, 2004, he was elected one of 2004 inductees in Japan Automotive Hall of Fame for application of aerodynamics theory to automobile design, and main-stream product planning and management in corporate environment.
On April 29, 2008, Tatsuo Hasegawa died aged 92 in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
.
External links
- My Father Tatsuo Hasegawa (1916 - 2008) - Tribute to Tatsuo Hasegawa by his son - Translocated to the new web host since old AOL hometown service was shut down on October 31, 2008