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Jokichi Takamine (高峰 讓吉) (February 11, 1854 - July 22, 1922) was a
Japanese chemist.
Born in Takaoka, Japan the son of a physician. Educated in Osaka, Kyoto,
and Tokyo, graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1879. He did
postgraduate work at University of Glasgow and Anderson College in Scotland.
He returned to Japan in 1883 and joined the division of chemistry at the
department of agriculture and commerce.
In 1884 he married the American, Caroline Field Hitch. Takamine continued
to work for the department of agriculture and commerce until 1887. Leaving,
he founded the Tokyo Artificial Fertilizer Company, where he later isolated
the enzyme, Takadiastase.
In 1894 Takamine emigrated to the United States. He established his own
research laboratory in New York City, but licensed the commercial production
of Takadiastase. In 1901 he isolated and purified the hormone adrenaline
from animal glands, becoming the first to accomplish this for a glandular
hormone.
Many of the beautiful cherry blossom trees in Washington DC were donated
by the mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki (尾崎 行雄) and Dr. Jokichi Takamine
in 1912.
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