Tadataka Inoue

A self-taught cartographer who created the first precision map of Japan in the Edo period.

Tadataka Inoue (1745–1818) revolutionized cartography in Japan through his decades-long surveying efforts. Despite starting his career as a sake brewer at age 49, he embarked on a mission to map Japan with unprecedented accuracy. Over 17 years, Inoue walked over 40,000 kilometers, using traditional tools like ropes and compasses to measure coastlines and roads.

His maps, completed posthumously, were so precise that they influenced Japanese infrastructure for centuries. Modern comparisons using satellite imagery show less than a 1% margin of error in his work. Inoue’s dedication defied societal expectations of retirement age, proving that scientific curiosity has no expiration date.

Learn more about his legacy at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo.