In the early 1950s Setsuro Ebashi was a graduate student at Tokyo University studying the biochemical models of muscle contraction. These models contracted in the presence of ATP but what caught his attention was that the models did not relax when ATP was exhausted. Ebashi decided in 1952 to attempt to elucidate the mechanism of muscle relaxation using these models. This decision started a journey that would lead him to be the first to propose the calcium concept of muscle contraction and relaxation in 1961. It was an unpopular theory with biochemists who refused to accept that anything as simple as an inorganic ion, Ca2+, could control anything as important as muscle contraction. Ebashi was convinced that he was correct. He proceeded to show that micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ activated contraction. He discovered the particulate nature of the ATP dependent relaxing factor (the sarcoplasmic reticulum) and determined that it acted by binding Ca2+ in 1961. Most notably, he discovered in 1966 the Ca2+ receptor in muscle troponin, which mediated Ca2+ control of contraction. Ebashi's discoveries were considered the most important in the muscle field since the 1950s. Ebashi had to overcome the doubt of the scientific community. This story is one of great scientific achievement against great odds and the emergence of Japanese muscle research onto the international scientific stage.