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.
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. 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. 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.” 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.
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. The surviving pieces of the collection have been stored in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo since 1948.
Shintarō Hirase was a Japanese malacologist. His father, Yoichirō Hirase, was also a malacologist.
Shintarō Hirase was a teaching zoologist at Seikei College.

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. Majority of the collection was destroyed by incendiary bombs in the house of Shintarō Hirase and in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo during bombing of Tokyo. The collection have been stored in the Research Institute for Natural Resources in Tokyo in 1948.

Taxa described