[Kitasato in 1910]
A microbiologist and educator known as the “father of modern Japanese medicine,” Shibasaburo Kitasato made great strides in the study of bacteria and is renowned in the world of infectious disease. Born in present day Oguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture in 1853, he grew up interested in martial arts and wanted a career in the military. However, he went to study at what is now known as the School of Medicine at Kumamoto University. There he met C. G. van Mansvelt who tried to instill in Kitasato an appreciation of medicine but it wasn’t until Kitasato first saw a tissue enlarged under a microscope that he became enamored with the field (Keio University). Graduating in 1883 from what is now known as Faculty of Medicine at University of Tokyo, Kitasato got a position with the Japanese Home Ministry's Health Department.
In 1885, he was ordered to go to Germany where he worked under Robert Koch, a physician known as one of the founders of modern bacteriology. It was during his time in Germany that Kitasato became the first person in the world to successfully cultivate tetanus bacteria in pure culture, something that was thought to be impossible at the time (Fukuda). He also invented what is now known as serotherapy, a method of using serum containing antitoxin to treat or prevent disease, including for diphtheria. In 1891, he returned to Japan and by 1892, he founded Japan’s first infectious disease research institute.
[Kitasato in his lab in the 1890s]
Kitasato showcased his expertise in infectious diseases when an outbreak of the bubonic plague spread across Hong Kong in 1894. He was sent to the affected area and began to work on its prevention and treatment. Traveling around the country, he persuaded the minister in charge of the need for thorough border control measures, quarantine of ships and trains, disinfection of infected areas, securing isolation beds, compensation for business loss expenses, improving water and sewage systems, etc. (Ueyama). This was during a time when there was limited knowledge of infectious diseases and how to prevent and treat them. It was due to his efforts that this outbreak wasn’t as deadly as it previously was. If the death tolls from the first pandemic, which occurred in the Roman Empire in the 6th century, and the second pandemic, which occurred in medieval Europe in the 14th century, are combined, the total number of deaths is estimated to be at least 100 million whereas, for the 1894 Hong Kong plague, it was limited to around 10 million, even though it occurred in an era of internationalization and advanced transportation (Ueyama). It is because of his efforts that Japan was able to establish a system to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
When he was still in school, Kitasato wrote of his desire to become doctor and his philosophy on medical ethics that he would maintain throughout his life. In an excerpt of “Medical Theory” from 1878, he writes:
"The true role of medicine is to keep the masses healthy, to allow them to work without worry, and to make the country rich, strong, and developed. If people do not know how to take care of themselves, they cannot keep their bodies healthy, and if they are not healthy, they cannot live a fulfilling life. The basis of medicine is to teach the people how to stay healthy, to let them know the importance of their health, to protect their sexual life from disease, and to prevent disease before it occurs (Ueyama)."
It shows not only his desire in helping people, it also illustrates the importance of his studies to understand infectious diseases and how essential it is society.
Kitasato Shibasaburo continued his work and influence in the medical field until his death in 1931. His legacy lives on through the many contributions he made to the study of infectious diseases and public health. His pioneering work in bacteriology and immunology not only saved countless lives but also laid the groundwork for future advancements in medical science. Kitasato's dedication to medicine and his unwavering commitment to improving public health remain inspirational, making him a revered figure in the history of modern medicine and his portrait will be used on the new 1,000-yen banknotes issued in July 2024.
Related Media
Kitasato Shibasaburo, a short video by NHK for School (in Japanese)
Visit
Shibasaburo Kitasato’s grave in Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo
Works Cited
Fukuda, Mahito. “北里柴三郎: 感染症予防と治療のパイオニア.” Nippon.com, 3 Sept. 2020, www.nippon.com/ja/japan-topics/b07213/?cx_recs_click=true. Accessed 12 July 2024.
Keio University. “Shibasaburo Kitasato: Father of the Keio School of Medicine: Keio University.” Www.keio.ac.jp, 7 July 2020, www.keio.ac.jp/en/keio-times/features/2020/6/. Accessed 11 July 2024.
Ueyama, Akihiro. “北里柴三郎の「医道論」に学べ──令和日本の新型コロナ対策に足りないもの：上山明博 | 記事 | 新潮社 Foresight(フォーサイト) | 会員制国際情報サイト.” 新潮社 Foresight(フォーサイト), 26 Dec. 2021, www.fsight.jp/articles/-/48501. Accessed 12 July 2024.
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