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Hideyo Noguchi - The leading expert on yellow fever who became a Japanese banknote


Hideyo Noguchi front photo

Hideyo Noguchi's early life

Hideyo Noguchi (1866-1928) was a world-renowned Japanese medical scientist and bacteriologist whose research contributed to the development of treatments for many diseases.


He was born in a rural town in Fukuoka Prefecture. I loved learning from an early age and continued studying even when my family was struggling financially.

After that, I moved to Tokyo and began studying medicine. Not satisfied with just studying in Japan, he studied abroad in the United States and Germany, learning about cutting-edge research from around the world.




Yellow fever research

Hideyo Noguchi received particular attention for his research on yellow fever. Yellow fever is a terrible disease that killed many people, especially in Africa and South America. He conducted repeated field studies to try to understand how the disease spreads and how to prevent it.


His research determined that yellow fever was spread by mosquitoes. This major discovery led to efforts to reduce mosquito populations and the development of vaccines, which saved many lives.


However, Hideyo Noguchi was willing to sacrifice his health and even his life for his research. During fieldwork in Africa, he contracted yellow fever, which was the subject of his research, and unfortunately lost his life.



1,000 yen bill with portrait of Hideyo Noguchi

Hideyo Noguchi's achievements

His death was met with great sadness not only in Japan but all over the world. However, his research results and spirit are still respected in the medical world today.


Hideyo Noguchi showed us the importance of not just curing a disease, but also solving the root cause of the disease. His research methods and ideas have an influence on current medical research.


Upon his return to Japan, the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum was established in Yokohama in honor of his achievements. There are exhibits about his achievements and life here, and many people come to learn about his accomplishments.


Lastly, Hideyo Noguchi was not just a medical scientist, but a true hero who risked his life to protect people's health and lives. His research and way of life give us courage and hope.





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