Tanaka Hisashige

Pioneering Japanese inventor whose mechanical innovations laid the foundation for modern engineering in Japan

Tanaka Hisashige (1799–1881), often called Japan's 'Thomas Edison', was a self-taught engineer and inventor during the late Edo and Meiji periods. His most iconic creation, the Man-nen Dokei (10,000-Year Clock), showcased unparalleled mechanical complexity with over 1,000 parts, capable of operating autonomously for centuries. Unlike contemporaries focused on traditional crafts, Tanaka blended Western scientific principles with Japanese artistry, creating devices like pneumatic fire pumps and precision compasses.

He later founded Toshiba, originally Tanaka Engineering Works, which became a cornerstone of Japan's industrial revolution. His legacy is celebrated at the Toshiba Science Museum. By defying technological limitations of feudal Japan, Tanaka bridged Edo-era craftsmanship to modern industrialization, making him a transformative figure in Asian technological history.