Tomitaro Makino (牧野 富太郎,Makino Tomitarō; April 24, 1862 – January 18, 1957) was a pioneer Japanesebotanist noted for his taxonomic work. He has been called "Father of Japanese Botany",[1][2][3][4] having been one of the first Japanese botanists to work extensively on classifying Japanese plants using the system developed byLinnaeus. His research resulted in collecting more than 500,000 specimens[a], many of which are represented in hisMakino's Illustrated Flora of Japan. Despite having dropped out ofgrammar school, he eventually attained aDoctor of Science degree, and his birthday is remembered asBotany Day in Japan.
In total, Makino named over 2,500 plants, including 1,000 newspecies and 1,500 newvarieties.[5][6][b] In addition, he discovered about 600 new species.[9]
After his death in 1957, his collection of approximately 400,000 specimens was donated toTokyo Metropolitan University which has housed the collection at its Makino Herbarium .[8] Around the same time,Makino Botanical Garden opened in his nativeKōchi on Mount Godai.[8] His home inHigashiōizumi,Nerima-ku, Tokyo was converted into the Makino Memorial Garden and Museum.[8]
He was also named anHonorary Citizen of Tokyo.[10]
Tomitaro Makino was born 22 May 1862[11][c] inSakawa,Kōchi to a prestigioussakebrewer and household goods purveyor called Kishiya (岸屋). The privileged merchant family was entitled toa surname and sword-bearing [ja].[12][13] His parents died during his early childhood (father Sahei (佐平) at age 3, mother Kusu (久壽) at age 5) and he lost his grandfather Kozaemon (小左衛門) at age 6, leaving his step-grandmother Namiko (浪子) to raise him. His name was also changed from Seitarō (誠太郎/成太郎) given at birth to Tomitaro around the time he lost his close kins.[12][17]
In 1872 at age 10 (or 1871, age 9[18]), he began attending aterakoya (so-called "temple school") run by Doi Kengo (土居謙護) in his home neighborhood,[d][19][20] later transferring to Itō-juku, run byConfucian scholarItō Ranrin [ja] where he was taught alongsideFour Books and Five Classics Chinese learning,arithmetic andcalligraphy as well.[21]
In 1873 at age 11 (or 1872, age 10[18]), he cross-enrolled at Meikōkan (名教館) but since Itō was also part of the faculty here, he soon quit Itō-juku.[20][22][23] Since Meikōkan was agōgaku [ja] (lit. "village"[24]), it had the pretense of education for samurai extended to commoners,[24] and was mostly attended by samurai family pupils. A classmate here wasHiroi Isami [ja] (later dubbed "father of harbor engineering").[25] This school did not stick to Chinese scholarship, but taught geography, astronomy, and physics, western-style, usingFukuzawa Yukichi'sSekai kunizukushi [ja] andKawamoto Kōmin'sKikai kanran kōgi (気海観瀾広義,Observations of the Billowing Waves of Air and Sea , Enlarged) as textbooks.[26][22] Around this time, Makino became acquainted with a certain westernization enthusiast named Manabe, who not only recommended the adoption ofzangiri hairstyle (withouttopknot), but coaxed Makino into joining the same English study society of which he was already a member. This study group had hired two English linguists fromKōchi city, and borrowed English books from the prefectural government office. Thus Makino got his start in gaining literacy in English.[27]
Meikōkan becameSakawa Elementary School [ja] due togakusei [ja] school reform,[28][14] and Makino attended only 2 years before dropping out (though this is misleading, since he had attained the top level for "lower elementary school" thus nearly graduating[30]), and began to study botany in self-taughte manner.[28] He states that he expected to succeed in his family brewery at the time, and was "not contemplating at all" about entering a life of academia.[31][29][32] He spent a brief period of this time in his youth supporting theFreedom and People's Rights Movementin his hometown Tosa Province.[6][e]
He foisted the duty of operating the brewery onto his grandmother and senior manager (bantō [ja]) while he lived a dilettante's life as he pleased.[32] At age 15, he took up the teaching post at Sakawa Elementary, resigning after 2 years[31][34][35] in 1880 (at age 17/18), when he moved to Kōchi city to attend Goshō Gakusha (五松学舎).[36] But since this institution concentrated heavily on Chinese learning, it did not please him to attend any of its lectures,[37] and delved into studying geography and botany which were the subjects that interested him.[37] Around this time, he was also diligently making handwritten copies ofherbal medicinal scholarOno Ranzan's critiqueHonzō kōmoku keimō (本草綱目啓蒙) (i.e. "Elucidation ofBencao Gangmu), which developed his knowledge of herbalpharmacology a.[38] But his trip to Kōchi did have its windfall, which was getting the acquaintance of Koichirō Naganuma (永沼小一郎).[37] Naganuma taughta atKōchi Shihan Gakkō [ja] (precursor to theKōchi University Education Department), who was so proficient in English as to privately translate such books asRobert Bentley'sBotany and show the manuscripts to Makino.[37] Thus Makino widened his knowledge of western botanical scholarship, learning who the authorities in the field were. Makino has state in his autobiography: "My knowledge of botany owes greatly to Naganuma-sensei".[39]
Makino self-published his first academic paper in a journal he created in 1879 (around the end of his elementary schoolteacher career, before leaving for Kōchi). The journal was calledHakubutsu sōdan (博物叢談; "Collected discourse on Natural History"). The journal was created around Makino, who handprinted each copy to distribute to the readership.[40] Later, some time during his 20s (1880s) while still in his home province, he began circulating a handmade periodical calledKakuchi zasshi (格致雑誌).This was also hand-copied by Makino with inkbrush onwashi paper.[39][41]
At age 19, Makino mounted on a trip toTokyo to see the 2ndNational Industrial Exhibitions (1 March–30 June 1881). Accompanied by the senior manager (bantō)'s son and accountant clerks, Makino purchased books and amicroscope.[42][32] Makino also visited the Natural History Bureau at theMinistry of Education where he was warmly received by naturalistYoshio Tanaka and botanistMotoyoshi Ono [ja] (Ranzan's great-grandson) from whom he heard talk on the latest news in botany, and was shown around the facility's botanical garden.[43][44]
In 1881, Tomitarō married his fiancée and cousin Yamamoto Nao (山本猶) 2 years his junior in his hometown, and she became the new young madam of the Kishiya brewerie establishment.[45][46] Since he had a grand wedding in his hometown, Sakawa's local history makes clear record of it, but Makino himself did not mention this marriage in any of his writings, including his autobiography (Jijoden).[47]
In July 1884 at age 22, he moved to Tokyo to pursue his botanical studies in earnest. At theUniversity of Tokyo's Faculty of Science in the Botanical Institute (Shokubutsugaku kyōshitsu) he metCornell-educated professorRyōkichi Yatabe,[36][48] who granted the privilege to come freely to the Institute and make use of its library, equipment and other resources, allowing Makino to delve into his botanical research.[49] Makino started to send specimens toKarl Maximovich of Russia considered the foremost authority on East Asian flora at the time, and since these tended to be rare and curious samples, it delighted the Russian[50] to the extent that whenever Maximovich sent a copy of his work to the institute, he would send a separate copy privately for Makino.[50]
In 1887 at age 25, he co-founded the journalShokubutsugaku zasshi (植物学雑誌; "Botanical Magazine") in collaboration with the institute's colleaguesŌkubo Saburo [ja],Nobujirō Tanaka [ja], Tokugorō Someya (染谷徳五郎) and others.[51], with contributions from Komajirō Sawada (澤田駒次郎),Mitsutarō Shirai,Manabu Miyoshi,[51] and Yatabe as well.[52] This same year Makino lost his step-grandmother (aged 77) who raised him.[36]
November 1888 at age 26, he began publishing the seriesNippon shokubutsu shi zuhen (日本植物志図篇; "Illustrated Japanese Plants") which he had long been conceptualizing, at his own-expense.[53][54][55] Towards that end, he apprenticed himself at a printing press[f] in order to learn the techniques oflithography,[56] and he eventually drew the plant illustrations himself, considered "photo-like in accuracy",[52] and highly praised by Maximowicz.[57] It was arguably the first illustrated compendium (zukan) of flora published in Japan.[59][61] To Makino it was a "crystallization of his hardships" which he considered "presentable with pride to the world",[62] and a monument to Japanese biological history according to his biographer.[63]
Around this time, while Tomitarō was building his position as botanical researcher, the funding was backed by his home business, and after the grandmother's death, his cousin/wife Nao sent funds as requested to the point that Kishiya's business operation was in peril.[32] And despite already having a wife, Nao, in his home town, he fell in love at first sight with 14-year old Sue Ozawa (小澤壽衛) who was the popular seller-girl daughter of a confection store in Tokyo, and the couple began cohabiting inNegishi [根岸 (台東区)],Taitō-ku (formerly inShitaya-ku), at a detached wing of a princely priest's villa, belonging to a prince assigned toRinnō-ji inNikkō. The following year their first daughter Sonoko (1888–1893).[64]
In 1889 he discovered a new species of plant, the yamatoguasa (ヤマトグサ)Theligonum japonica [sv], published in a paper co-signed by Saburō Okubo that appeared in theirShokubutsugaku zasshi ("Botanical Magazine"). It was the first time in Japan that a scientific name was given to a plant species.[65][67][g] In 1890, he was collecting plants in the formerKoiwamachi [ja],Minamikatsushika District [ja], Tokyo, when in anwaterway he found an unfamiliarinsect-eatingaquatic plant. He had discovered the occurrence in Japan ofAldrovanda vesiculosa (Japanese:mujinamo) which was then only known to grow sporadically in various faraway parts of the world. The report he made about this gained him world-wide notice in botanical circles.[69][non-primary source needed]。
In 1890, at age 28, he married Sue[ko] Ozawa (小澤壽衛子).[70] The same year he was banned from the Botanical Institute by Prof. Yatabe,[70][71] seemingly blocking his path to continue research. One of the reasons given for the expulsion was that the Institute had its own ideas about issuing anillustrated botanical compendium, and Makino's series posed a direct competition,[72] and Makino himself concluded that had been the case.[73] It has also been stated, in defense of Yatabe, that Makino made a regular habit of checking out books without permission, ultimately such a sanction became necessary.[72] Makino in despair even contemplated defecting to Russia and taking his collection of specimens to Maximowicz, hopefully to continue research abroad, but in 1891 his mentor died unexpectedly ofinfluenza and the bold plan did not materialize.[74][75][h]
In 1891, his family business Kishiya was at a point of failing, and could no longer send funds to Makino. He returned to his home town to liquidate and divide family assets.[78] Tomitarō as the nominaltōshu (i.e, proprietor of the business, also meaning the head of the extended family) ruled to have Nao marry the senior manager (bantō) Kazunosuke Inoue (井上和之助)[i] Nao and her husband however soon folded the Kishiya business.[80][81][j]
During a period of stay in his province, one thing he did was to meddle in the local education of western music.[k] Then atelegram arrived telling him his young daughter had died, so he hastened back to Tokyo,[85]having accepted 600,000 yen from his family fortune.[citation needed]
In 1893, Prof. Yatabe was ousted from Tokyo University replaced byJinzō Matsumura, who invited Makimura back to fill the post of assistant[86] on On 11 September.[87] On the assistant's flimsy salary of 15 yen per month, it grew difficult for him to support his growing family,[86][l] and not enough to sustain his spending habits on research, purchasing books, etc., yet he was determined to purchase all costly books he deemed necessary, going into deep debt.[88] He couldn't pay his rent, and one time his property got seized and auctioned off.[89]
In 1896, he was ordered to go on an expedition toTaiwan (which had been ceded to Japan after the war by theTreaty of Shimonoseki) to collect plants.[90][91] He reported acreepingfig used for makingaiyu jelly as a new species (though it later was found to be avariety)[92] He continued to collect plants from various regions and conduct his research, preparing specimens and publishing literature. But his lack of formal education, as well as his old habit of borrowing university-owned books without clearance and not returning them in timely fashion, constantly caused resentment and tension from some colleagues.[32]
In 1900, Makino's financial straits were noticed by Tokyo University presidentArata Hamao who appointed Makino to head the editing of theDai-Nippon shokubutsu shi ("Greater Japan Botanical Journal") due out from the university,[m] so that a separate compensation package could be rewarded to Makino for the assignment.[86][93][94] However Matsumuradid not approve (of) this special compensation[clarify][95] With such interference by Prof. Matsumura as far as Makino was concerned, Makino felt he had no choice but to give up on the continued publication ofDai-Nippon shokubutsu shi after the 4th volume.[96][94] The Institute as a whole regarded this publication cooling, and it seemed to Makino as if they were wishing the journal to fail, and such compounded reasons led to the discontinuation.[97][95] A salary discrimination issue has been brought up by a later biographer: while Makino received a starting salary of 15 yen as assistant in 1893, Matsumura had received 50 yen per month[99] as associate professor at age 28, ten years before.[100] On the other hand, Matsumoto's biographer opined that Matsumoto's criticism of Makino was "Fleeting", and if Makino took it as bullying, that was a character flaw on his part.[101]
Makino eventually fell from Prof. Matsumura's favor, just as he fell from Prof. Yatabe's grace earlier.[102] Pressures from Matsumura and others had ben countervailed byKakichi Mitsukuri (Dean of the College of Science, Tokyo Imperial University 1901–1907)[n] who took Makimura under hisaegis, but when a new dean [[Jōji Sakurai ]] [ja] who was not well-versed in the affairs of the Botany Section, followed by the death of Mitsukuri succumbing to illness in 1909, the allegedly elated Prof. Matsumura took the opportunity to suggest Makimura's removal to the new dean. However, Makimura's firing did not come to pass.[103]
Instead, Dean Sakurai negotiated directly with Makimura and as of 30 January 1912 (Makimura at age 49), promoted him to lecturer with an increased salary to 30 yen.[104] Makino would remain as lecturer of the College (which in 1919 became (later to theFaculty of Science, Imperial University of Tokyo[105] and "Imperial" removed in the postwar)) until tendering his resignation on 31 May 1939 at age 77.[106][107] So counting from him his assistantship in 1893, he was in the employ of Tokyo University for some 46 years.
In 1916, Makino's collection of 300,000 specimens were nominally sold to young philanthropistTakeshi Ikenaga]] [ja], and transferred to what would become the Ikenaga Botanical Research Institute inEgeyama [ja],Kobe.[108][111] Word had gotten out that Makino was planning to sell off his collection, wherebyagronomist Chūgo Watanabe (渡辺忠吾) wrote a column warning that it would be the shame of the nation if the collection were allowed to leave the country. Two Kobephilanthropists stepped up to help, namelyFusanosuke Kuhara and Takeshi Ikenaga who was a 25 year-old student at the time but had his father's inheritance at his disposal. Ikenaga purchased the lot for 30,000 yen with intent to donate it back to Makino, but Makino who was overcome by emotion insisted it be kept, so the 300,000 specimens came to be housed in Ikenaga's research facility. Ikenaga continued to support financial for some years afterwards.[112][113]
1916 was also the year Makino founded theShokubutus kenkyū zasshi akaJournal of Japanese Botany which he bore the expenses himself until the 3rd issue.[114][115] The publication was intermittent, The journal thus remained on a rocky course.[116][o] The journal floundered when the supporterHaruji Nakamura [ja] died,[118] but the magazine was revived in 1926 with the financial aid ofJūsha Tsumura [ja],[119] and later published by his company,Tsumura & Co. [ja] pharmaceutical.[117] Makino would also lose the patronage he had gained from Ikenaga as well,[120][121] ca. 1930.[122][p]
In April 1927, he received a doctorate of science by the endorsement of botanistsKenjirō Fujii [ja] andSeiichirō Ikeno [ja].[124][125] The dissertation was written in English.[126]
Also in 1927 he gave name to a new variety of dwarfbambooSasaella ramosa [wikidata] var.suwekoana after his wife Sue[ko].[127][128][129] She died of an unspecified illness the following year,[130] though it is thought to have beenuterine cancer.[131] She was 55-years old.[128][132]
When Makino learned that the German naturalistSiebold had named a variety ofhydrangea (H. macrophylla Sieb. var.otaksa) after his local wife Kusumoto Taki,[q] Makino quite severely criticized the naming,[134] characterizing Taki who was acourtesan, with abusive insults,[135] and claiming it was a disservice to the "lovely and guileless" flower whose "sanctity.. had been defiled".[127][r]
He published the 7-volumeShokubutsugaku zenshū (植物学全集; "Complete botanical collection", 1934–1936) which also garnered him theAsahi Prize in 1937, and the newspaper dubbed him "the father of Japanese plants".[136][137][138]
In 1939 he quit his post as lecturer at the University of Tokyo.[106][107]。
In 1940 he published what may be called his magnum opus,Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan (Makino Nihon Shokubutsu Zukan),[139][140][142] which is still used as an encyclopedic text today.
In 1945, heevacuated away from WWIIair raids toHosakamura [ja] village,Kitakoma District, Yamanashi (present-dayNirasaki).[143][144]
On 7 October 1948, he was invited to give lecture toEmperor Hirohito, which was conducted in aQ&A basis while walking in theImperial Palace, Tokyo#Fukiage Garden.[145] In 1949, he suffered a bout ofcatarrh and becamecritically ill but recovered.[146][144] In 1950, he was elected fellow ofThe Japan Academy.[147][148] And on 14 November, all the new fellows were invited by the Emperor for lunch, with opportunity to present summaries of their research.[149]
In 1951, a team was organized to try to organized the approximately 500,000 specimens accumulated in unsorted piles at Makino's home. The team was spearheaded bylichenologist/pharmacologistYasuhiko Asahina who headedKaken, and called itself the Doctor Makino specimen preservation committee (牧野博士標本保存委員会).[150][151] The Ministry of Education awarded a 300,000 yen subsidy the task of organizing the specimens into order began the following year.[152]
Makino was among the 1st recipients of the honor ofPerson of Cultural Merit in 1951.[150][153] And in October 1953, at age 91, he was chosen to be the firstHonorary Citizen of Tokyo [ja].[10]
His health failed him from 1954 onwards, and he tended to be bedridden.[154]
In 1956, he published Shokubutsugaku 90 nen (植物学九十年) (September) and Makino Tomitarō jijoden (牧野富太郎自叙伝) (December).[155][s] 17 December that year, he was made honorary citizen of his hometown, Sakawa.[155]
Decisions had been made in 1956 to build the Makino Herbarium in Tokyo and theMakino Botanical Garden in Kōchi Prefecture,[156] before Makino's death in 1957 at age 94. He was posthumously givencourt rank ofJunior Third Rank [ja], and decorated withThe Order of the Rising Sun with the Double Rays[t] and theOrder of Culture.[157] He is buried atTennō-ji temple, but a portion of his remains are interred in Sakawa also.[158]
Makino Botanical Garden inGodaisan, Kōchi [ja] opened in April 1958.[159][160] And on 18 June, 1958, The Makino Herbarium opened at theTokyo Metropolitan University whose collection was built upon the 400,000 specimens bequeathed by the family.[161][65]
In2008 Makino also became honorary citizen ofNerima-ku[162]
In a statistical overview derived from writings by and about Makino,OCLC/WorldCat includes roughly 270+ works in 430+ publications in 4 languages and 1,060+ library holdings.[163]
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