Dr. Akira Kaji of Philadelphia passed away on May 13, 2023.  He was 93 years old. Born in Tokyo, Japan, he was the son of the late Kiichi and Chiyo (Hanai) Kaji.  He was also the beloved husband of Dr. Hideko Kaji, who passed away in January 2023.

After receiving a Fulbright Scholarship and obtaining his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Kaji became a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania. A passionate molecular biochemist and researcher, Dr. Kaji discovered the Ribosomal Recycling Factor (RRF), which releases the ribosome from mRNA after completion of protein synthesis. He wrote prolifically and had hundreds of publications.  His most recent publication was in March 2023 and titled "A novel function for eukaryotic elongation factor 3: Inhibition of stop codon readthrough in yeast," ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36948349/ ), and Dr. Kaji was writing another paper even after this publication.  A selection of some of the many of his science achievements are mentioned on this page https://www.longdom.org/editor/akira-kaji-12758 . Included in the summary mentions obtaining the very first patent for the use of antisense 20mer for the control of Herpes virus pathological effect (anti-sense nucleotides).  Today, medical treatment that uses antisense oligonucleotides is made available globally by pharmaceutical companies. In addition, Akira and his wife Hideko made many contributions to several areas of biological sciences, of which included their original discovery of the specific binding of amino acid bound Transfer RNA to ribosomes in the presence of mRNA. This was the key to deciphering of the genetic code by Dr. Marshall Nirenberg & his Nobel Prize. Both trained many students and postdoctoral students from all over the world and kept in touch with them.

An exercise enthusiast, he was an ice hockey player in his youth, introduced his children to figure skating and became an ice dancer himself, and enjoyed swimming and snorkeling. He lived each day to the fullest and loved life.

He is survived by his son, Kenneth Kaji of Philadelphia; son, Eugene Kaji of Madison, WI; daughter Naomi Shodhan of Seattle, WA; and daughter, Amy Kaji of Los Angeles, CA.

Graveside services will be held at The Woodlands in Philadelphia Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 1PM.  The Cemetery is unable to accept any floral arrangements.

Arrangements entrusted to The Oliver H. Bair Co. (610) 449-8585