Syo Kurokawa

{{Short description|Japanese lichenologist (1926–2010)}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Syo Kurokawa | native_name = {{nobold|黒川逍}} | native_name_lang = ja | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date |1926|07|15}}<ref name=Kashiwadani/> | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age |2010|09|16 |1926|07|15}}<ref name=Kashiwadani/> | death_place = | workplaces = National Science Museum, Tokyo | patrons = | education = Tokyo University of Literature & Science | academic_advisors = [[Yasuhiko Asahina]] | known_for = Study of lichens | awards = [[Acharius Medal]]<ref name=Kashiwadani/> | author_abbrev_bot = Kurok. }}

{{nihongo|'''Syo Kurokawa'''|黒川逍|Kurokawa Shō|July 15, 1926–September 16, 2010}}<ref name=Kashiwadani>Kashiwadani 2011.</ref> was a renowned Japanese [[lichenology|lichenologist]] and 1994 recipient of the [[Acharius Medal]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Acharius Medallists: Syo Kurokawa|url=http://www.lichenology.org/Awards/Acharius_Kurokawa.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-03|website=International Association for Lichenology}}</ref> He studied under [[Mason Hale]]<ref name=DePriest>DePriest.</ref> and [[Yasuhiko Asahina]].<ref name=Kashiwadani/>

==Education and career==

Kurokawa graduated in 1951 from the Tokyo University of Literature & Science, which later became the [[University of Tsukuba]]. He earned his [[Doctor of Science]] degree with a thesis titled "The species of ''Anaptychia'', with a new sub generic classification". This work was later published as "A monograph of the genus ''Anaptychia''" in 1962, which became a seminal paper in the field.<ref name=Kashiwadani/>

Throughout his career, Kurokawa made significant contributions to lichenology. He collaborated with [[Mason Hale]] on "Studies on ''Parmelia'' subgenus ''Parmelia''" (1964), which revolutionized the understanding of [[rhizine]] characteristics in ''Parmelia'' classification. His research encompassed various lichen genera in Japan, including ''[[Anzia]]'', ''[[Cetraria]]'', ''[[Parmelia (fungus)|Parmelia]]'', ''[[Peltigera]]'', ''[[Pilophorus (fungus)|Pilophorus]]'', and ''[[Xanthoparmelia]]''.<ref name=Kashiwadani/>

==Contributions to lichenology==

Kurokawa played a crucial role in elevating the [[herbarium]] of the [[National Museum of Nature and Science]] (TNS) to international standards. From 1966 to 1996, he published the [[exsiccata]] "Lichenes rariores et critici exsiccati" ("Rare and critical lichens, dried specimens"), comprising 700 specimens distributed to leading world herbaria.<ref name=Kashiwadani/> Between 1966 and 1987, he edited this exsiccata, collaborating with Hiroyuki Kashiwadani from 1978 onwards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lichenes rariores et critici exsiccati: IndExs ExsiccataID=852081656 |website=IndExs - Index of Exsiccatae |publisher=Botanische Staatssammlung München |url=http://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/DatabaseClients/IndExs/Exsiccatae_IndExs_Details.jsp?ExsiccataID=852081656 |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref>

His research extended to environmental studies, where he investigated the use of ''[[Parmotrema tinctorum]]'' as a [[bioindicator]] for [[air pollution]] in urban Japan. Kurokawa's work earned him recognition as one of the most prominent lichenologists in Japan and Asia.<ref name=Kashiwadani/>

==Legacy==

Kurokawa was widely respected for both his academic achievements and his personal qualities, including his warmth and kindness. His passing in 2010 was considered a significant loss to the global lichenological community.<ref name=Kashiwadani/>

===Eponyms===

Several lichen species have been named to honour Kurokawa. These [[eponym]]s include:<ref name="Hertel et al. 2017"/> ''[[Usnea kurokawae]]'' {{small|Asahina (1956)}}; ''[[Parmelia kurokawae]]'' {{small|Hale (1968)}}; ''[[Lobaria kurokawae]]'' {{small|Yoshim (1971)}}; ''[[Physconia kurokawae]]'' {{small|Kashiw (1975)}}; ''[[Cetraria kurokawae]]'' {{small|Shibuichi & K.Yoshida (1982)}}; ''[[Heterodermia kurokawae]]'' {{small|Trass (1992)}}; ''[[Scleropyrenium kurokawae]]'' {{small|H.Harada (1993)}}; ''[[Cladonia kurokawae]]'' {{small|Ahti & S.Stenroos (1996)}}; ''[[Ramalina kurokawae]]'' {{small|Kashiw (1996)}}; ''[[Parmotrema kurokawianum]]'' {{small|Louwhoff & Elix (1999)}}; ''[[Fellhaneropsis kurokawae]]'' {{small|G.Thor, Lücking & Tat.Matsumoto (2000)}}; ''[[Graphis kurokawae]]'' {{small|M.Nakan., Kashiw. & K.H.Moon (2008)}}; and ''[[Lecanora kurokawae]]'' {{small|Shiba, K.H.Moon & Kashiw (2008)}}. The genus ''[[Kurokawia]]'' is also named for him.

==See also== * [[List of mycologists]] * [[:Category:Taxa named by Syo Kurokawa]]

==Citations== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Hertel et al. 2017">{{cite journal |first1=Hannes |last1=Hertel |first2=Georg |last2=Gärtner |first3=László |last3=Lőkös |title=Forscher an Österreichs Flechtenflora |trans-title=Investigators of Austria's lichen flora |journal=Stapfia |year=2017 |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=1–211 (see pp. 14–15) |language=German |url=https://www.zobodat.at/biografien/Flechtenforschung_Austria_STAPFIA_0104_2_0001-0211.pdf}}</ref>

}}

==References== *{{cite journal |last1=DePriest |first1=P.T. |year=1999 |title=Development of Mason E. Hale's list of epithets in the Parmelioid genera (lichen-forming Ascomycotina): A bibliographic review |journal=Bryologist |volume=102 |issue=3 |pages=442–461 |jstor=3244233 |doi=10.2307/3244233}} *{{cite journal |last1=Kashiwadani |first1=Hiroyuki |year=2011 |title=A tribute to Syo Kurokawa (1926–2010) |journal=The Lichenologist |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=191–192 |doi=10.1017/S0024282911000090 |doi-access=free }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kurokawa, Syo}} [[Category:1926 births]] [[Category:2010 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century Japanese botanists]] [[Category:Japanese lichenologists]] [[Category:Acharius Medal recipients]] [[Category:Scientists from Toyama Prefecture]]