Takuji Iwasaki
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese meteorologist, biologist, ethnologist historian. He was a meteorologist at the Ishigaki Weather Station, Ishigaki
, Okinawa Prefecture
. Initially, when weather forecasting was in its infancy, he had been badly criticized by local people when his forecast of a typhoon was incorrect. Nevertheless, his work as a meteorologist was better understood by locals later in his career, which endeared him to people.
in Sendai, a city in the Miyagi Prefecture
. He discontinued high school and became a trainee at the Central Meteological Station (now the Japan Meteorological Agency
). He also worked at the weather stations of Nemuro
and Sapporo. Takuji was stationed at the Ishigaki Weather Observatory (now Ishigaki Weather Station) in 1899 when he married. In 1900, he became the second director of the observatory, and had remained in Ishigaki until his death.
While he was stationed at the observatory in Ishigaki
, Takuji studied various unrelated fields including society, traditions, and natural sciences related to Ishigaki. He became the director of Yaeyama
Library, which later became the Yaeyama branch of the Okinawa Prefectural Library. He started the first kindergarten on the island, and took part in a venture enterprise of culturing black pearls in Kabira Bay with Mikimoto Kōkichi. One of Takuji's weaknesses was language. He only spoke a Sendai dialect, and up until his death, conversation with local people was very difficult.
In 1932, Takuji retired from the Ishigaki Observatory but remained as a part-time worker. Then living in Tonoshiro, Ishigaki
, he named his house "Fukurokaze Soh". He died there on May 2, 1937, at the age of 69.
In 2001, Takuji was made an honorary citizen of Ishigaki
.
Takuji has been famous for his studies in the fields of biology. With the help of scholars such as Yasushi Nawa
and Matsutoshi Matsumura, many new species were discovered, including several species called Iwasaki in Japanese.
As for insects, Takuji discovered and named Iwasaki Ootoge Kamemushi, Iwasaki Kamemushi, Iwasaki Kusazemi, Iwasaki Kinsuji Kamikiri, Iwasaki Konoha, Iwasaki Shirocho, Iwasaki Zemi, Iwasaki Himeharuzemi, Iwasaki Herikamemushi, and Iwasaki Kusazemi. He also bred butterflies such as "Oogomadara" and Konoha Cho, and observed their behaviour. The Japanese name "Oogomadara" means "paper kite" or the "rice paper butterfly", Idea leuconoe
, and is known especially for its presence in butterfly greenhouses and live butterfly expositions. The Paper Kite butterfly has its origins in Southeast Asia. Snakes named by Takuji include Iwasaki Sedaka Hebi(Pareas iwasakii) and Iwasaki Wamon Beni Hebi (Calliophis macclellandi iwasakii). He bred the poisonous Sakishima Habu and devised ways to cope with the snake.
Takuji had collected a number of forklore and local songs, and tried to introduce the culture of Ishigaki Island through Yanagida Kunio and Origuchi Nobuo.
Ishigaki
*Ishigaki Island*Ishigaki, Okinawa*Ishigaki Airport*Japanese escort Ishigaki*Ai Ishigaki , guitarist for The Mad Capsule Markets*Ishigaki Rin...
, Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
. Initially, when weather forecasting was in its infancy, he had been badly criticized by local people when his forecast of a typhoon was incorrect. Nevertheless, his work as a meteorologist was better understood by locals later in his career, which endeared him to people.
Other names
Takuji was also known as 糸数原主人袋風荘主人,蝶仙、蝶翁. He was also called "天文屋の御主前" （tenbunyah no ushumai）, meaning master of the weather observatory, or "nahbera no ushumai" (literal: master of sponge cucumber).Life
Takuji was born on October 17, 1869, to a family of samuraiSamurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
in Sendai, a city in the Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
. He discontinued high school and became a trainee at the Central Meteological Station (now the Japan Meteorological Agency
Japan Meteorological Agency
The or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
). He also worked at the weather stations of Nemuro
Nemuro Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The Japanese claim the disputed Southern Kurile Islands as part of this subprefecture....
and Sapporo. Takuji was stationed at the Ishigaki Weather Observatory (now Ishigaki Weather Station) in 1899 when he married. In 1900, he became the second director of the observatory, and had remained in Ishigaki until his death.
While he was stationed at the observatory in Ishigaki
Ishigaki
*Ishigaki Island*Ishigaki, Okinawa*Ishigaki Airport*Japanese escort Ishigaki*Ai Ishigaki , guitarist for The Mad Capsule Markets*Ishigaki Rin...
, Takuji studied various unrelated fields including society, traditions, and natural sciences related to Ishigaki. He became the director of Yaeyama
Yaeyama District, Okinawa
is a district located in Okinawa, Japan. The district covers all of the Yaeyama Islands except Ishigaki and the disputed Senkaku Islands.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 5,579 and the density of 15.37 persons per km²...
Library, which later became the Yaeyama branch of the Okinawa Prefectural Library. He started the first kindergarten on the island, and took part in a venture enterprise of culturing black pearls in Kabira Bay with Mikimoto Kōkichi. One of Takuji's weaknesses was language. He only spoke a Sendai dialect, and up until his death, conversation with local people was very difficult.
In 1932, Takuji retired from the Ishigaki Observatory but remained as a part-time worker. Then living in Tonoshiro, Ishigaki
Ishigaki
*Ishigaki Island*Ishigaki, Okinawa*Ishigaki Airport*Japanese escort Ishigaki*Ai Ishigaki , guitarist for The Mad Capsule Markets*Ishigaki Rin...
, he named his house "Fukurokaze Soh". He died there on May 2, 1937, at the age of 69.
In 2001, Takuji was made an honorary citizen of Ishigaki
Ishigaki
*Ishigaki Island*Ishigaki, Okinawa*Ishigaki Airport*Japanese escort Ishigaki*Ai Ishigaki , guitarist for The Mad Capsule Markets*Ishigaki Rin...
.
Achievements
Takuji proposed that all buildings in typhoon-prone Ishigaki Island be built in concrete, including his observatory. This became a reality in 1915, and now almost all buildings in Ishigaki are erected in concrete. He observed every typhoon which hit Ishigaki Island, and during one storm in 1914, a small stone hit his right eye and he lost his sight in that eye.Takuji has been famous for his studies in the fields of biology. With the help of scholars such as Yasushi Nawa
Yasushi Nawa
was a Japanese entomologist from Gifu Prefecture.- Personal history :Nawa was born in the Motosu District of Gifu Prefecture and had a strong affinity to bugs even in his youth...
and Matsutoshi Matsumura, many new species were discovered, including several species called Iwasaki in Japanese.
As for insects, Takuji discovered and named Iwasaki Ootoge Kamemushi, Iwasaki Kamemushi, Iwasaki Kusazemi, Iwasaki Kinsuji Kamikiri, Iwasaki Konoha, Iwasaki Shirocho, Iwasaki Zemi, Iwasaki Himeharuzemi, Iwasaki Herikamemushi, and Iwasaki Kusazemi. He also bred butterflies such as "Oogomadara" and Konoha Cho, and observed their behaviour. The Japanese name "Oogomadara" means "paper kite" or the "rice paper butterfly", Idea leuconoe
Idea leuconoe
The Paper Kite, Rice Paper, or Large Tree Nymph butterfly is known especially for its presence in butterfly greenhouses and live butterfly expositions...
, and is known especially for its presence in butterfly greenhouses and live butterfly expositions. The Paper Kite butterfly has its origins in Southeast Asia. Snakes named by Takuji include Iwasaki Sedaka Hebi(Pareas iwasakii) and Iwasaki Wamon Beni Hebi (Calliophis macclellandi iwasakii). He bred the poisonous Sakishima Habu and devised ways to cope with the snake.
Takuji had collected a number of forklore and local songs, and tried to introduce the culture of Ishigaki Island through Yanagida Kunio and Origuchi Nobuo.