On February 25, 1988, Richard Rotunno interviewed Dr. Tetsuya “Ted” Fujita for the American Meteorological Society’s Recorded Interview Project. Dr. Fujita, a prominent meteorologist known for his pioneering work on severe weather phenomena, reflects on his early life, educational background, and career in meteorology. Born in Japan in 1920 to a family of educators, Fujita initially studied mechanical engineering and later pursued meteorology due to its minimal resource requirements. He completed his Doctor of Science degree at Tokyo University in 1953, focusing on typhoon structures, which later informed his innovative mesoscale weather research.

The interview covers Fujita's groundbreaking concepts, such as the mesocyclone and tornado dynamics, along with his notable development of the F-Scale for tornado intensity. Fujita discusses his experiences at the University of Chicago, where he collaborated with notable figures like Dr. Horace Byers and conducted significant field studies on mesoscale systems and tornado damage patterns. He recounts his observations of microbursts and downbursts, phenomena later linked to aviation disasters, which spurred further research despite initial skepticism from the scientific community.

Throughout, Fujita emphasizes his challenges and triumphs in advancing theories that were initially contested, such as the existence of multiple vortices within tornadoes. He also shares his ongoing interest in global meteorological phenomena, including the disproportionate occurrence of tornadoes in the United States. The interview provides valuable insights into Fujita’s scientific methodologies, his dedication to empirical research, and his influence on meteorology, particularly in the study of severe weather and tornado classification.