Yoshimaro Yamashina

Ornithologist. Born as the second son of Prince Yamashina Kikumaro (1873-1908). In 1920 (Taisho 9), he was demoted to commoner status and awarded the title of marquis. In 1929 (Showa 4), while serving as a lieutenant in the army, he retired at his request due to poor health. He entered the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo to study birds, which he loved. In 1942, he donated all of the 30,000 bird specimens he had collected up to that point, as well as books, land, buildings, and basic funds, to establish the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, and became its president. In the same year, he received a doctorate in science for his research on sterility in avian hybrids. During this time, he published numerous research papers on bird classification, ecology, and conservation. His two-volume work, "Japanese Birds and Their Ecology," is an immortal classic. After World War II, he received the Genetics Society of Japan Prize for his work on "A Method of Animal Taxonomy Based on Cytology." His achievements have also been recognized abroad. He served as president of the Ornithological Society of Japan and the Japanese Bird Conservation Society, among other nature conservation organizations, and was also active as a representative of Japan internationally. In 1977, he received the Jean Delacour Prize from the International Bird Conservation Council (now BirdLife International), which is given to individuals who have made world-class contributions in all areas of bird research, conservation, and breeding. In 1986, he wrote the Japanese Dictionary of World Bird Names.

[Matsuyama Shiro]

"Japanese Birds and Their Ecology" reprint edition, 2 volumes (1980, Institute of Publishing Science) " "World Bird Dictionary in Japanese" (1986, Daigaku Shorin)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鳥類学者。山階宮菊麿(きくまろ)王（1873―1908）の次男に生まれる。1920年（大正9）臣籍降下、侯爵を授けられた。陸軍中尉であった1929年（昭和4）、病弱のため願いにより退役。好きな鳥の勉学のため東京大学理学部動物学科撰科(せんか)に入学。1942年、それまでに集めた鳥類標本3万点、図書、土地や建物、基本金などいっさいを寄付、財団法人山階鳥類研究所を設立、理事長となる。この年、「鳥類雑種の不妊性に関する研究」で理学博士。この間、鳥類の分類・生態・保護の各分野にわたり多数の研究論文を発表。『日本の鳥類と其(そ)の生態』2巻は不朽の名著である。第二次世界大戦後「細胞学に基づく動物の分類法」で日本遺伝学会賞を受賞。また、その業績は諸外国にも認められた。日本鳥学会会頭、日本鳥類保護連盟会長など自然保護諸団体の役員を務める一方、国際的にも日本代表として活躍。1977年（昭和52）鳥の研究・保護・飼育のすべての面で世界的な成果をあげた人物に与えられるジャン・デラクール賞を、国際鳥類保護会議（現在のバードライフ・インターナショナル）より受賞。1986年に『世界鳥類和名辞典』を著した。

［松山資郎］

『『日本の鳥類と其の生態』復刻版・全2巻（1980・出版科学総合研究所）』▽『『世界鳥類和名辞典』（1986・大学書林）』

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