Japanese Prince Is A Devoted Scientist

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 10

Japanese Prince Is A Devoted Scientist

Prince Yoshi, the second son of their Imerial Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, is following in the footsteps of his father and his elder brother, the Crown Prince, as a research scholar in biology. Now 27 years old, he is very popular with the people and, being the only remainin bachelor member of the Imperial Family, is the subject of growing attention, says a Japanese Embassy information bulletin. It is as a research student in biology at Tokyo University that Prince Yoshi spends much of his time and it is here that his true interest is centred. He has frequently declared that marriage will not disrupt his studies at Tokyo University. The Prince’s deep interest in the study of biology is evidently due to the influence of his father, the Emperor, a marine biologist. The Crown Prince, as well, is an ardent student in the field, but his obligation* as Heir Apparent leaves him with little time to engage his favourite study. 77ie unencumbered Prince Yoshi, however, is in a position to spend as much time as be wants to pursue his studies, which commenced at Gakushuin University, where he mastered the fundamentals of chemistry. His graduating experiment was "qualitative analysis of zinc and copper contained in shells." The shells used for the experiment were gathered personally by the Prince from the coast of Hayama, where he and the Emperor often took long walks during their vacations together. After graduating from Gakushuin in 1958 the Prince entered Tokyo University as a research student. His first studies involved research into "the histology of the crop

glands of a pigeon" and h* iater engaged in study of th* cell division process. The Prince, who is a member of the Japan Society of Cellular Chemistry, was an enthusiastic participant Ln the International Cellular Chemistry Convention held at the end of March this year in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture. The convention was attended by many world famous cellular authorities and experts in this field. Preferential treatment is not accorded to the Prince by the university authorities at school. He is treated in the same way as other students. The Prince goes to his room in the university a little past 9 a m. and eats a box lunch prepared tor him by the Palace staff. During recess he makes his own coffee and often treats his colleagues to a cup. It is also not unusual to find the Prince in one of the many coffee shops in the Kongo area, sipping coffee and listening intently to music.

As president of the Japan Bird Protection Society the Prince has deep interest in bird life and conservation. He is frequently seen in the Imperial Palace grounds with binocular and camera, snapping pictures and making observations of birds Mving in the large wooded areas. The Prince has recently started a study of ticks which afflict birds. He is said to have decided to undertake the study because of the misery he noticed among th* birds in the palace grounds.