Japanese professor honored for his work

From the moment Kenichi Tsuda first delved into the intricate tales of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he was captivated. The narratives of loyalty, strategy and ambition sparked a lifelong passion for that part of Chinese history, compelling him to explore countless comics and novels.

Yet, little did he know that a real-life encounter would mirror one of the most famous stories from that era — Liu Bei's legendary three visits to Zhuge Liang.

It was Sept 27, 2018, in Wuhan, Hubei province, when Tsuda, having just delivered a presentation at an academic conference, found himself approached by a figure of significant stature.

Professor Yan Jianbing, then dean of the College of Plant Science and Technology at Huazhong Agricultural University, extended an unexpected invitation. Initially not taking it too seriously, Tsuda was soon reminded of the fateful story, one that he cherishes, when two heartfelt follow-up invitations arrived in the following two days.

Fast-forward five years, and Tsuda has not only accepted that invitation but has also flourished in his role, building a pioneering research team in plant immunity that stands at the forefront of international science.