Hiraga Gennai

Hiraga Gennai, born Shiraishi Kunitomo in 1728, was a remarkable Japanese polymath and rōnin of the Edo period. His diverse talents spanned writing, botany, pharmacology, and invention, making him a significant figure in Japanese intellectual history. Gennai was a dedicated student of Rangaku, the Dutch learning that influenced Japan during this era, and he made notable contributions to various fields.

Among his many inventions, Gennai is best known for creating the Erekiteru, an electrostatic generator, and the Kandankei, an early thermometer. He also developed Kakanpu, a type of asbestos cloth. His inventive spirit was matched by his literary prowess, as he authored several works that included the fictional satires Fūryū Shidōken den and Nenashigusa, both published in 1763, along with the follow-up Nenashigusa kohen in 1768.

Gennai's satirical essays, such as On Farting and A Lousy Journey of Love, showcased his wit and humor, while his guidebooks on male prostitutes, Kiku no en and San no asa, provided a unique glimpse into the social fabric of his time. Throughout his life, he adopted various pen names, including Kyūkei, Fūrai Sanjin, Tenjiku rōnin, and Fukuchi Kigai, but he is most widely recognized as Hiraga Gennai.