Ryōkichi Yatabe


Ryōkichi Yatabe was a Japanese botanist during the Meiji era.

Biography

Born in Japan, Yatabe attended Cornell University in 1871. In 1876, he became Cornell's first Japanese graduate. He returned to Japan as the first professor of botany at the University of Tokyo, as well as the director of the botanical gardens. In 1882, he was a founding member of the Botanical Society of Japan, and its journal, the Botanical Magazine of Tokyo. In 1886, Yatabe led the development of teacher training in Japan as principal of the higher teaching college at the University of Tokyo.
In 1899, Yatabe drowned while on summer vacation off the coast of Kamakura.

Legacy

Yatabe is commemorated by the genus Yatabea.
Psychologist was his son.

Publications

Yatabe published nothing more. All descriptions are in Japanese, only the title and the names of the plants are in English.