The Making of a Biologist

Shinya Inoué was born on January 5, 1921 in London, United Kingdom. The oldest of five children, his father worked as a Japanese diplomat and his mother later became the official interpreter for the Empress of Japan. Throughout his childhood, Inoué travelled the world as his father was stationed across Japanese consulates in Quemoi, China; Portland, Oregon; Sydney, Australia; and, finally, Tokyo, Japan. While in high school, Inoué’s father was reposted to the Japanese embassy in Berlin; Inoué remained in Tokyo, and lived with his grandfather and aunt. Upon graduating from high school, Inoué entered Musashi Kotoh­Gakko, a private three year liberal arts preparatory college.