The papers in this issue were contributed by close friends, the
publication of this issue possible. Owing to some un- coworkers and
pupils ofProfessor Setsuro Ebashi. They are expected troubles ofone
ofthe editors (M. E. ) the publication dedicated to him to commemorate
his great and pioneering ofthis issue has been greatly delayed, for
which he sincerely contribution to the advancement of muscle physiology
and apologizes to all the contributors and other editors. We
biochemistry, which in course of time exerted a great in- believe that
this issue reveals the present stateofresearch on fluence on the whole
field oflife science. We would like to muscle and/or calcium that had
been opened up by Professor express our cordial thanks to an the
contributors who made Ebashi. Shoichi Imai, Niigata, Japan Makoto Endo,
Saitama, Japan Iwao Ohtsuki, Fakuoka, Japan Molecular and Cellular
Biochemistry 190: 3-4, 1999. Dedication Setsuro Ebashi was born in Tokyo
on 31st August, 1922. There is aJapanese saying that 'Sandalwood is
fragrant even in seed leaf. ' Genius displays itself even in childhood.
Finishing the six-year course ofprimary school in five years and the
five-year course ofmiddle school in four years, he entered the First
High School, the most prestigious high school in Japan, at the age
ofonly 15. In July 1942, when he was an undergraduate student of
FacultyofMedicine, Tokyo Imperial University (now called University
ofTokyo), he by chance visited the laboratory of Dr.
