14 Facts About Michiyo Tsujimura

Michiyo Tsujimura was a Japanese agricultural scientist and biochemist whose research focused on the components of green tea.

Michiyo Tsujimura was the first woman in Japan to receive a doctoral degree in agriculture.

Michiyo Tsujimura attended Tokyo Prefecture Women's Normal School, graduating in 1909, and the Division of Biochemical Science at Tokyo Women's Higher Normal School.

Michiyo Tsujimura graduated in 1913 and became a teacher at Yokohama High School for Women in Kanagawa Prefecture.

At the time, the university did not accept female students, so Michiyo Tsujimura worked in an unpaid position at the Food Nutritional Laboratory of the university's Agricultural Chemistry Department.

Michiyo Tsujimura worked in the laboratory of Umetaro Suzuki, a doctor of agriculture, and researched nutritional chemistry.

Michiyo Tsujimura extracted tannin in crystal form from green tea in 1930.

Michiyo Tsujimura went on to isolate gallocatechin from green tea in 1934 and registered a patent on her method of extracting vitamin C crystals from plants in 1935.

Michiyo Tsujimura was promoted to the role of junior researcher at RIKEN in 1942 and then researcher in 1947 before becoming a professor at Ochanomizu University when it was established in 1949.

Michiyo Tsujimura was a professor at Tokyo Women's Higher Normal School from 1950 and was the school's first dean of the Faculty of Home Economics.

Michiyo Tsujimura retired from Ochanomizu University as a professor in 1956, but continued lecturing part-time until 1961.

Michiyo Tsujimura was a professor at Jissen Women's University in Tokyo from 1955 to 1963, when she became a professor emeritus.

Michiyo Tsujimura was awarded the Japan Prize of Agricultural Science in 1956 for her research on green tea and was conferred the Order of the Precious Crown of the Fourth Class in 1968.

Michiyo Tsujimura died in Toyohashi on 1 June 1969 at the age of 80.