Start of Arabidopsis research in Japan: a personal memoir of the seedling stage 1985-2000.

The author received the research award from the Botanical Society of Japan in September 2009 under the title Development of Plant Molecular Biology using Arabidopsis. Here, the author summarizes the motivations and efforts of researchers at the start and subsequent expansion of Arabidopsis research in Japan. Pioneering study that focused on Arabidopsis characteristics started in the 1960s but it did not expand until the mid-1980s when several research groups started their studies with the new and clear objectives of examining the characteristics and capacity of multi-cellular plants by use of a molecular genetics approach. Together, members of these research groups helped to promote the novel research field, and established a nationwide system encouraging students and young researchers to join in Arabidopsis research, and supporting them scientifically and financially.