Japanese Literary Awards

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Masutaro Kuwabara

くわばら ますたろう

Kuwabara Masutaro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1909-10-15 （Tokyo (Tokyo-fu), Japan）
Died
1998-02-17 age 88
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Ethologist, University professor, Research director, Author
Active Years
1933-1983
Affiliations
Kyushu University, Faculty of Science, Sophia University, Okazaki National Research Institutes, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology (Professor Emeritus)
Influenced By
Karl von Frisch, R.A. Hinde (ethology-related)

Education

Hokkaido Imperial University, Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science / Department of Zoology
Degree: 理学士
Year of Graduation: 1933
Country: Japan
Hokkaido University (Ph.D. in Science)
Faculty of Science / Department of Zoology
Degree: 理学博士
Year of Graduation: 1949
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: "Ueber die Funktion der Antennen der Honigbienen (Apis mellifica) in bezug auf der Raumorientierung"

Awards

Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Prize
1955
Work: The World of Honeybees
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award
1963
Work: Animals and the Sun Compass
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Homing of Honeybees

1947 Academic monograph

An early monograph on homing behavior of honeybees and its physiological basis, detailing the role of antennae and sensory organs.

honeybeeshoming behaviorsensory physiology

The World of Honeybees

1954 Popular science

A popular-science book for children and general readers explaining honeybee ecology and behavior in accessible terms; one of his representative works.

beeschildren's sciencepopularization of ethology

Animals and the Sun Compass

1963 Popular science

Explains how animals use the sun as a compass to determine direction, discussing navigation and migratory behaviors from optical and physiological perspectives.

sun compassorientationmigratory behavior

Biological Clocks of Animals

1966 Popular science

An introductory work on circadian rhythms and the physiological basis of biological clocks in animals.

biological clockscircadian rhythmsphysiology

Instincts of Animals

1989 Popular science

A comprehensive discussion of animal instincts, drawing on ethological findings to explain behaviors observed in everyday life.

instinctethologycomparative biology

Bibliography

  • The Homing of Honeybees
  • New Zoology: For Those Learning Zoology for the First Time
  • Senses of Insects
  • The World of Honeybees
  • Animals and the Sun Compass
  • Biological Clocks of Animals
  • Biology and Information
  • Instincts of Animals

Translations by Author

  • From the Life of the Honeybee (Karl von Frisch, translated by Kuwabara)
  • Twelve Little Companions (Karl von Frisch, translated by Kuwabara)
  • Ethology (R.A. Hinde, supervised translation by Kuwabara)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scientifically accurate yet accessible to general readersDescription based on experiments and observations
Recurring Motifs
honeybees and insect behaviorsensory organs and information processingtemporal and directional orientation (biological clocks, sun compass)

Legacy

Contributed significantly to the study of honeybees, animal orientation and biological clocks, and to the popularization of ethology in Japan through accessible works. Recognized for his roles as a university professor and research institute director.

Academic Societies

  • Zoological Society of Japan

Archives

  • National Diet Library (materials related to Masutaro Kuwabara)
  • Kyushu University Library

In Popular Culture

  • Introduced ethology to the public through NHK Education's "University Lecture: Biology of Behavior"

Trivia

  • Has authority identifiers such as ISNI and VIAF (e.g., ISNI: 0000000084605330).
  • Served as the founding director of the National Institute for Basic Biology in Okazaki.