Chozaburo Tanaka

Background

Chozaburo Tanaka was born on November 3, 1885 in Hyogo, Japan.

Education

He graduated from Tokyo University (1910).

Career

He became instructor of Ueda Sericultural College and went to U.S.A. and became assistant botanical engineer and translator, Agriculture Department, U.S.A. On returning, he served as instructor of Kyushu University, professor of Miyazaki Higher Agricultural School and professor of Taihoku (Taipeh) University.

After the war, he was Chief Technical Consultant of Hydroponic Agricultural Unit, U.S. Forces in Japan, director of Chofu Hydroponic Farm, chairman of Technical Administration Examining Board and professor of Tokyo Agricultural College. His numerous studies include "Classification of Citrus and Its Family Plants," "Genetic Nursery of Seeds," etc.

Achievements

• He established one of the two major taxonomic classification systems for citrus and related genera currently in use, and is now considered to be a taxonomic "splitter".
  
  He is the author of 180 botanical names in the citrus family Rutaceae, including for example Citrus × latifolia (Persian lime) and Citrus tangerina (tangerine). Many of the species Tanaka described are still recognized, but his overall scheme is not supported by modern genetic research.