Kume Michikata
Kume Michikata | |
|---|---|
久米 通賢 | |
 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1780 |
| Died | June 25, 1841 (aged 60–61) Japan |
Kume Eizaemon Michikata (Japanese: 久米 榮左衛門 通賢; 1780–1841) was a Japanese civil engineer, inventor, gunsmith, and scholar of rangaku.[1][2]
Biography
Kume Michikata was born in 1780 to a family of farmers and sailors. His father was the sea captain Kume Kahē (久米 嘉兵衛). Michikata showed exceptional intelligence and dexterity from a young age. According to one anecdote, Michikata successfully repaired a broken clock when he was only 7 years old.
In 1798, Kume travelled to Osaka where he studied astronomy under Hazama Shigetomi until 1802.[2] In 1808 he provided assistance to the surveying team of Inō Tadataka when they visited Sanuki Province.
In 1815, Kume invented the rinsui (輪燧; lit. 'wheel ignition [device]'), a unique firing mechanism for the traditional tanegashima arquebus. The device featured a compact weatherproof pyrite firestriker and allowed an arquebus to be fired in the rain.[3]
In the 1820s, Kume designed and led the construction of seawater evaporation ponds at Sakaide for the mass production of salt.[4] In 1836, he retired and returned to his hometown. He also invented various other items, including a theodolite, a sextant, and matches using mercury fulminate — the first matches made in Japan. He died in 1841.
See also
References
- ↑ "久米通賢について". 鎌田共済会郷土博物館 Kamada Foundation Museum. 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- 1 2 "久米通賢とはどんな人か". 香川大学 Kagawa University (in Japanese). 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ 澤田 Sawata, 平 Taira (2002). 久米通賢顕彰会 Kume Michikata Memorial Association (ed.). 久米通賢の鉄砲 (1st ed.). Japan: 堺鉄砲研究会 Sakai Firearms Research Association.
- ↑ "坂出塩田の父『久米通賢』". 坂出市ホームページ Sakaide Municipal Website. Retrieved 18 May 2026.