“This book enlightens readers on a lesser-known facet of the Imperial family of Japan, which is as follows: Research in biological fields has been a family passion for at least three generations in this family. He was an authority on hydrozoans and slime molds, and his name was Emperor Showa (Hirohito). His son, Emperor Akihito, is an ichthyologist who specializes in gobioid fishes, and the research that he has done in this field is very well respected. Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito’s son, is well-known for his research on giant catfish and the domestication of fowl, and Prince Hitachi, Emperor Akihito’s brother, has conducted research on cancer in animals. Prince Akishino is also well-known for his research on the domestication of fowl.
The book describes how they first became interested in biology, the level of dedication with which they approached their research, the primary scientific contributions they made, and how their accomplishments are regarded by specialists both in the United States and in other countries.
The International Prize for Biology was established in 1985 as a way to recognize Emperor Showa’s lifelong commitment to the field of biology and his reign of 60 years as ruler of Japan. The goal of the prize is to both acknowledge and encourage research in the field of basic biology. The final section of the book contains a rundown of the winners as well as an overview of the research that they conducted.
The author is a distinguished biologist who has delivered presentations to the Imperial Family of Japan. In this book, he describes the research that they have done and relates the fascinating history of biology and the Imperial Family of Japan. The book is a useful resource not only for those studying biology and conducting research on the subject, but also for historians and anyone else who has an interest in science as well as the Royal and Imperial families.”
