5. Yonekura Koji, Ph.D.
Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on subtropical plants

Research staff profile

Yonekura Koji

Yonekura Koji, Ph.D.

(Senior Researcher, Botanical Laboratory)

Area of
expertise		 Taxonomy and phytogeography of vascular plants
Research
content		 Research studies of biodiversity of vascular plants throughout East Asia (taxonomy, constructing database involving scientific and vernacular names, historical survey of taxonomic and / or floristic researches, long-term monitoring of spreading / decreasing of alien plants), floristic studies of Nansei Islands, e.g. Isl. iriomote.

Background

  • 1998 – Fulfilled doctoral course of Biological Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan (Dr. Sc.)
  • 1998 – Assitant professor of the Mt. Hakkoda Botanical Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University
  • 2003 – Assiatant professor of the Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University
  • 2006 – Assiatant professor of the Botanical Gardens, Research and Curatorial Center, Tohoku University
  • 2019 – Current post at the Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Institute

Awards received

  • 2022 K. Matsushita Foundation of EXPO'90 Prize.
  • 2012 Special Prize (Education), The Botanical Society of Japan
  • 2009 Aboc – CULTA Prize, Japan Association of Botanical Gardens
  • 2007 Encouragement Prize, The Japanese Society for Plant Systematics

Research papers, Essays, Reports

  • Kenji Suetsugu, Jin Shinjo, Koji Yonekura and Atsushi Abe. 2024. A New Variety of Zeuxine boninensis (Orchidaceae) from Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 75(3): 179-183.
  • Kajita Y., Yonekura K and Naiki A. 2023. First Record of an alien plant species, Dentella repens (Rubiaceae) from Japan. The Journal of Japanese Botany 98(2): 97-100.
  • Naiki A., Nakasone T., Ohi-Toma T. Yonekura K. and Abe A. 2023. Rediscovery of Exallage auricularia (Rubiaceae) from Yonaguni Island, Okinawa, Japan. The Journal of Japanese Botany 98(3): 134-139.
  • Suetsugu K., Hirota S.K., Yonekura K., Abe A., Suyama Y. and Hsu T.-C. 2023. First record of Thrixspermum annamense (Orchidaceae) from Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, with discussions on its intraspecific taxonomy. Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica 74(2): 121–129.
  • Yamamoto T., Yonekura K., Abe A., Amano M., Toyama H., Shitara T., Tagane S., Hasegawa A., Kashima M., Kajita T., Soejima A. and Naiki A. 2023. New or noteworthy distribution of sokme vascular plants from Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. The Journal of Japanese Botany 98(4): 178-191.
  • Naiki A., Amano M., Yonekura K., Okoshi K., Saito Y., Yamamoto T., Shitara T. and Abe A. 2022. A New Locality for Elatostema lineolatum Wight var. majus Wedd. (Urticaceae) from Iriomote Island, Japan, Acta Phytotaxonimica et Geobotanica 73(3): 219–222.
  • Kajita Y, Yonekura K, Toyama H, Akai K, Amano M, Abe A, Shitara T, Yamamoto T, Saito Y, Yokota M and Naiki A. 2022. A provisional list of alien plant species on Iriomote Island, Okinawa, Japan. Bulletin of the Osaka Museum of Natural History 76: 125-141.
  • Suetsugu K, Kashima M, Amano M, Ynekura K and Abe A. 2021. A new iocality of Sciaphira sugimotoi (Triuridaceae) from Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, The Journal of Phytogeography and Taxonomy 69(2): 189-191.
  • Ueno K., Ueno Y. and Yonekura K. 2021. Four Species of Ericaceae, Newly Naturalized in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. J. Jpn. Bot.96(1):57-61.
  • Yonekura K. 2021. (Book review) Ibaragi Y., Koba H. and Yokota M.: The Handbook of Grasses of Southwestern Japan. The Journal of Japanese Botany 96(1): 128.
  • Yonekura K. 2020. Living willow collection maintained in the Botanical Garden, Tohoku University. Biodiversity Conservation News from Japan Association of Botanical Gardens (31): 8
  • Hasekura, C., Ikeda, H. and Yonekura, K. 2020. POACEAE - Subfam. II. Bambusoideae. In: Iwatsuki, K., Boufford, D.E. and Ohba, H. (eds.) Flora of Japan, IVa: 40-71. Kodansha, Tokyo.
  • Minamitani T, Kadota Y. and Yonekura K. 2019. A Classification of the Genus Rhododendron sect. Brachycalyx (Ericaceae) in Japan (2). The Journal of Japanese Botany 94(4): 195–241.
  • Minamitani T, Kadota Y. and Yonekura K. 2018. A Classification of the Genus Rhododendron sect. Brachycalyx (Ericaceae) in Japan (1). The Journal of Japanese Botany 93(2): 75–103.
  • Ibaragi Y. and Yonekura K. 2015. A new combination for Japanese Leptatherum (Poaceae). The Journal of Japanese Botany 90(1): 66–72.
  • Yonekura K. 2011. Notes on Polygonaceae in Japan and its adjacent regions (II). The Journal of Japanese Botany 86(4): 230–241.
  • Yonekura K. and Ohashi H. 2008. Idendity of Duchesnea indica var. albicarpa Y.N.Lee (Rosaceae) from Korea. The Journal of Japanese Botany 83(5): 314.
  • Yonekura K., Ohashi H. and Ohashi K. 2008. Potentilla hebiichigo Yonek. & H. Ohashi (Rosaceae) and its distribution. The Journal of Japanese Botany 83(5): 301–309.
  • Rajbhandari K.R., Yonekura K. and Tanaka N. 2007. Silene khasiana Rohrb. (Caryophyllaceae), a New Record for the Flora of Myanmar. The Journal of Japanese Botany 82(6): 349-351.
  • Yonekura K 2007. Notes on Polygonaceae in Japan and its adjacent regions (I). The Journal of Japanese Botany 82(1): 1–19.
  • Yonekura, K. 2006. Polygonaceae. In: Iwatsuki, K., Boufford, D.E. and Ohba, H. (eds.) Flora of Japan IIa: 122–174. Kodansha Publ.
  • Ohashi H. and Yonekura K. 2006. Additions and corrections in Salicaceae of Japan 1, 2. The Journal of Japanese Botany 81(1): 35-40, 81(2): 75-90.
  • Yonekura K. 2005. Taxonomic notes on vascular plants in Japan and adjacent regions (I). - New combinations and new names of Japanese plants. The Journal of Japanese Botany 80(6): 323-333.
  • Yonekura K. 2005. Flowering plants new to Nepal collected in 1995. The Journal of Japanese Botany 80(3): 191-195.
  • Ohashi H. and Yonekura K. 2004. New combinations in Chrysanthemum (Compositae – Anthemideae) of Asia with a list of Japanese species. The Journal of Japanese Botany 79(3): 186–195.
  • OHASHI, Hiroyoshi, KADOTA, Yuichi, MURATA, Jin, YONEKURA, Koji and KIHARA, Hiroshi (eds.) 2021. Wild Flowers of Japan, Revised Edition. I & II. Heibonsha, Tokyo.
  • The Japanese Society for Plant Systematics (JSPS) ICN Translation Committee (translated and ed.) 2019. Internatoinal Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code) Japanese Edition. 253 pp., Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • YONEKURA Koji. 2019. Updated Syllabus of Vascular Plant Families, based on Phylogeny-based System with List of Genera for Japanese Users. 357 pp. Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • MURATA, Jin and YONEKURA (eds.) 2024. New Makino's Illustrated Flora of Japan, New Edition with Analytical Key, Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • OHASHI, Hiroyoshi, KADOTA, Yuichi, MURATA, Jin, YONEKURA, Koji and KIHARA, Hiroshi (eds.) 2015–2017. Wild Flowers of Japan: 1–5. Heibonsha, Tokyo.
  • YAHARA, Tetsukazu et al. (eds.) 2015. Red Data Plants, Revised Edition. [Epilobium hirsutum, Chenopodium gracilispicum, Persicaria pulchra and P. taitoinsularis are contributed by YONEKURA] Yama-Kei Publ., Tokyo.
  • YONEKURA, Koji; MURATA, Jin (supervised) 2012. An Enumeration of Vascular Plants of Japan – A list of the Latin and Japanese names of the vascular plants indigenous and naturalized in Japan arranged in the order of phylogeny-based system. 379 pp. Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • YONEKURA, Koji; MURATA, Jin (supervised) 2009. Syllabus of Vascular Plant Families. 189 pp. Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • OHASHI, Hiroyoshi, MURATA, Jin and IWATSUKI, Kunio (eds.) 2008. New Makino’s Illustrated Flora of Japan [updating of Scientific names and descriptions of vascular plants and newly added keys to genera are made by YONEKURA]. 1458 pp. Hokuryukan, Tokyo.
  • SHIMIZU, Tatemi (ed.) Naturalized Plants of Japan [Polygonaceae, Phytolaccaceae and Amaranthaceae (pp. 44–51) are contributed by YONEKURA]. Heibonsha, Tokyo.
  • Constructing and continuous updating of 'Ylist', database on scientific and Japanese names of land plants
  • Environmental monitoring of unstable area within Towada-Halkkoda volcanic area
  • Monitoring on spreading of alien organisms of Okinawa Prefecture
  • Updating of national database of alien organisms in Japan
  • A member of editorial board of the Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica, a member of Special Committee for Endangered Plants of Japan (1, Vascular plants), and a member of ICN Translation Committee, The Japanese Society for Plant Taxonomists.
  • An associate editor of Editorial Board of the Journal of Japanese Botany
  • Member of the Society of Himalayan Botany

Translations

  • JSPS (The Japanese Society for Plant Taxonomists) ICN Translation Committee 2019. International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code), Japanese Edition. 253 pp. Hokuryukan, Tokyo.

Affiliated academic society and membership of editorial committee of scientific papers

  • A member of editorial board of the Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica, a member of Special Committee for Endangered Plants of Japan (1, Vascular plants), and a member of ICN Translation Committee, The Japanese Society for Plant Taxonomists.
  • An associate editor of Editorial Board of the Journal of Japanese Botany
  • Member of the Society of Himalayan Botany

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