Michio Morishima's Conference Room

Seated in front of Professor Michio Morishima's portrait is Yoko Morishima, Professor Morishima's wife. To the left Professor Sir Tony Atkinson, former Chairman of STICERD and Professor Janet Hunter. To the right, Lord Darhrendorf, former Director of the School - 1974-84 and Professor Tim Besley, Director of STICERD.

It was 25 years since Michio Morishima obtained funding from Suntory Ltd and the Toyota Motor Company Ltd to establish STICERD. To mark this and the enormous contribution he and his wife, Yoko, have made to STICERD in the intervening years the School has agreed that room R505 (STICERD conference room) should now be named The Michio Morishima Room.

Sadly, Michio, as he likes to be called, was unable to be at the ceremony due to a prolonged illness but his wife, Yoko, was able to attend with their son, Akio. Yoko spoke of how Michio was not one for fuss and formalities but she felt that he would be very pleased indeed that STICERD had wanted to honour him in this way and was looking forward to telling him all about the events of the evening; about friends, colleagues, past and present, and admin staff who all felt extremely proud to have known and been associated with Michio and the Centres for 25 years.

Lord Dahrendorf spoke affectionately of Michio and remembered the time when Michio came to him and told him that he had secured a large donation for a new research centre from two large Japanese companies. This was at a time when universities were wary of accepting donations or sponsorship from the business world. How things had changed! he said. He spoke too of Michio's vision for the Centre and how important it was to him that the Centre was not just an Economic research centre but an international one encompassing related disciplines.

Also to mark the 25 years of STICERD, Professor Sir Tony Atkinson gave the first STICERD 25th Anniversary Lecture, "Top Incomes over the 20th Century". This lecture explored trends using income tax data from 1908 to the present.

For me personally, I have very much enjoyed working for Michio. He wasn't just my boss and a great economist but someone who I came to admire and respect for his care and compassion. His commitment to the Centre was untiring.

Sue Coles
Administrative Assistant