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Shibasaburō Kitasato
Pioneering tetanus antitoxin research and modern bacteriology in Japan.
Tetanus culture · Antitoxin research
- Born
- 29 January 1853
- Birthplace
- Oguni, Japan
- Died
- 13 June 1931
More people
Shibasaburō Kitasato
Shibasaburō Kitasato was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist whose laboratory work helped establish serum therapy.
Early life
Kumamoto
Born in what is now Oguni in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Medical education
Studied medicine in Kumamoto and Tokyo.
Career
- 1886–1892
Berlin
Worked in Robert Koch’s laboratory after travelling to Germany.
- 1892
Infectious-disease institute
Established a research institute after returning to Japan.
- 1914
Kitasato Institute
Founded his own institute and led it for the rest of his life.
Contributions
Tetanus culture
Grew the tetanus bacterium in pure culture.
Antitoxin research
Worked with Emil von Behring on protective blood serum.
Keio medicine
Became the first dean of Keio University’s medical school.
Beyond the lab
Medical organisation
Served as the first president of the Japan Medical Association.
Currency
His portrait appears on Japan’s redesigned 1,000-yen note issued in 2024.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional biography and research ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
