Hideki Yukawa was a Japanese theoretical physicist born on January 23, 1907, in Osaka, Japan. He is best known for his work in particle physics, particularly for proposing the existence of the meson, a subatomic particle that mediates the strong nuclear force. In 1949, Yukawa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of nuclear forces. Yukawa studied at Kyoto University and later became a professor there. His research laid the foundation for the development of modern particle physics and influenced many scientists. Yukawa's work has had a lasting impact on the field, making him a significant figure in the history of science.