Pioneering Female Scientist Series
The videos below introduce women scientists who actively pursued their research at RIKEN during the early twentieth century, a time when social norms dictated that “women should not become scholars.” Their lives and their research changed this social norm, setting an example that many other women scientists would come to follow.
- Pioneering Female Scientist Series Part 6
Ume Tange: Clearing a Path for Others to Follow
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Produced in 2005; 14 minutes
Autobiographical sketch of Dr. Ume Tange, who graduated from Tohoku Imperial University at age 44 as the first female student, went to USA at age 54 and obtained a Ph.D. there. Returning to Japan, she worked at RIKEN with Professor Umetaro Suzuki for 13 years, publishing 23 papers on the study of vitamins.
- Pioneering Female Scientists Part 5
Michiyo Tujimura: A Life of Work as a "Green Tea Scientist"
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Produced in 2005; 14 minutes
Biographical sketch of Dr. Michiyo Tujimura, who was hired by RIKEN in 1929 and was the first female in Japan to earn a doctoral degree in agriculture. She was motivated by Professor Umetaro Suzuki to study the effective components in green tea and their structures, and known for achieving the first successful crystalization of the complex bitter components, catechin and tannin, thereby elucidating their chemicals structures.
- Pioneering Female Scientists Part 4
Sechi Kato: Analysis of Molecules by Absorption Spectroscopy
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Produced in 2005; 14 minutes
Biographical sketch of Dr. Sechi Kato, who was the first female student of Hokkaido Imperial University, and the first female researcher, and later chief scientist, at RIKEN. She succeeded in the first application of absorption spectroscopy for the analysis of molecular structures.
- Pioneering Female Scientists Part 3
Mizu Wada: A Life of Research into the Safflower Plant
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Produced in 2005; 14 minutes
Biographical sketch of Mizu Wada, who started her career as an assistant for Professor C. Kuroda, then studied safflower dyes with Professor Hattori of Tokyo Imperial University, and, eventually, patented the extraction process for the plant dye, carthamin.
- Pioneering Female Scientists Part 2
Kimiko Anno: The Path I Chose
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Produced in 2004; 14 minutes
Biographical sketch of Dr. Kimiko Anno, who was a pioneering scientist specializing in the chemistry of sugar, the first female graduate student of Tokyo Imperial University, and active in women's rights for education and scientific research.
- Pioneering Female Scientists Part 1
Chika Kuroda's Passion for Understanding Materials
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Produced in 2004; 14 minutes
Biographical sketch of Dr. Chika Kuroda who was a true pioneer as an organic chemist, the first female graduate student at Tohoku Imperial University, and the second Japanese woman earning a Doctor of Science degree.