Uchikura & Co., LLC

Hisashige Tanaka — Birth of TOSHIBA

 

When people think of Japan's technology industry, companies like Toshiba often come to mind. Few realize that its roots trace back to one remarkable inventor: Hisashige Tanaka (田中 久重, 1799–1881).

 

Known during the Edo period as "Karakuri Giemon," Tanaka amazed people with intricate mechanical creations. Although he was born the son of a tortoiseshell craftsman—not a samurai—his extraordinary talent earned him the opportunity to work with the Saga Domain's engineers, contributing to Japan's early modernization.

 

His achievements were extraordinary. He designed karakuri automata—mechanical dolls that served tea, shot arrows, and even wrote calligraphy—centuries before modern robotics. He also built the famous Man-nen Dokei (Perpetual Clock), a masterpiece capable of displaying Japanese seasonal time, Western time, the lunar calendar, the day of the week, and astronomical information, all powered by a single spring.

 

As Japan opened to the West, Tanaka mastered steam engines, telegraph technology, and Western science. In 1875, he founded Tanaka Engineering Works, Japan's first private manufacturer of telegraph equipment. That company later evolved into Shibaura Engineering Works and eventually became Toshiba.

 

Tanaka's influence extended beyond one company. Many engineers who trained under him helped establish Japan's growing electrical industry, including companies such as Oki Electric.

 

Hisashige Tanaka represents Japan's transformation from traditional craftsmanship to modern engineering. He combined the hands of an artisan, the mind of an engineer, and the vision of an entrepreneur.

 

His philosophy remains timeless:

 

"Invent what does not yet exist, rather than copy what already does."

 

Long before Japan became known for electronics, robotics, and precision manufacturing, Hisashige Tanaka helped lay the foundation for that remarkable legacy.