The field of striated muscle regulation has changed tremendously over the last forty years. Many of the problems solved by Dr. Ebashi and by those stimulated by him offer new challenges for future generations of scientists. Many questions remain to be solved, and it should give particular pleasure to Dr. Ebashi to see how the seeds sown by him and his colleagues have now grown into a beautiful tree that bears rich fruit at present and will continue to do so for a long time in the future.