Eiju Yatsu

Yatsu's interest in the science of geomorphology also extended to philosophical aspects of the subject in a 'Great debate' about the subject. This paper and one of 1992 comprise Part 1 of Fantasia in Geomorphology. Part 2 of this volume is a wide-ranging discussion of the philosophy and practice of geomorphology that includes Peirce's theory of abductive reasoning, Paul Feyerabend's 'anything goes' by way of 'Neurath's boat'.

Eiju Yatsu (20 July 1920 - 15 December 2016) was a Japanese geomorphologist who taught in Japan, US and Canada. He is best known for his contributions to weathering and 'rock control' in geomorphology.

Eiju Yatsu was born in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 1920. In 1940, he entered the Tokyo Higher Normal School and studied literature and geography but then changed his interests to science. He graduated from the Tokyo University of Literature and Science in 1945 with a BSc, having studied physical geography, geology and geophysics. He then went on to do a wide range of postgraduate studies and was awarded a DSc from Tokyo University of Education[?] in 1957. From 1954 to 1966, he was assistant and then full professor at Chuo University (Tokyo), teaching earth sciences and engineering geology. He was visiting professor at Louisiana State University in 1965–66 and the University of Ottawa in 1966–69, and then became associate and then full professor at the University of Guelph. In 1976, he left Canada to return to Japan and became professor at the Institute of Geosciences, University of Tsukuba, where he taught geomorphology and rock mechanics. From 1980 to 1986, he was professor at Joetsu University of Education teaching environmental science.