Created an Induction Electrostatic Generator when he was only 15 -Passion of Genzo Sr. inherited by Genzo Jr.-

Series: MOMENTUM

When Genzo Shimadzu Sr. passed away suddenly in 1894, he was succeeded by his 25 year old eldest son Umejiro, who took the name Genzo Shimadzu Jr. and became the business owner.

When he was only 15 years old (1884), Genzo Jr. created an “induction electrostatic generator” to generate electricity. In Japan, electricity was part of the curriculum of physics and chemistry in 1868 and students were taught about electric generators.

Owever, “generator using friction” was introduced in the teaching material, which Genzo Sr. produced. Umejiro learned about the induction electrostatic generator invented by Wimshurst in England in 1883 from available literature and created his own induction electrostatic generator looking at the illustration of Wimshurst’s generator in 1884. Umejiro’s induction electrostatic generator was more powerful then generators that used friction.

Genzo Senior’s passion for physics and chemistry and talent were inherited by Umejiro who showed a strong interest in physics and chemistry even when he was a small child. Umejiro frequented the Physics and Chemistry Research Institute and gained scientific knowledge by handling unusual experimental devices for physics and chemistry and peeking in on experiments being conducted. It is said that Umejiro created most of his new scientific instruments, including the induction electrostatic generator, by creating prototypes after studying illustrations found in scientific publications, including those of French physicist Ganot as the most reliable information source and then repeatedly carrying out experiments.