science

Syo Kurokawa

Syo Kurokawa is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Syo Kurokawa rather than just read about it. In short: Syo Kurokawa (黒川逍, Kurokawa Shō; July 15, 1926–September 16, 2010) was a renowned Japanese lichenologist and 1994 recipient of the Acharius Medal. He studied under Mason Hale and Yasuhiko Asahina.

Key takeaways

Syo Kurokawa belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
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Reproduce the core statement of Syo Kurokawa from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Syo Kurokawa (黒川逍, Kurokawa Shō; July 15, 1926–September 16, 2010) was a renowned Japanese lichenologist and 1994 recipient of the Acharius Medal. He studied under Mason Hale and Yasuhiko Asahina.

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. 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, Peltigera, Pilophorus, and Xanthoparmelia.

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. Between 1966 and 1987, he edited this exsiccata, collaborating with Hiroyuki Kashiwadani from 1978 onwards. 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.

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.

Eponyms Several lichen species have been named to honour Kurokawa. These eponyms include: Usnea kurokawae Asahina (1956); Parmelia kurokawae Hale (1968); Lobaria kurokawae Yoshim (1971); Physconia kurokawae Kashiw (1975); Cetraria kurokawae Shibuichi & K.Yoshida (1982); Heterodermia kurokawae Trass (1992); Scleropyrenium kurokawae H.Harada (1993); Cladonia kurokawae Ahti & S.Stenroos (1996); Ramalina kurokawae Kashiw (1996); Parmotrema kurokawianum Louwhoff & Elix (1999); Fellhaneropsis kurokawae G.Thor, Lücking & Tat.Matsumoto (2000); Graphis kurokawae M.Nakan., Kashiw. & K.H.Moon (2008); and Lecanora kurokawae 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

References DePriest, P.T. (1999). "Development of Mason E. Hale's list of epithets in the Parmelioid genera (lichen-forming Ascomycotina): A bibliographic review". Bryologist. 102 (3): 442–461. doi:10.2307/3244233. JSTOR 3244233. Kashiwadani, Hiroyuki (2011). "A tribute to Syo Kurokawa (1926–2010)". The Lichenologist. 43 (3): 191–192. doi:10.1017/S0024282911000090.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Syo Kurokawa

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Syo Kurokawa claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Syo Kurokawa before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Syo Kurokawa ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Syo Kurokawa

In research: Syo Kurokawa appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Syo Kurokawa in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Syo Kurokawa is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1926 births, 2010 deaths, 20th-century Japanese botanists, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Syo Kurokawa outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Syo Kurokawa in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Syo Kurokawa means in your own words.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Syo Kurokawa in simple terms?

Why does Syo Kurokawa matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Syo Kurokawa?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Syo Kurokawa.