Abstract: As the youngest winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in Japan, Koichi Tanaka was raised

in a very humble family and began to work in Shimadzu after graduation. In 1985, Tanaka accidentally made a

tremendous contribution in the scientific field, solved the problem of mass spectrometry of bio-macromolecule,

and was awarded the Nobel Prize in the identity of normal company employee with bachelor degree. This paper

is intended to introduce the life, achievements and social background of Koichi Tanaka, and the significant role

companies play in academic research.

Key Words: Koichi Tanaka; Nobel Prize; Mass spectrometry