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Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the fatherof biotechnology and his links
toBayer across the seas
In April, a stone statue acquired by Bayer from Dr. Jokichi
Takamine, whofound Adrenalin and Takadiastase, was donated to a
museum in his hometown of Kanazawa.
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On April 23rd, a statue related to Dr. Jokichi Takamine,
thechemist of world renown who discovered Adrenalin
andTakadiastase, was unveiled in the Great People of
KanazawaMemorial Museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. He had bought it
inKyoto and kept it as the gate-keeper of his laboratory on
theoutskirts of New York. It was later moved to Elkhart after
thelaboratory was acquired by Miles, which afterwards becamepart of
Bayer. Following the recent decision to move theresearch facility
to Tarrytown, Bayer HaelthCare decided todonate the statue to the
museum, in respect for Takamine,who hails from Kanazawa.
920-0993
6-18-4http://www.city.kanazawa.ishikawa.jp/bunho/ijin/index.htm
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Discoveries of the century--Takadiastaseand AdrenalinDr. Jokichi
Takamine(1854-1922), who lefta record of distinguished service as
achemist , entrepreneur, and goodwi l lambassador, is best known
for the creationof Takadiastase and the crystallization
ofAdrenalin. He first discovered a cheap andquick process for
making yeast from wheatbran for use in whiskey production. But
atthat time his plant burned down, and on topof that he fell ill
with liver disease. On hissick-bed he hi t on the idea
ofTakadiastase, which is far more effectivethan diastase. Licensed
to Parke, Davis, itbecame a big hit as a digestive aid, andspurred
by that, he was asked to work onthe crystallization of Adrenalin,
which heachieved with the help of Keizo Uenaka.Both products have
been in use for morethan a hundred years, just like Aspirin.
Artificial fertilizer venture with Ei-ichiShibusawaAt the age of
26, Takamine was sent toBritain for three years of study. On
hisreturn to Japan, he decided to put hisknowledge to use by
applying it underJapanese conditions. To learn more aboutJapanese
industry, he entered the ministryof agriculture and commerce, where
hewas involved in research on the Japanesepaper, natural dye, and
sake brewingindustries. At the world fair in New Orleansin 1884,
his attention was drawn to phos-phate fertil izers. He bought 10
tons ofphosphate rock and back in Japan con-vinced Ei-ichi
Shibusawa, the grand entre-preneur, that phosphate fertilizers
wouldrevolutionize Japanese agriculture. Leavingthe ministry, he
founded the company thatnow is Nissan Kagaku.
Active as goodwill ambassador fromJapan to United StatesHaving
become wealthy from Takadiastaseand Adrenalin, Takamine took up
activitiesas a goodwill ambassador. During theRusso-Japanese War,
he was an advocateof Japan's position and made a big contri-bution
in raising funds for the war. He alsowas active in associations of
Japanese inNew York, supported by his American wifeCaroline. He
imported 2,100 cherry treesaplings from Japan for planting along
thebanks of the Hudson River in New Yorkand also supported the
planting of cherrytrees along the Potomac in WashingtonD.C.
ssador. The checkered career of Dr.Takamine
103At the unveiling ceremony, Shoichi Matsuda, Director of the
Great People of KanazawaMemorial Museum, expressed his intention to
make Dr. Takamine's achievements betterknown, as they qualify him
for fame on a national level but are too little known at the
presenttime.
Rick Kates, Head of Diabetes Care Division of Bayer Medical,
stated that he would be pleased ifthis statue which brings back
memories of Dr. Takamine, who did research on enzymes relatedto
sugar, would help remind people of the importance of diabetes
control.
--
HP
