| Biographical information |
| 1971 |
(March):
|
Graduated from Matsuyama-Higashi High School,
Ehime Prefecture |
| 1975 |
(March):
|
Received B.Sc. in Biology, Faculty
of Science, Ehime University |
| 1981 |
(June):
|
Received D.Sc. in Zoology, Hokkaido University
|
| 1982 |
(June):
|
Assistant Professor, Hokkaido University (Appointment)
|
| 1989 |
(April):
|
Lecturer, Hokkaido University (Promotion) |
| 1992 |
(January):
|
Associate Professor, Seto Marine Biological
Laboratory, Kyoto University (Promotion) |
| 2003 |
(April):
|
Associate Professor, Field Science Education
and Research Center, Seto Marine Biological Laboratory, Kyoto
University |
| A. Research Interests: Systematic
taxonomy, natural history |
| (1) Life history and systematics
of Hydrozoa (phylum Cnidaria) |
| |
I try to elucidate the life history
of cnidarians, especially the class hydrozoa, from gametes /
larvae to adults in the field and laboratory by means of cultures,
observations and experiments, and determine the phylogenetic
position and investigate the evolution and historical past,
present and future of each hydrozoan species. In order to achieve
these goals, my lab challenges to elucidate the origin of the
species and the phylogeny of higher taxon by assimilating all
biological information from the molecular to ecology. |
| (2) Recording the natural history
of marine biology and other knowledge |
| |
Another research interest is to
create records of marine organisms’ knowledge mainly from the
coastal area of Shirahama-cho, Wakayama Prefecture, especially
those in the Kuroshio Current area, from the natural historic
point of view. The records will be used as basic references
for various researches in the future. Sampling is carried out
using skin diving, plankton net, bottom sampler and dredger,
in addition, recording of drifted materials on the beach and
observations and collections at neighboring fishing ports have
been carried out. |
| (3) Forest-Human-Marine linkology
|
| |
As a collaborative effort, we
try to elucidate the cause of changes in marine/coastal biota
due to environmental changes in forest and human habitat. In
addition to qualitative and quantitative researches, a strong
emphasis is placed on participating events which raise the heart
to naturally love the nature through singing. I actively give
lectures and performances across Japan and the world.
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| |
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| B. Hobbies and favorite things |
| (1) Visiting aquariums, museums,
zoological and botanical gardens |
| |
Watching delightful lives of various
creatures or artistic works of humans are priceless treasure.
Enjoying this eternal world need a very long life like an immortal
scarlet medusa. |
| (2) Mountain hiking |
| |
Climb up the local mountains to
overlook Tanabe Bay, walk through the villages, enjoy the aroma
of forest, listen to the sound of a clear stream, sweat pleasantly
and refresh my body and soul with the panoramic view from the
mountain top. The water from the clear stream tastes wonderful.
Lives in the forest and rivers are abundant. |
| (3) Hot spring
(Onsen) |
| |
Hot springs in Kisyu Shirahama
are the oldest in Japan. The area pours out abundant and high
quality hot spring consistently for over 1300 years. Free-flowing
hot spring is clean and good for health. Every night, I warm
up before I go to sleep and have a pleasant dream. |
| (4) Karaoke |
| |
I am interested in animal theme
songs and released two articles which dealt with Coelenterates
and Mollusks in 2002, and from 2003 to 2006, seven articles
about general marine life are published in Japanese. I also
plan to release articles about each taxonomic group of terrestrial
animals in the future. At a local Karaoke bar I often go, a
scoring contest is held every year, and I keep on winning every
year. If you ever come to Shirahama, I can show you the evidence
that my name is on the wall as the successive and reigning champion. |
| (5) Traveling |
| |
My country is wide and the world
is much bigger, and I have not been to many many places and
countries. I put a small global map on the wall of my house
and marked the countries I have visited. Every day I dream of
foreign countries I never visited. I have recently been to the
United States, Thailand, South Korea and China besides many
countries so far visited. |
| |
|
| C. Recruitment of collaborators
and students |
| |
I am recruiting graduate students,
senior thesis students, research students, researchers and post-docs.
I welcome friendly and healthy persons who work hard and enjoy
carrying out above mentioned researches. One of my research
subjects, scarlet medusa, is the only multi-cellular organism
which has the “eternal life”, and the research has been continued
many many years and still in progress. By building up the results
and works of life study of the mysterious Cnidaria and by deciphering
the “rejuvenation and eternal life” hidden in the veil of mystery,
the dream of human beings will come true at last.
On the other hand, bivalve-inhabiting hydroids are an ideal
taxonomic group to study the “origin of species”. Basic researches
on these animals have made substantial progress to thoroughly
pursue the relationship between the phylogeny and ontogeny from
various points of view. They are easy to grow and the whole
life can be observed and experimented repeatedly in the laboratory
without much hassle. They are also ideal animals for practical
training for marine biology. In recent days, bivalve-inhabiting
hydroids have caught attention as they can be used as a biological
indicator for the relationship between global warming and their
habitat expansion.
In addition to the above mentioned animals, there are numerous
treasures hidden in the sea without ever noticed by humans.
Nanki Shirahama is an ideal place to find such treasures one
by one and to name, describe, record, experiment and observe
them. This location has good climate and beautiful natural features
and is an ideal field to enjoy studying natural history, and
various unknowns and natural historic encounters await you.
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