Yoshio Nishina (6.12.1890-10.01.1951) was a Japanese physicist and a member of the Japan Academy (1948). He graduated from the University of Tokyo. He furthered his studies with N. Bohr in Copenhagen. He worked at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Tokyo (head of a department from 1928) and headed the Scientific Research Institute and the Science Council of Japan.
His research was on atomic and nuclear physics, cosmic-ray physics and accelerator technology. In 1928 he gave the formula describing the scattering of photons by electrons in the Compton effect (the Klein–Nishina formula) and in 1937 he directed the construction of the first Japanese cyclotron. He showed that thorium-232 is fissioned by fast neutrons. He discovered (1940) uranium-237.
He promoted the expansion of scientific research in Japan and created a school in atomic physics (H. Yukawa, S. Tomonaga and others).