2.4 Shinjo Shinzo and Astrophysics
2.4.1 Life and Works
Astrophysics at Kyoto University was initiated and promoted by Shinjo Shinzo (新
城新蔵 1873–1938) (Kabumoto 1996; Noda 1979; Yabuuchi 1992).
Shinjo was born in the city of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, in 1873,
the sixth son of Shinjo Hyoemon (新城平右衛門), a sake brewer, and his new son
was named Shinzo (new cellar in Japanese) in celebration of the construction of a
new sake cellar that year.
Shinzo was a boy genius and went through primary and secondary school at an
accelerated pace. He entered Dai-Ni High School (old) in Sendai at the age of 15.
After 3 years he enrolled in the Science College of the Tokyo Imperial University
and studied physics and geophysics under Tanakadate Aikitsu. Shinjo concentrated
in his studies on geodetic surveying. After graduation from the university, he was
appointed lecturer in physics at the Military Academy of the Army, and he also
served as a geodetic surveyor in the Ministry of Education (Fig. 2.11).
He actively undertook the survey of geomagnetism and surface gravity in many
island locations in Japan and even in China. On his survey activity, Nagaoka
Hantaro, Shinjo’s senior and collaborator, said the following in his memorial address
for Shinjo:
He [Shinjo] has been working as a lecturer of physics at the Military Academy of the Army.
After returning from foreign study, in around 1897, I felt the need to obtain gravity
measurements in Tokyo and other important places. In carrying out this work with him,
we had daily discussions and then, together with Ohtani Ryokichi (大谷亮吉), we measured
the absolute gravity in Tokyo, Kyoto, Mizusawa, and other places. Later on, we measured
Fig. 2.10 Portrait of
Takamine Toshio (Fujioka
1964)
30
2 Astronomy from Meiji to Taisho Period 1868–1926
2.4.1 Life and Works
Astrophysics at Kyoto University was initiated and promoted by Shinjo Shinzo (新
城新蔵 1873–1938) (Kabumoto 1996; Noda 1979; Yabuuchi 1992).
Shinjo was born in the city of Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, in 1873,
the sixth son of Shinjo Hyoemon (新城平右衛門), a sake brewer, and his new son
was named Shinzo (new cellar in Japanese) in celebration of the construction of a
new sake cellar that year.
Shinzo was a boy genius and went through primary and secondary school at an
accelerated pace. He entered Dai-Ni High School (old) in Sendai at the age of 15.
After 3 years he enrolled in the Science College of the Tokyo Imperial University
and studied physics and geophysics under Tanakadate Aikitsu. Shinjo concentrated
in his studies on geodetic surveying. After graduation from the university, he was
appointed lecturer in physics at the Military Academy of the Army, and he also
served as a geodetic surveyor in the Ministry of Education (Fig. 2.11).
He actively undertook the survey of geomagnetism and surface gravity in many
island locations in Japan and even in China. On his survey activity, Nagaoka
Hantaro, Shinjo’s senior and collaborator, said the following in his memorial address
for Shinjo:
He [Shinjo] has been working as a lecturer of physics at the Military Academy of the Army.
After returning from foreign study, in around 1897, I felt the need to obtain gravity
measurements in Tokyo and other important places. In carrying out this work with him,
we had daily discussions and then, together with Ohtani Ryokichi (大谷亮吉), we measured
the absolute gravity in Tokyo, Kyoto, Mizusawa, and other places. Later on, we measured
Fig. 2.10 Portrait of
Takamine Toshio (Fujioka
1964)
30
2 Astronomy from Meiji to Taisho Period 1868–1926