# Osamu Shimomura

_Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist (1928–2018)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/osamu-shimomura
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Osamu Shimomura  was a Japanese organic chemist and marine biologist, and professor emeritus at Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and Boston University School of Medicine. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008 for the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with two American scientists: Martin Chalfie of Columbia University and Roger Tsien of the University of California-San Diego.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 27 August 1928 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Fukuchiyama ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P19))
- **Died:** 19 October 2018 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P570))
- **Place of death:** Nagasaki ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Japan; Empire of Japan ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P27))
- **Occupation:** chemist; biochemist; organic chemist; marine biologist; university teacher; biologist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P106))
- **Education:** Nagoya University; Nagasaki Medical College ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P69))
- **Awards:** Order of Culture; Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Person of Cultural Merit; Asahi Prize ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345#P166))

## Questions

**When was Osamu Shimomura born?**  
Osamu Shimomura was born on 27 August 1928 in Fukuchiyama.

**Where did Osamu Shimomura study?**  
Osamu Shimomura was educated at Nagoya University, Nagasaki Medical College.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Osamu Shimomura](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Shimomura) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q205345](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205345) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Osamu Shimomura-press conference Dec 06th, 2008-2.jpg by Prolineserver ( talk ) (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osamu_Shimomura-press_conference_Dec_06th,_2008-2.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Osamu Shimomura, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Osamu Shimomura-press conference Dec 06th, 2008-2.jpg — Prolineserver ( talk ), CC BY-SA 4.0.

## Cite this page

"Osamu Shimomura". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/osamu-shimomura. Retrieved 5 November 2026.