Yagi-Uda Antenna Patent Day
Historical AnniversariesWhat Is Yagi-Uda Antenna Patent Day?
August 13 marks "Yagi-Uda Antenna Patent Day," commemorating the day in 1926 when Professor Hidetsugu Yagi and Assistant Professor Shintaro Uda of Tohoku Imperial University obtained a patent for the "Yagi-Uda antenna."
A Japanese Invention That Became a World Standard
The Yagi-Uda antenna is a directional antenna capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves strongly in a specific direction, and it remains one of the most widely used antenna designs for television reception worldwide.
- Origin: Commemorates the patent obtained on August 13, 1926 by Hidetsugu Yagi and Shintaro Uda for the "Yagi-Uda antenna"
- Inventors: Professor Hidetsugu Yagi and Assistant Professor Shintaro Uda of Tohoku Imperial University (now Tohoku University)
- Features: A highly directional antenna capable of efficient radio wave transmission and reception
- Legacy: Later became a common television antenna, installed on rooftops across Japan
A Technology "Reimported" After Recognition Abroad
When first developed, the Yagi-Uda antenna attracted little attention in Japan. It was researchers overseas who recognized its value, leading to its adoption in radar and television broadcasting technology worldwide. Today, its distinctive fishbone shape is a familiar sight on rooftops everywhere.
How to Spend Today
- Learn how the Yagi-Uda antenna works
- Take a closer look at the antennas you see around you
- Read about the achievements of Hidetsugu Yagi and Shintaro Uda
- Explore other Japanese inventions that spread around the world
A Japanese Invention Living on Rooftops
Yagi-Uda Antenna Patent Day is a chance to appreciate the history of invention behind familiar technology. On August 13, remember the ingenuity behind the antennas we so often overlook.