Mamoru Oguma
Mamoru Oguma was a Japanese entomologist and geneticist. He held the degree of Doctor of Agriculture and is best known for his pioneering work in insect morphology and human genetics.
Biography
Oguma was born in Akasaka, Tokyo Prefecture. As a student, he was influenced by entomologist Matsumura Shōnen. In 1903, he graduated from Tokyo First Middle School and entered the Sapporo Agricultural College.In 1911, he graduated from the Department of Agriculture at Tohoku Imperial University, and began working in the Agricultural Biology Department. From 1922 to 1924, he studied abroad in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium.
In 1929, following the retirement of Professor Saburō Hatta, he became professor of zoology and entomology at the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University. The following year, in 1930, he transferred to the newly established Faculty of Science, where he became professor in the Department of Zoology. His previous post was filled by Tetsuo Inukai. He became well known as a leading authority on the study of dragonflies.
Oguma served in various senior roles including:
- Dean of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido Imperial University
- Director of the Institute of Low Temperature Science
- Director of the Akkeshi Marine Laboratory
- Director of the Catalysis Research Center
- First Director of the National Institute of Genetics (Japan)
- President of the Sapporo New Symphony Orchestra Supporters Association
Research
Oguma made significant contributions in entomology, cytology, and genetics. His 1919 paper on "The Histological Study of the Compound Eyes of Dragonflies" and his 1922 study on human chromosomes were especially well regarded for their originality.In a controversial study, Oguma obtained testicular samples from anti-Japanese guerrillas captured in northeast China with assistance from the Imperial Japanese Army. He used these samples to study chromosomes and published his findings in a U.S. scientific journal in June 1937.
Legacy
Oguma's former residence, located in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, was designed in 1929 by Yoshiya Tanoue, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, and was selected as one of the 100 Cultural Landmarks of Sapporo. The house was relocated in 1998 to Fushimi, Sapporo at the base of Mount Moiwa and has since been used as a local landmark, formerly as Lloyd's Coffee Museum until 2017, and currently as the fly-fishing shop "Dolly Varden".Oguma was also known as the academic advisor to Yoshimaro Yamashina. He had personal friendships with writer Takeo Arishima and legal scholar Miyoji Hayakawa.