岩崎俊一(Shun-ichi Iwasaki)教授最初在信息的磁存储领域的研究对目前磁记录体系小型化有着巨大的贡献作用。1958年他发明了一种金属合金微粒录音磁带，使得8mm录像磁带和数字录音磁带商业化。1968年，为分析记录机制，Iwasaki博士引入了自发磁化理论，取代了仅仅适用于水平分量的经典理论。这个理论为国际所公认。1977年在国际磁性会议提出垂直磁记录的主张。他在高密度垂直磁记录领域的工作不仅不仅在日本，在美国和欧洲同样同样也加速了体系实际应用的研究，。随着2005年垂直磁记录型硬盘的面世，他的发明开创了磁存储技术的新时代。他将他的整个事业投入到高密度记录技术和理论的研究中。

岩崎俊一教授1949年和1958年在日本仙台东北大学分别获得学士学位和工科博士学位。1964年Iwasaki成为教授，掌管信息记录实验室，1986年为东北大学电器通信研究机构的负责人和教授。1989年任日本东北工业大学校长，2004年兼任日本东北工业大学理事长，2003年被选为日本学士院院士。

岩崎俊一教授在日本所任职务还包括：日本电子情报通信协会（IEICE）副理事；电机工程师及磁学学会原副理事；日本教育部专家组成员，委员；日本科技促进委员会（磁记录）组织者兼主席。IEEE的理事。IEEE磁学部门东京分部门的副主席和主席

岩崎俊一教授所获得的奖励包括：

日本文化功劳奖（1987）

日本学士院奖（1 987） 

IEEE电脑部门颁发的科技奖，以奖励他在高密度磁记录方面的贡献。（1987）

日本科学技术部颁发的个人成绩优异奖（1988）

瑞宝重光奖章（2003）

On the Invention of Perpendicular Magnetic Recording

Shun-ichi Iwasaki

Member of The Japan Academy

Chairman of the board, Tohoku Institute of Technology

Dr. Shun-ichi Iwasaki received his B.S. in 1949 and Ph.D. in 1959 both in Electrical Engineering and both from Tohoku University. He was a full Professor since 1964, and the director of Research Institute of Electrical Communication in Tohoku University from 1986 to 1988. Dr. Iwasaki has been President and Chairman of Board of Tohoku Institute of Technology. He is a Life Fellow of IEEE, and became a member of Japan Academy in 2003. He has been awarded by many prestigious prizes, including a Prize of Japan Academy in 1987 on his original contribution to perpendicular recording technology, and the IEEE Computer Society Achievement Award in1988 and the 1989 IEEE Cledo Brunetti Award. In 1994, Dr. Iwasaki treated as the highest scientist in Japan; he presented a lecture to the Emperor of Japan. His lecture was entitled as “magnetism and information”.

Dr. Shun-ichi Iwasaki created innovative technologies through his pioneering research in high-density magnetic recording such as video-cassette tapes and computer hard disk drives. He invented metallic particulate tape that dramatically reduced the size of video equipment. Perpendicular magnetic recording is another his significant invention in 1977 that is well recognized throughout the world. Since the commercialization in 2005, perpendicular magnetic recording has revolutionized hard disk drives and consumer electronics for audio/video applications.

In this lecture, he introduces how the metallic powder tape was developed in conventional longitudinal recording. Perpendicular magnetic recording was invented from in depth understanding of the longitudinal recording. The essential approach to perpendicular recording is presented in association with his epoch-making experiments. He discovered that both recording modes, longitudinal and perpendicular, have the contrasting characters, which was the principal guideline for the research. Then, this lecture is extended to the discussion on the impact of high density magnetic recording to our social activities. A valuable lesson on scientific research activities is finally indicated based on his experiences as the inventor of perpendicular magnetic recording.