Shintarō Hirase

Shintarō Hirase was a professor, author, artist, zoologist, and malacologist from Japan in the early 20th century. With his father, Yoichirō Hirase, he collected shells and helped start formalized malacology in Japan. In honor of their contributions to malacology, numerous species bear the Hirase name.

Hirase's Cone
Shintarō Hirase
Shintarō Hirase
Born(1884-02-28)February 28, 1884[1]
Awaji Island, Japan
DiedSeptember 9, 1939(1939-09-09) (aged 55)[1]
Tokyo, Japan
Scientific career
Fieldsmalacology

Shintarō lived from 1884 until 1939. He was born at Hukura on Awazi Island on February 28, 1884 and was the eldest son of Yoichirō Hirase. Growing up surrounded by his father's business and collection, he developed a lifelong love of the study of malacology. He graduated from Third College and afterward took courses on psychology at the Faculty of Literature at Kyoto Imperial University (1910). In 1914 he matriculated to the faculty of Science, Tōkyō Imperial University, having passed an examination for the science courses at the First College. He received his master's degree from Tōkyō Imperial University in 1917 and continued post graduate work from 1917 to 1922. He was elected a member of the Malacological Society of London, of America, and of Germany. He was an initial member of the Malacological Society of Japan. He went on to teach natural sciences and zoology at Hōsei University, Meiji University, Seikei University, and Senshū University from 1920 till shortly before his death.[2] In his obituary in the Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London, he was noted to be “without political interests and enthusiastically devoted to the study of mollusks.”[3] His publications of note included a review of Japanese oysters, scaphopods, and a catalogue of Japanese shells with hand illustrated plates. Shintaro died on September 9, 1939 at age 55 at his home in Tōkyō after a short period of kidney failure.[4]

At its largest, the Hirase collection grew to 15,000 pieces. Prior to WWII, the collection was split to ensure its survival. One third was donated to various museums, including the Smithsonian, one third was kept at the house of Shintaro in Tokyo, and the last third was stored in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo. The majority of the collection was destroyed during incendiary bombing of Tokyo during the war. Only 5000 pieces, mostly consisting of the minute marine specimens, the land specimens, and fresh water specimens, survived the war.[5] The surviving pieces of the collection have been stored in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo since 1948.

Shintarō Hirase (平瀬 信太郎, Hirase Shintarō, February 28, 1884 – September 9, 1939)[1] was a Japanese malacologist. His father, Yoichirō Hirase, (1859–1925) was also a malacologist.[1]

Shintarō Hirase was a teaching zoologist at Seikei College.[1]

Collection

From the collection of Shintarō Hirase and much more valuable collection by his father Yoichirō Hirase have survived only about 30% with about 5000 specimen.[6] Majority of the collection was destroyed by incendiary bombs in the house of Shintarō Hirase[6] and in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo during bombing of Tokyo.[6] The collection have been stored in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo in 1948.[6]

Bibliography

His works include:[1]

  • Hirase S. [review about Japanese oysters] Jap. J. Zool. 3 and 4
  • Hirase S. [review about scaphopods] Journal of Conchology 1
  • Hirase S. (1934). A collection of Japanese shells with illustrations in natural colours.

Taxa described
  • Aglaja iwasai Hirase, 1936[7] was synonymized with Philinopsis cyanea (Martens, 1879) by William B. Rudman in 1972.[8]
  • Babylonia pallida Hirase, 1934 is a synonym of Babylonia kirana Habe, 1965[9]
  • Berthella gotoi Hirase, 1936[7]
  • Oscanius testudinarius Hirase 1927
  • Ostrea circumpicta Hirase, 1930 is a synonym of Crassostrea nippona (Seki, 1934)[10]
  • Xenophora tenuis Hirase, 1934 is a synonym of Xenophora tenuis Fulton, 1983[11]
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References
  1. Winckworth R. (1946). "Shintaro Hirase, 1884-1939". Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 27(1): 1. PDF. (subscription required)
  2. “A Handbook of Illustrated Shells in Natural Colors from Japanese Islands and their Adjacent Territories”, By Shintaro Hirase, Revised and enlarged by Isao Taki, Sc.D., Bunkyokaku, Tokyo, 1951, page VI
  3. Winckworth R. (1946). "Shintaro Hirase, 1884-1939". Proceedings of the Malacological Society of London 27(1): 1.
  4. “A Handbook of Illustrated Shells in Natural Colors from Japanese Islands and their Adjacent Territories”, By Shintaro Hirase, Revised and enlarged by Isao Taki, Sc.D., Bunkyokaku, Tokyo, 1951, page V
  5. “A Handbook of Illustrated Shells in Natural Colors from Japanese Islands and their Adjacent Territories”, By Shintaro Hirase, Revised and enlarged by Isao Taki, Sc.D., Bunkyokaku, Tokyo, 1951, page XXI
  6. Clench W. J. (1948). "The Hirase collections of mollusks". The Nautilus 62(1): 34-35.
  7. (in Japanese) Hirase S. (1936) "三崎産後鰓類の2新種に就て On Two New Opisthobranciata from Japan". Doubutsugaku zasshi 48(8-10): 731-737. CiNii.
  8. Rudman W. B. (1972). "A comparative study of the genus Philinopsis Pease, 1860 (Aglajidae, Opisthobranchia)". Pacific Science 26(4): 381-399. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/443
  9. Bouchet, P. (2010). Babylonia kirana Habe, 1965. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=475115 on 2011-03-13
  10. Huber, M. (2010). Crassostrea nippona. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=506708 on 2011-03-13
  11. Citation: WoRMS (2010). Xenophora (Xenophora) tenuis. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=468044 on 2011-03-13

Further reading
  • Kuroda T. (1940). [Memorials to the late Dr. Shintaro Hirase]. Venus 10: 1-40.
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