Kinoshita Mokutaro
Encyclopedia
was the pen-name of a Japanese author, Dramaturge
, poet
, art historian
and literary critic, as well as a licensed doctor specializing in dermatology
during Taishō
and early Shōwa period
Japan
. His other pen names included Horikason (堀花村)、Chikaisshakusei (地下一尺生), Sounan (葱南) and others. As professor of dermatology and a noted leprosy researcher, he served at four universities (South Manchuria Medical College, Aichi Medical College, Tohoku Imperial University, Tokyo Imperial University.)
as . He moved to Tokyo
at the age of 13 to pursue studies in the German language
, during which time he was also exposed to German literature
and history. In 1906 entered the Medical School of Tokyo Imperial University to pursue a medical career, but continued to translate literary works and to cultivate contacts in the literary world. In 1907, he met Tekkan Yosano
and was invited to become a member of the Myōjō
literary circle, to which he contributed translations and original works. In 1908 he was one of the founding members of the literary circle, through which he became acquainted with Kafū Nagai, Rokuzan Ogiwara
, Kaoru Osanai
, Kōtarō Takamura
, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Bin Ueda and other noted figures in the Japanese literary and artistic world. In 1909, he assisted Takuboku Ishikawa in the production of the literary magazine
Subaru.
Bin Ueda introduced Kinoshita to Mori Ōgai
, who suggested that he should concentrate on literature, as his reputation was becoming widespread, but that if he should continue to pursue medicine, he should specialize in dermatology
. Kinoshita chose both, and studied under the respected Keizo Dohi, the first professor of dermatology at Tokyo Imperial University, where he became interested in research on leprosy
.
He used the pen-name of Kinoshita for writing, and his real name of Ota for his medical career. One of his main topics of interest was the history of Japanese Christianity in 16th century. He wrote a play titled which depicted the Kirishitan
in feudal Japan.
In 1916, at age 31, he was named professor of dermatology at South Manchuria Medical University and earned his Ph.D. based on the culture of "Malassetia furfur". In 1920 he left Tokyo Imperial University to study mycology
at the Sorbonne
and Hôpital Saint-Louis
, and at the University of Lyon
in France
. He remained in France until 1924, and became fluent in the French language
. He became known for the “Classification of Ota and Langeron”, based on morphology
. His observations were very exact, and according to Hideyo Yamaguchi, this classification closely resembled the classification based on genes. In 1924, he was named Professor of Dermatology at Aichi Medical University
. In 1926, he went to Tohoku Imperial University.
He attended an International Leprosy Meeting at Bangkok
which revived his interest in leprosy problems. Knowing that Kensuke Mitsuda
had studied and described the “Mitsuda Reaction” (Lepromin reaction), He lobbied for the publication of an international journal, and finally Hayashi F, wrote the first article on the Mitsuda reaction in its first issue He opposed the prevalent practice in Japan of segregation of leprosy patients into sanatoriums.
In 1937, he returned to Tokyo Imperial University. His interest in leprosy increased and he performed experimental works intended for the inoculation of leprosy in which he failed. In 1938 he first presented the case which was later named Nevus of Ota
in 1939. The Nevus of Ota is a birthmark, mostly seen in Mongoloid people.
In 1941, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
from the Vichy French government
for his work on leprosy in French Indochina
. In 1944, he participated in medical conferences held in Shanghai
and Nanjing
.
In October 1945, he died of gastric cancer and his grave is located at the Tama Cemetery. The house in which he was born is preserved as the Kinoshita Mokutaro Memorial House.
Dramaturge
A dramaturge or dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals mainly with research and development of plays or operas...
, poet
Japanese poetry
Japanese poets first encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang Dynasty. It took them several hundred years to digest the foreign impact, make it a part of their culture and merge it with their literary tradition in their mother tongue, and begin to develop the diversity of their native poetry. For...
, art historian
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and literary critic, as well as a licensed doctor specializing in dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
during Taishō
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
and early Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His other pen names included Horikason (堀花村)、Chikaisshakusei (地下一尺生), Sounan (葱南) and others. As professor of dermatology and a noted leprosy researcher, he served at four universities (South Manchuria Medical College, Aichi Medical College, Tohoku Imperial University, Tokyo Imperial University.)
Biography
Kinoshita was born in what is now part of Itō, ShizuokaIto, Shizuoka
is a city located on the eastern shore of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 71,400 and the density of 578 persons per km². The total area was...
as . He moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
at the age of 13 to pursue studies in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, during which time he was also exposed to German literature
German literature
German literature comprises those literary texts written in the German language. This includes literature written in Germany, Austria, the German part of Switzerland, and to a lesser extent works of the German diaspora. German literature of the modern period is mostly in Standard German, but there...
and history. In 1906 entered the Medical School of Tokyo Imperial University to pursue a medical career, but continued to translate literary works and to cultivate contacts in the literary world. In 1907, he met Tekkan Yosano
Tekkan Yosano
was the pen-name of Yosano Hiroshi, a Japanese author and poet active in late Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa period Japan. His wife was fellow author Yosano Akiko. Kaoru Yosano, cabinet minister and politician is his grandson.-Early life:...
and was invited to become a member of the Myōjō
Myojo
' was the title of a monthly literary magazine first published in Japan between February 1900 and November 1908.The name Myōjō can be translates as either Bright Star or Morning Star. It was the organ of a poetry circle called Shinshisha which had been founded by Yosano Tekkan in 1899...
literary circle, to which he contributed translations and original works. In 1908 he was one of the founding members of the literary circle, through which he became acquainted with Kafū Nagai, Rokuzan Ogiwara
Rokuzan Ogiwara
, was a sculptor active in Meiji period Japan. His real name was . He is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern western-style bronze sculpture in Japan.-Early life:...
, Kaoru Osanai
Kaoru Osanai
was a Japanese theater director, playwright, and actor central in the development of modern Japanese theater.-Biography:Graduating from Tokyo University, Osanai founded the Free Theater with Ichikawa Sadanji II in 1909 and staged translations of Ibsen, Chekov, and Gorky, but there he experienced...
, Kōtarō Takamura
Kotaro Takamura
was a Japanese poet and sculptor.-Biography:Kōtarō was the son of Takamura Kōun, a renowned Japanese sculptor.He graduated from the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in 1902, where he studied sculpture...
, Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, Bin Ueda and other noted figures in the Japanese literary and artistic world. In 1909, he assisted Takuboku Ishikawa in the production of the literary magazine
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
Subaru.
Bin Ueda introduced Kinoshita to Mori Ōgai
Mori Ogai
was a Japanese physician, translator, novelist and poet. is considered his major work.- Early life :Mori was born as Mori Rintarō in Tsuwano, Iwami province . His family were hereditary physicians to the daimyō of the Tsuwano Domain...
, who suggested that he should concentrate on literature, as his reputation was becoming widespread, but that if he should continue to pursue medicine, he should specialize in dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
. Kinoshita chose both, and studied under the respected Keizo Dohi, the first professor of dermatology at Tokyo Imperial University, where he became interested in research on leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
.
He used the pen-name of Kinoshita for writing, and his real name of Ota for his medical career. One of his main topics of interest was the history of Japanese Christianity in 16th century. He wrote a play titled which depicted the Kirishitan
Kirishitan
, from Portuguese cristão, referred to Roman Catholic Christians in Japanese and is used as a historiographic term for Roman Catholics in Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries. Christian missionaries were known as bateren or iruman...
in feudal Japan.
In 1916, at age 31, he was named professor of dermatology at South Manchuria Medical University and earned his Ph.D. based on the culture of "Malassetia furfur". In 1920 he left Tokyo Imperial University to study mycology
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and Hôpital Saint-Louis
Hôpital Saint-Louis
Hôpital Saint-Louis is a hospital in Paris, France. It is part of the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris hospital system, and it is located at 1 avenue Claude-Vellefaux, in the 10th arrondissement, near the metro station: Goncourt.-External links:*...
, and at the University of Lyon
University of Lyon
The University of Lyon , located in Lyon and Saint Etienne, France, is a center for higher education and research comprising 16 institutions of higher education...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He remained in France until 1924, and became fluent in the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He became known for the “Classification of Ota and Langeron”, based on morphology
Morphology (linguistics)
In linguistics, morphology is the identification, analysis and description, in a language, of the structure of morphemes and other linguistic units, such as words, affixes, parts of speech, intonation/stress, or implied context...
. His observations were very exact, and according to Hideyo Yamaguchi, this classification closely resembled the classification based on genes. In 1924, he was named Professor of Dermatology at Aichi Medical University
Nagoya University
Nagoya University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:...
. In 1926, he went to Tohoku Imperial University.
He attended an International Leprosy Meeting at Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
which revived his interest in leprosy problems. Knowing that Kensuke Mitsuda
Kensuke Mitsuda
was a Japanese leprologist and director of the Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium and the National Sanatorum Nagashima Aiseien. He had been at the frontier of leprosy policy of Japan. He was given the Order of Cultural Merits and Damien-Dutton Award...
had studied and described the “Mitsuda Reaction” (Lepromin reaction), He lobbied for the publication of an international journal, and finally Hayashi F, wrote the first article on the Mitsuda reaction in its first issue He opposed the prevalent practice in Japan of segregation of leprosy patients into sanatoriums.
In 1937, he returned to Tokyo Imperial University. His interest in leprosy increased and he performed experimental works intended for the inoculation of leprosy in which he failed. In 1938 he first presented the case which was later named Nevus of Ota
Nevus of Ota
Nevus of Ota is a blue hyperpigmentation that occurs on the face. It was first reported by Dr. M. T. Ota of Japan in 1939.Nevus of Ota is caused by the entrapment of melanocytes in the upper third of the dermis...
in 1939. The Nevus of Ota is a birthmark, mostly seen in Mongoloid people.
In 1941, he was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
from the Vichy French government
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
for his work on leprosy in French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
. In 1944, he participated in medical conferences held in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
.
In October 1945, he died of gastric cancer and his grave is located at the Tama Cemetery. The house in which he was born is preserved as the Kinoshita Mokutaro Memorial House.
Major works
- The Death of Youth (少年の死 Shonen no shi, 1915)
- Sukanpo (すかんぽ, 1945)
- On The Front of Christian Church (南蛮寺門前 Nanban ji monzen, 1909)
- Memories of Gathering of Pan (パンの会の回想 Pan no kai no kaiso, 1926)
- Binding (本の装釘 Hon no sotei, 1942)