Yosihiko H. Sinoto
Encyclopedia
Yosihiko H. Sinoto is a Japanese-born American
anthropologist
at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii
. He is known for his anthropological expeditions throughout the Pacific, in particular Hawaii and French Polynesia
.
He graduated as BA
at the University of Hawaii
in 1958 and he acquired his DSc
at the University of Hokkaido in Japan in 1962.
In 1954 he moved to Hawaii where he began his archaeological dig work at South Point
on Hawaii
. In 1960 he accompanied anthropologist Kenneth Emory
to Tahiti
. On the island of Huahine
, where he worked for 40 years, he helped to restore and preserve the prehistoric village of Maeva with its temple ruins, or marae
. In 1977 he discovered the remnants of a deep-sea voyaging canoe. Sinoto's further expeditions led him to the Society Islands
, Marquesas, Tuamotus
and others, where he studied the settlements, artifacts
, migration patterns and Polynesian cultural ties.
Yosihiko Sinoto's spouse Kazuko is a historian of Japanese immigration. His son Aki is archaeologist at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
Sinoto is honored with a Tahitian knighthood and the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He is known for his anthropological expeditions throughout the Pacific, in particular Hawaii and French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
.
He graduated as BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in 1958 and he acquired his DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
at the University of Hokkaido in Japan in 1962.
In 1954 he moved to Hawaii where he began his archaeological dig work at South Point
Ka Lae
Ka Lae , also known as South Point, is the southernmost point of the Big Island of Hawaii and of the 50 United States. The Ka Lae area is registered as a National Historic Landmark District under the name South Point Complex...
on Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. In 1960 he accompanied anthropologist Kenneth Emory
Kenneth Emory
Kenneth Pike Emory was an American anthropologist who played a key role in shaping modern anthropology in Oceania. In the tradition of A. L...
to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
. On the island of Huahine
Huahine
Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group . The island has a population of about 6,000.-Geography:...
, where he worked for 40 years, he helped to restore and preserve the prehistoric village of Maeva with its temple ruins, or marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
. In 1977 he discovered the remnants of a deep-sea voyaging canoe. Sinoto's further expeditions led him to the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
, Marquesas, Tuamotus
Tuamotus
The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago are a chain of islands and atolls in French Polynesia. They form the largest chain of atolls in the world, spanning an area of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Western Europe...
and others, where he studied the settlements, artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
, migration patterns and Polynesian cultural ties.
Yosihiko Sinoto's spouse Kazuko is a historian of Japanese immigration. His son Aki is archaeologist at the Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
Sinoto is honored with a Tahitian knighthood and the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
.