Yoshimaro Yamashina
Encyclopedia
Marquis was a Japanese
ornithologist. He was the founder of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
.
, Tokyo
, the second son of Prince Kikumaro Yamashina. He developed a love of birds at an early age, which were found in abundance on the vast Yamashina estate in Tokyo. He was presented with a stuffed
mandarin duck
for his sixth birthday present.
Yamashina attended the Gakushuin
Peer’s School, and per the orders of Emperor Meiji
entered the Imperial Japanese Army
, graduating from the 33rd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy with a specialty in artillery
.
In 1920, per a revision in the Imperial Household Law
, he lost his status as an imperial prince, and was given the peerage title of marquis
(shishaku), and was promoted in military rank to lieutenant
. However, he resigned his commission in the Army in 1929 to pursue his interest in zoology
, and entered Tokyo Imperial University, graduating in 1931.
In 1932, he set up the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology at his home in Shibuya
, Tokyo, to house his extensive bird collections, ornithological library, and research facilities. He specialized in research on the avian species of Asia
and the Pacific Ocean
, and conducted his doctoral research on avian cytology
, in affiliation with Hokkaido University
. He obtained his doctorate in this field in 1942.
Afterwards, he devoted considerable effort into genetic research on the chromosome
s of birds, and the use of DNA
to distinguish between species.
In 1984, the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology it moved to the present location, Abiko, Chiba
.
Over his career, Yamashina was author of numerous technical papers, and several books. He was co-author of the Handlist of the Japanese Birds, and author of Birds in Japan (1961). In 1981 he described a new species of flightless rail from Okinawa Island
. In 1977 he was awarded the Jean Delacour Prize, and in 1978 he received the Order of the Golden Ark
from the World Wildlife Fund. Among Yamashina’s scientific first descriptions are the Okinawa Rail
, the Daito Winter Wren
, the Rota Bridled White-eye
, the Long-billed White-eye
, the Tinian Monarch
and the Palau Owl
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
ornithologist. He was the founder of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
Yamashina Institute for Ornithology
The is a non-profit scientific research organization in Japan, specializing in ornithology studies.-History:The Yamashina Institute for Ornithology was founded by Dr. Yoshimaro Yamashina at his home in Shibuya, Tokyo as a private museum to store his collection of bird specimens and books. Marquis...
.
Biography
Yamashina was born in KōjimachiKojimachi
is a neighborhood in Chiyoda, Tokyo.Prior to the arrival of Tokugawa Ieyasu, it was known as . The area developed as townspeople settled along the Kōshū Kaidō. In 1878 Kōjimachi became a ward in the city of Tokyo. It was the forerunner of Chiyoda which is now a special ward.The Kōjimachi ward was...
, 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...
, the second son of Prince Kikumaro Yamashina. He developed a love of birds at an early age, which were found in abundance on the vast Yamashina estate in Tokyo. He was presented with a stuffed
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
mandarin duck
Mandarin Duck
The Mandarin Duck , or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.-Description:...
for his sixth birthday present.
Yamashina attended the Gakushuin
Gakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
Peer’s School, and per the orders of Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
entered the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, graduating from the 33rd class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy with a specialty in artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
.
In 1920, per a revision in the Imperial Household Law
Imperial Household Law
is a statute in Japanese law that governs the line of imperial succession, the membership of the imperial family, and several other matters pertaining to the administration of the Imperial Household.-Passage of the Law:...
, he lost his status as an imperial prince, and was given the peerage title of marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
(shishaku), and was promoted in military rank to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. However, he resigned his commission in the Army in 1929 to pursue his interest in zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, and entered Tokyo Imperial University, graduating in 1931.
In 1932, he set up the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology at his home in Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
, Tokyo, to house his extensive bird collections, ornithological library, and research facilities. He specialized in research on the avian species of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and conducted his doctoral research on avian cytology
Cell biology
Cell biology is a scientific discipline that studies cells – their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level...
, in affiliation with Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:...
. He obtained his doctorate in this field in 1942.
Afterwards, he devoted considerable effort into genetic research on the chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s of birds, and the use of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
to distinguish between species.
In 1984, the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology it moved to the present location, Abiko, Chiba
Abiko, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 134,154 and a population density of 3110 persons per km²...
.
Over his career, Yamashina was author of numerous technical papers, and several books. He was co-author of the Handlist of the Japanese Birds, and author of Birds in Japan (1961). In 1981 he described a new species of flightless rail from Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of...
. In 1977 he was awarded the Jean Delacour Prize, and in 1978 he received the Order of the Golden Ark
Order of the Golden Ark
The Most Excellent Order of the Golden Ark was established by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1971 as an order of merit. Although not awarded by, it is recognized by the government of the Netherlands as a legal order. It is awarded to people for major contributions to nature conservation...
from the World Wildlife Fund. Among Yamashina’s scientific first descriptions are the Okinawa Rail
Okinawa Rail
The Okinawa Rail is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae. It is endemic to Okinawa Island in Japan where it is known as the...
, the Daito Winter Wren
Daito Winter Wren
The Daito Winter Wren is a controversial subspecies of the Winter Wren. It is known only by the type specimen, a male collected in 1938 on Minami Daitō-jima, the main island of the Daito Archipelago east of Okinawa...
, the Rota Bridled White-eye
Rota Bridled White-eye
The Rota Bridled White-eye is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to Northern Mariana Islands.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss....
, the Long-billed White-eye
Long-billed White-eye
The Long-billed White-eye is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family.It is endemic to the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia....
, the Tinian Monarch
Tinian Monarch
The Tinian Monarch is a species of bird in the Monarchidae family.It is endemic to Northern Mariana Islands, and found only on the island of Tinian....
and the Palau Owl
Palau Owl
The Palau Owl is a species of owl in the Strigidae family. Formerly united with the scops owls in Otus, it is now placed in its own genus Pyrroglaux.It is endemic to Palau.-References:...
.