Koichi Shimoda graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo in 1943. In 1948 he joined the University as an associate professor of the School of Science and in 1959 as a professor. In the 1950s and 1960s, he made achievements in building the basis of the maser and laser study together with C.H. Townes and other scientists. After that, he studied laser spectroscopy and developed a wide variety of research. He served as the chairman of the Physics Education Society of Japan for 16 years, and he has published numerous educational textbooks and study guide. Furthermore, he has produced a large number of leading researchers and educators in the field of physics.

He was elected a Fellow of OSA in 1978. In 1979, he received OSA’s C.E.K. Mees Medal “In recognition of his contribution to quantum optics and double resonance spectroscopy and for his generous contributions to international cooperation in physics through conference organization and publication guidance.”