Professor Emeritus Shoichi Kawano, the first director of the Kyoto University Museum, received the 21st Minakata Kumagusu Prize. Established to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Kumagusu Minakata, a unique naturalist and folklorist born in Japan, the prize is presented jointly along with the City of Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture (the home of his activities) and Minakata Kumagusu Kensyokai (Minakata Kumagusu Memorial Society).
The prize was awarded for Professor Emeritus Kawano's three major achievements: contributions to the study of plant species life history, including his discovery of their strategies for species survival in plant colonies through his close observations of Erythronium japonicum Decne and Allium monanthum Maxim.; nurture of many young researchers; and dedication and organizational commitment to nature conservation activities.
The award ceremony took place on May 7, 2011 at the Kinan Bunka Kaikan Hall in Tanabe, the home of Kumagusu's activities, with the presence of Mayor Mitsutoshi Manago of Tanabe City (president of Minakata Kumagusu Kenshokai), Governer Yoshinobu Nisaka of Wakayama Prefecture, and Professor Kihachiro Kikuzawa of Ishikawa Prefectural University (chairperson of the selection committee).
Professor Emeritus Kawano (right) receives a trophy from Mayor Manago