The contributions of K. Asai and H. Tanaka in fuzzy optimization

The first researchers to publish an operationalization of the Bellman and Zadeh proposed approach to “Decision making in a fuzzy environment” [3] were H. Tanaka and K. Asai in their 1973 article [20] which was published in English in 1974 [21]. Between 1973 and 1987 these two researchers wrote fundamental articles on fuzzy optimization with their collaborators. This paper overviews their great contributions to fuzzy optimization focusing on their contributions before the “fuzzy boom”.