Formation of Electrical Machinery Technology in the Edo Period of Japan

SUMMARY In the early Meiji era western civilization flowed into Japan, and the concept of “civilization and enlightenment” was established. In the field of electricity, the electric telegraph and electric lighting spread nationwide. This can be credited to the scientific and technological development nurtured during the Edo Period (1603–1868). In 1720, in order to improve the encouragement of new industry and medical technology, Shogun Yoshimune Tokugawa removed the embargo on the importation of books unrelated to Christianity from the Netherlands. As a result, European natural science made its way into Japan, opening the way for the formation of electrical machinery technology. This paper describes electrical machinery technology in Japan in comparison with that of Western Europe at the time of the Edo period. Many people contributed to the formation of electrical engineering in the Edo period, but three persons, Gennai Hiraga, Soukichi Hashimoto, Koumin Kawamoto, are considered to have made especial contributions to the formation of electrical engineering due to their broad knowledge and efforts.