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nandnJokichi Takamine’s Birthday
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nTodaynis Bunka no hi in Japan: anday to celebrate culture and the arts. There are art exhibits,nfestivals, and parades, and schools and the government present awardsnto deserving artists and also to those who achieve in science ornother areas of culture.
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nInterestingnnote: I immediately assumed that the prizes would be awarded tonJapanese citizens for promoting Japanese culture and arts, but it isnnot necessarily the case. Back in the late 1960s, for example, thenApollo 11 astronauts (all Americans) were awarded by the emperor withnthe highest award, the Order of Culture, for successfully landing onnand returning from the moon!
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nAlsonon this day…
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nInn1854, Jokichi Takamine was born in Japan. He learned English as anchild from a Dutch family (and so always spoke English with a Dutchnaccent), and although he received most of his education in Japan, henwent to Scotland for postgraduate work.
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nTakaminenbecame a chemist. In 1884 he traveled to the U.S., where he fell innlove with the woman who would be his wife. Later he emigrated to thenU.S. and continued his work in chemistry. He worked with creatingnmedicines and quickly became a millionaire. n
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Becausenof Takamine, the mayor of Tokyo donated cherry blossom trees tonWashington D.C., and we can still see many of these gift trees stillngrowing in the Tidal Basin there.
Becausenof Takamine, the mayor of Tokyo donated cherry blossom trees tonWashington D.C., and we can still see many of these gift trees stillngrowing in the Tidal Basin there.n
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nTakamine’snmost important discovery was made in 1901, when he isolated andnpurified the hormone adrenaline. This was the first effectivenmedicine for asthma and the first “glandular hormone” evernisolated.
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nInwonder if Takamine ever received the Order of Culture…It would’venbeen a great birthday gift!
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