Born into a doctor's family at Takaoka in Etchū (Toyama); the family soon moved to Kanazawa in Kaga.
Chosen by his domain, he went to Nagasaki to study Western learning.
He graduated in chemistry from the Imperial College of Engineering and went to Britain to study the next year.
With Shibusawa Eiichi and others he founded Japan's first artificial fertilizer company, and married the American Caroline Hitch.
He moved to America and pursued research using kōji mould.
From kōji he developed Taka-diastase, a digestive enzyme sold worldwide.
With his assistant Uenaka Keizō he became the first in the world to isolate the hormone adrenaline in crystalline form.
He worked to make possible Tokyo's gift of cherry trees to Washington, D.C.
He died in New York.
Kodama GentarōJosiah ConderKitasato ShibasaburōErnest FenollosaShimoda UtakoKomura JutarōUeki EmoriMikimoto Kōkichi
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.