Springer Biographies The books published in the Springer Biographies tell of the life and work of scholars, innovators, and pioneers in all fields of learning and throughout the ages. Prominent scientists and philosophers will feature, but so too will lesser known personalities whose significant contributions deserve greater recognition and whose remarkable life stories will stir and motivate readers. Authored by historians and other academic writers, the volumes describe and analyse the main achievements of their subjects in manner accessible to nonspecialists, interweaving these with salient aspects of the protagonists’ personal lives. Autobiographies and memoirs also fall into the scope of the series. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/13617 Hideo Mohri Imperial Biologists The Imperial Family of Japan and Their Contributions to Biological Research 123 Hideo Mohri University of Tokyo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan Translated by Editorial advisor Yoko Kawazoe Naoto Ueno Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan National Institute for Basic Biology Okazaki, Aichi, Japan ISSN 2365-0613 ISSN 2365-0621 (electronic) Springer Biographies ISBN 978-981-13-6755-7 ISBN 978-981-13-6756-4 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6756-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2019932827 Translation from the Japanese language edition: Tennoke to Seibutsugaku by Hideo Mohri © 2015 Hideo Mohri, published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. All Rights Reserved. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: Front cover—Emperor Akihito engaging in research on gobioid fish in 1984 (Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency). Back cover—Above: Emperor Showa examining a specimen of sea urchin at the Shimoda Imperial Villa in 1985 (Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency); Below: Prince Akishino in front of the panel of fowls at SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies) (Courtesy of Akifumi Oikawa) This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore Imperial Family Tree 1 Jinmu 122 Meiji = Shoken 123 Taisho = Teimei 124 Emperor Showa = Empress Kojun Prince Chichibu = Setsuko Prince Takamatsu = Kikuko Prince Mikasa = Yuriko (Hirohito) (Nagako) (Yasuhito) (Nobuhito) (Takahito) 125 Shigeko Sachiko Kazuko Atsuko Emperor = Empress Prince Hitachi = Hanako Takako (Akihito)(Michiko) (Masahito) Crown Prince = Masako Prince Akishino = Kiko Sayako Yasuko Prince Katsura Masako (Naruhito) (Fumihito) Prince Mikasa = Nobuko (Yoshihito) Prince Takamado = Hisako (Tomohito) (Norihito) Aiko Mako Kako Hisahito Akiko Yoko Tsuguko Noriko Ayako Former Emperors and Empresses are called by posthumous names in Japan Emperor Hirohito (Showa) and his family in 1972. Upper left to lower right. Crown Princess Michiko, Corwn Pince Akihito, Emperor, Empress Nagako (Kojun), Prince Hitachi, Princess Hanako, Princess Yori Sayako, Prince Hiro Naruhito, and Prince Aya Fumihito. Source Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency Emperor Akihito and his family in 2016. Left to right. Crown Princess Masako, Princess Mako, Crown Prince Naruhito, Princess Aiko, Emperor, Empress Michiko, Prince Hisahito, Prince Akishino, Princess Kako, Princess Kiko. Source Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency Preface to the English Edition It was decided that Emperor Akihito would abdicate the throne on April 30, 2019. He had expressed his intention to step down primarily as a result of difficulties in fulfilling official duties at his advanced age. Emperor Akihito’s sincere and earnest commitment to his role can also be seen in his work as a biologist in his taxo- nomical researches on gobies. His father, the late Emperor Showa (Hirohito), also conducted outstanding research as a biologist in the taxonomy of marine inverte- brates, including hydrozoans and slime molds (myxomycetes), even during those difficult years before and after World War II. Prince Hitachi, the younger brother of Emperor Akihito, is an expert in comparative oncology, Prince Akishino, his second son, is carrying out phylogenetical researches on catfish and fowl and research on biosophia studies, and Sayako Kuroda, his first daughter, is researching birds, including the kingfisher. It is highly unusual that members of three genera- tions of one monarchical family line have devoted themselves to biological studies. We are now hoping that His Majesty the Emperor will be able to enjoy his bio- logical researches to the fullest after his retirement as Emperor. The fact that the Emperor is a biologist is only vaguely known, even to the Japanese people. When I, as a biologist, prepared to publish Tennoke to seibut- sugaku (The Imperial Family and Biology, Asahi Shimbun Publications, 2015), I realized that there were only a few works that depicted the Imperial Family members as biologists. With such limited resources, it is even harder for non-Japanese people to obtain a clear understanding of the Imperial biologists of Japan. Given these circumstances, I decided to translate this original Japanese book into English in the hopes that it will introduce the sincere contributions of members of the Japanese Imperial Family to the field of biology to the world. This book also devotes some pages to the International Prize for Biology, which was set up to commemorate the contributions of the two generations of Emperors to biology. vii viii Preface to the English Edition The cover image of the Japanese version, Tennoke to seibut- sugaku (The Imperial Family and Biology, Asahi Shimbun Publications, 2015) I am pleased to have had the good fortune to have the English version published by Springer, thanks to Ms. Yoko Kawazoe, an excellent translator. Several years have passed since the Japanese version was published; therefore, some additional material is included. For readers’ reference, the family tree of the Imperial Family and two photographs depicting members of the Imperial Family are newly added at the beginning. The content and wording have been put forward in as simple a manner as possible for readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese history and culture. I express my thanks to the many persons concerned, including Prof. Naoto Ueno of the National Institute for Basic Biology, Prof. Tetsuji Nakabo of Kyoto University, and Dr. Hiroshi Namikawa of the National Museum of Nature and Science for their help with the translation. I also express my deepest thanks to Mses. Alexandrine Cheronet, Aiko Hiraguchi, Fumiko Yamaguchi and Momoko Asawa of Springer, and Yumiko Nara of Asahi Shimbun Publications for their support in publication. Tokyo, Japan Hideo Mohri Preface In November 2011, Emperor Akihito was hospitalized for two weeks at The University of Tokyo Hospital for treatment for mycoplasma pneumonia. Deeply concerned by the disaster of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko had continued visiting the quake victims and afflicted areas almost every week, in addition to their already busy schedule of official duties. One can imagine how tough this must have been, and these events must have caused fatigue to build up in the Emperor. In February of the following year, Emperor Akihito had to undergo heart bypass surgery. On March 11, 2012, still not fully recovered after the surgery, he attended the memorial service to commemorate the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The fol- lowing May, he visited the UK to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Emperor and the Empress were scheduled to attend the award ceremony of the 27th International Prize for Biology, to be held at the Japan Academy in Ueno, Tokyo, on November 28, 2011, as one of their official duties. As described in detail later, this prize was founded in 1985 to commemorate the 60-year reign of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) and his longtime devotion to biology and to promote biological researches. Moreover, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary in 2009, it was decided that the prize would also honor the path toward the further advance- ment of biology, including in commemoration of the achievements of the Emperor at that time, His Majesty Emperor Akihito, who had strived over many years to advance the study of the taxonomy of gobioid fishes while contributing continu- ously to the development of the prize. Emperor Akihito was discharged from the hospital only two days before the award ceremony. Presumably, his early discharge was because he intended to attend the ceremony. He looked forward to attending it every year as one of the biologists. Unfortunately, his wish did not come true, as he had still not fully recovered his health, and the ceremony was conducted with the hastily arranged attendance of the Crown Prince Naruhito on behalf of Emperor Akihito. Surprisingly, however, the Empress was present at the buffet party cele- brating the prize winner, as she had been in past years.