Dr. Minoru Shirota (代田 稔 Shirota Minoru, April 23, 1899 - March 10, 1982) was the inventor of Yakult, the yogurt-like probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus casei strain shirota. In 1930, Dr. Minoru Shirota, working in a microbiology lab at Kyoto Imperial University's School of Medicine, became the first in the world to succeed in culturing a strain of lactic acid bacteria beneficial to human health. This bacterium was named Lactobacillus casei strain shirota after Shirota.[1]
Inspired by the writings of Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov, Shirota developed a stronger strain of lactic acid bacteria which might work to destroy the harmful bacteria living in the intestines, and therefore improve and maintain the health of human beings . The result of his efforts was the successful culturing of Lactobacillus casei strain shirota.
Shirota then began working together with supporters to make a drink incorporating the strain Shirota. This led to the development of Yakult, a fermented milk drink or probiotic, which was introduced to the market in 1935.
He died in Tokyo, Japan in 1982.