Michiyo Tsujimura: Google Doodle celebrates the first Japanese woman agricultural doctor and green tea components researcher’s 133rd birthday

Google Doodle celebrates the 133rd birthday of Japanese agricultural scientist and biochemist Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ), the first woman doctor of agriculture in Japan whose research focused on the components of green tea, on September 17, 2021.

Who was Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ)?

Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ) was born on 17th September 1888 in what is currently Okegawa in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. She was the first woman in Japan to get a doctoral degree in agriculture. She is generally perceived for her noteworthy investigation into the nutritional benefits of green tea, science has the appropriate answer.

Subsequent to working at Jinjo Higher Elementary School as an assistant professor, she then, at that point learned at Tokyo Prefecture Women’s Normal School, and later Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School. At Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School she studied under Kono Yasui and developed a strong interest in a life of scientific research. In the wake of graduating she served as a teacher for seven years in Kanagawa Prefecture and Saitama Prefecture, then, at that point started a career as a scientist.

Michiyo Tsujimura’s research career started in 1920 when she joined Hokkaido Imperial University as a laboratory assistant. Hokkaido Imperial University, the school her teachers prescribed her to, didn’t accept women students at that point, so Tsujimura obtained a post in the Food Nutritional Laboratory of the Agricultural Chemistry Department as an unpaid assistant.

At Hokkaido Imperial University, Michiyo Tsujimura focused mainly on research of silkworms.

In 1922, Michiyo Tsujimura moved to Tokyo Imperial University to proceed with her research in biochemistry, however in the next year her lab burned down in the Great Kanto Earthquake, so she moved to Riken. At Riken she led research under Professor Umetaro Suzuki, a doctor of agriculture popular for finding vitamin B1.

In her joint exploration with Seitaro Miura, she distinguished vitamin C in green tea in 1924, a discovery that added to an expansion in green tea sent out from Japan to North America.

Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ) published an article named “On Vitamin C in Green Tea” in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. This finding added to an increment in green tea fares to North America. Tsujimura proceeded with her dedicated research to find different components of green tea.

In 1929, Michiyo Tsujimura succeeded in isolating and extracting catechin, a bitter component in green tea, for the first time in the world. In the next year she likewise extracted tannin in crystal form and determined its chemical structure, another bitter component in green tea.

Michiyo Tsujimura’s research results, gathered in a paper named, “On the Chemical Components of Green Tea,” procured her a doctorate in agriculture from Tokyo Imperial University in 1932.

Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ) became the first woman doctor of agriculture in Japan. From that point, Tsujimura proceeded with her research and became a professor at Ochanomizu University in 1949, as well as the first Dean of the Faculty of Home Economics in 1950.

Aside from Michiyo Tsujimura’s own research, Tsujimura was a enthusiastic teacher who worked for the education of following generations

Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ) retired from Ochanomizu University as a professor in 1955, however kept lecturing part-time until 1961. Subsequent to retiring from Ochanomizu University, she then, at that point gave educator at Jissen Women’s University in Tokyo from 1955 to 1963.

She was awarded the Japan Prize of Agricultural Science in 1956 for her research on green tea and was presented the Order of the Precious Crown of the Fourth Class in 1968.

Michiyo Tsujimura (辻村みちよ) died in Toyohashi on 1 June 1969 at 81 years old. After she died, Katsurakai, an association made in her honor, set up a memorial stele in Toyohashi, the region where she spent her last years.

Today, a stone memorial to pay tribute to Michiyo Tsujimura’s achievements can be found in her birthplace of Okegawa City.