Toshihide Maskawa is a Japanese theoretical physicist known for his significant contributions to the field of particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2008, alongside Yoichiro Nambu and Makoto Kobayashi, for their work on the theory of quark mixing and the origin of CP violation, which helps explain the imbalance between matter and antimatter in the universe. Born on February 7, 1940, in Nagoya, Japan, Maskawa studied at Nagoya University and later worked at various institutions, including Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo. His research has had a profound impact on our understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions.