From Oguni Town, Aso District, Higo Province (Kumamoto Prefecture), Kitasato Shibasaburo studied at Kumamoto Medical School and Tokyo Medical School before going to Germany, where he studied bacteriology under Robert Koch. In 1889 he became the first in the world to successfully culture the tetanus bacillus in pure form, and the following year he and Emil von Behring established serum therapy, laying the foundation for immunology. Behring received the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, though Kitasato did not. After returning to Japan he established the Institute for Infectious Diseases in Shiba Park (now the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo). In 1894 he discovered the plague bacillus in Hong Kong simultaneously with France's Yersin. Protesting the institute's transfer to Tokyo University, he resigned and used his own funds to found the Kitasato Institute. He also worked hard to establish Keio University's School of Medicine, training many outstanding disciples including Noguchi Hideyo. Called the "Father of Bacteriology," he was a great teacher who laid the groundwork for Japan's modern infectious disease research. He was chosen as the face of the new 1,000 yen note issued in 2024.

Stubborn in conviction and passionate in research. When the Institute was transferred to Tokyo University, he resigned in protest and founded Kitasato Institute with his own funds. A man of backbone who also eagerly mentored students.

Featured on the new 1,000-yen bill (2024-). His serum therapy laid the foundation of immunology. Kitasato University and Institute continue as centers for infectious disease research.