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Although not a sufficient basis for sweeping generalizations, numbers of papers and citations are used here to assess the level of basic research in Japan.

Two main conclusions can be drawn from this assessment.

According to the NSI (National Science Indicators) database of the Institute of Scientific Information in the United States, Japan ranked 4th in the world in number of papers in 1981 but 2nd in 1997. This approximately 2.3-fold increase in the number of papers was the highest of the advanced nations (Japan, the U.S., the UK, Germany and France) in that period ( Fig. 6 ).

Fig. 6: Changes in the Principal Countries' Number of Papers

Given that excellent papers are cited frequently in other papers, the number of papers cited is an indicator of the quality of those papers. The percentage of Japanese papers cited in other papers increased constantly from 5.5% in 1981 to 7.8% in 1997.

As for the figure indicating how the average citations per paper compare with the international average (relative citation), in which the international average is assigned an arbitrary value of 1, Japan shows a relative citation of 0.8. The top countries are the U.S., UK, Germany and France ( Fig. 7 ).

Fig. 7: Principal countries' relative citation index for papers

The above data suggest that further efforts for qualitative improvement in Japan's basic research are required.

On the level of individual researches, however, there can be found many researches of internationally high recognition, such as research on neutrino mass measurement using Super-Kamiokande, a large-scale water cosmic ray and elementary particle detector at the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, located in Kamioka Town, Gifu Prefecture.

What is important is to take on cutting-edge, original research topics, rather than rehashing existing ones. This necessitates that researchers strive to maintain a flow of current information in order to stay abreast of cutting-edge research in their respective fields.

In addition to the already-mentioned problems with quality, the following factors are also believed to be responsible for the low relative citation of Japanese papers.

Fig. 8: Japanese researchers writing of papers in English

Thus, in addition to making qualitative improvements, Japan's researchers must also be encouraged to write and submit papers in English and to emphasize quality over quantity in order to produce authoritative papers that will be read widely throughout the world. And in result, the number of citation of Japanese papers will be increased.

The percentage of papers cited by other researchers in one's home country is an exceptionally high 67% in the U.S. due to that country's sheer number of papers, but only 30% or less in Europe. In Japan this figure is high 37%.

The percentage of papers co-authored with researchers in other countries is roughly 30% in other principal countries but less than 15% in Japan.

To a greater extent than European researchers do, Japanese researchers seek out American researchers as co-authoring partners.

Researchers who communicate with foreign researchers at least once per week regarding research-related matters account for approximately 5% of the total. The largest percentage was those who communicate once to several times per year (approximately 39%), while those who make almost no contact with foreign researchers account for approximately 36% ( Fig. 9 ).

Fig. 9: Frequency of communication with foreign researchers

The foregoing suggest that Japan's researchers have not yet firmly established personal networks in the international research community. Thus, researchers must raise their international recognition and strive to be accepted as potential partners and competitors in research by utilizing not just research conferences but also the Internet and other advanced means of communications more proactively in order to interact with and to give and receive intellectual stimulation from the international community of researchers on a daily basis.