Author Description

Kenkichi Iwasawa is one of the most original and influential mathematicians in the 20-th century. He made a number of fundamental contributions in group theory and algebraic number theory. In group theory, he created the theory of (L)-groups (including the structure theorem called "Iwasawa decomposition"), which played an important role in the solution of Hilbert's Fifth Problem. In number theory, he constructed a beautiful theory on Z-extentions, now called "Iwasawa theory," realizing the deep analogy between number fields and algebraic function fields. Iwasawa theory gave a strong influence to the recent development of arithmetic algebraic geometry (including the solution of Fermat's Last Theorem). This Collected Papers of K. Iwasawa contains all 66 published papers, including 11 papers in Japanese, for which English abstracts (by the editors) are attached. These volumes include 5 (newly found) unpublished papers. They also include a masterly summery of Iwasawa theory by J. Coates (Cambridge Univ.).