Osamu Hayaishi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osamu Hayaishi
早石 修
Born	(1920-01-08)January 8, 1920 Stockton, California, USA
Died	December 17, 2015(2015-12-17) (aged 95) Kyoto, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Alma mater	Osaka University
Known for	Oxygenases Prostaglandin
Awards	Japan Academy Prize (1967) Order of Culture (1972) Wolf Prize (1986)
Scientific career
Fields	Biochemistry Physiology
Institutions	Osaka Bioscience Institute Osaka Medical College Kyoto University Vanderbilt University University of Tokyo Osaka University Washington University in St. Louis National Institutes of Health
Doctoral students	Yasutomi Nishizuka Tasuku Honjo Shigetada Nakanishi

Osamu Hayaishi MJA (早石 修, Hayaishi Osamu, January 8, 1920 – December 17, 2015) was a famous Japanese biochemist and doctor. He made a very important discovery in 1955: a group of special helpers in our bodies called Oxygenases. These helpers play a big role in how our bodies use oxygen.

Because of his amazing work, he received the Wolf Prize in Medicine in 1986. This award recognized his "outstanding and pioneering contributions" to science. He also led the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from 1973 to 1976.

A Life of Discovery

Osamu Hayaishi was born in Stockton, California, United States, in 1920. He studied medicine at Osaka University in Japan and became a doctor in 1942. After working as a medical officer in the Japanese Navy for three years, he continued his studies. He earned his Ph.D. in 1949 from the Institute of Microbial Diseases at Osaka University.

Hayaishi worked with other famous scientists like Arthur Kornberg in the United States. He became a research leader and professor at many places in both the US and Japan. These included Kyoto University. During his career, he guided about 600 students. Some of his students became very successful, like Tasuku Honjo, who won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 2018. More than 100 of his students became professors at different universities in Japan.

Important Research

Hayaishi and his team are known for their big contributions to understanding how our bodies work. Their most important discovery was the group of enzymes called Oxygenases.

What are Oxygenases?

These special enzymes are found everywhere in nature. They are a unique type of "breathing" enzyme. They help to directly add oxygen from the air into different substances. This process is very important for many life functions.

Sleep and Prostaglandin D2

Hayaishi also discovered something interesting about sleep. He found that a substance called Prostaglandin D2 can make you feel sleepy. This was another important finding in his research.

Awards and Honors

Osamu Hayaishi received many awards for his scientific work. Some of these include:

• The Asahi Prize (1964)
• The Japan Academy Prize (1967)
• The Order of Culture (1972)
• The Louis and Bert Freedman Foundation Award (1976)
• The Wolf Prize in Medicine (1986)
• The Distinguished Scientist Award (1999)

He was also chosen as a member of many important science groups around the world. In 1974, he became a member of the Japan Academy. In 1984, the city of Kyoto made him an honorary citizen.