Tomitaro Makino

Botanist. Born into a sake brewing family in Sakawa Village, Tosa Province (Kochi Prefecture, today Sakawa Town, Takaoka County). He lost his parents and grandfather at a young age and was raised by his grandmother, arriving at the age of six with the arrival of the Meiji Restoration. At the age of nine, he entered a temple school, where he became interested in plants. In 1872 (Meiji 5), the temple schools were abolished and he entered the domain school, Meikokan, where he was exposed to European science. Two years later, Meikokan was abolished with the promulgation of the Education System, and he entered a new elementary school (at the age of 12). He left school after two years and devoted himself to researching and collecting plants. In 1879, at the age of 17, he studied under Naganuma Koichiro, a teacher at a normal school, and became aware of the spirit of modern science, switching from pharmacopoeia to plant taxonomy. In 1881, while visiting the Industrial Exposition in Tokyo, he interviewed Tanaka Yoshio, visited the botany department of the University of Tokyo, and came into contact with specimens and overseas literature. He returned to his hometown and founded the Physical Society, working to popularize scientific thought.

In 1884, he returned to Tokyo and was recognized by Professor Yatabe Ryokichi of the University of Tokyo, who allowed him to attend the botany class, where he devoted himself to the specialized study of plant taxonomy. In 1888, he launched the publication of the Japanese Botanical Journal. After that, he energetically discovered, named, and described new plants, becoming a leading figure in plant taxonomy. In 1890, he was temporarily barred from attending classes, but he endured and became an assistant at the Imperial University in 1893 and a lecturer in 1912 (Meiji 45). In addition to teaching, he led private plant societies in collecting plants and made an influential contribution to the dissemination of plant knowledge. In 1927 (Showa 2), he received a doctorate in science at the age of 65, and retired in 1939 at the age of 77. In 1950 (Showa 25), he was made a member of the Japan Academy, the following year a Person of Cultural Merit, and in 1953 an honorary citizen of Tokyo. Upon his death at the age of 95, he was awarded the Order of Culture.

[Sato Shichiro]

"Makino Tomitaro Selections, 5 volumes (1970, Tokyo Bijutsu / Reproduction, 2008, Academic Press)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

植物学者。土佐国（高知県）佐川(さかわ)村（現、高岡郡佐川町）の酒造家の生まれ。幼くして父母、祖父を失い、祖母に育てられ、6歳で明治維新を迎えた。9歳のとき寺子屋に入り、植物に興味を覚え始めた。1872年（明治5）寺子屋廃止に伴い藩校の名教(めいこう)館に入りヨーロッパの科学に接した。2年後、学制発布に伴い名教館は廃止となり、新制の小学校に入学（12歳）。2年間で教程を終えて退学、植物の調査・採集に熱中した。1879年、17歳で師範学校教諭永沼小一郎(ながぬまこいちろう)に師事、近代科学の精神について自覚、本草(ほんぞう)学から植物分類学へと転進、1881年、東京で勧業博覧会を見学の際、田中芳男(たなかよしお)に面接、東京大学植物学教室を訪ね、標本と海外の文献に接した。郷里に帰り理学会を創立、科学思想の普及に努めた。

　1884年、再度上京、東京大学教授の矢田部良吉に認められ植物学教室に出入りを許され、植物分類学の専門的研究に没頭した。1888年『日本植物志図篇(へん)』創刊。以後、精力的に新植物の発見、命名、記載の業績を積み、植物分類学の第一人者となった。1890年、一時、教室出入りの差し止めを受けるなど圧迫があったが耐え、1893年帝国大学助手、1912年（明治45）講師となる。教務のほか、民間の植物同好会による採集会を指導し植物知識の普及に尽力し影響を残した。1927年（昭和2）65歳で理学博士、1939年77歳で退職した。1950年（昭和25）日本学士院会員、翌年文化功労者、1953年東京都名誉都民となり、95歳で死去するとともに文化勲章を受章。

［佐藤七郎］

『『牧野富太郎選集』全5巻（1970・東京美術／複製・2008・学術出版会）』

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