A film about the life of Jokichi Takamine (1854-1922), the Japanese chemist who discovered the hormone adrenaline, will be screened in various parts of the nation this year to commemorate the centennial of another of his achievements — the donation of 6,000 cherry trees to Washington and New York.
"Takamine — America ni Sakura o Sakaseta Otoko" ("The Man Who Made Cherry Blossoms Bloom in America") will be shown in Tokyo, Yokohama, Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, and other locations. It was first screened last year in Toyama Prefecture, where he was born, and in Ishikawa Prefecture, where he spent his childhood, the film's production company said.
Takamine used his own money to donate the trees in 1912.
When the film, directed by Toru Ichikawa, was shown in Kawasaki on Feb. 20, Hatsunori Hasegawa, 56, who played Takamine, said: "I want many people to know about Takamine, the man who devoted himself to promoting friendship between Japan and the United States."