1875
Shimadzu was founded in Kiyamachi-Nijo, Kyoto, and began manufacturing of physics and chemistry instruments for educational use
1877
Japan’s first successful manned private balloon flight
Genzo Sr. received a commission to construct a manned balloon, with the aim of encouraging interest in science education among the people of Kyoto. He built the balloon based on a single illustration. With a crowd of approximately 50,000 looking on from the plaza of the Kyoto Sento Imperial Palace, the balloon carried a single passenger high above the ground.
1878
Genzo Sr. received technical guidance from Dr. Gottfried Wagener, a German scientist at the Physics and Chemistry Research Institute
Genzo Sr. used a pedal-powered wooden lathe obtained from Wagener to manufacture physics and chemistry instruments.
1882
Genzo Sr. published Science Equipment Catalog List
This product catalog listed 110 physics and chemistry instruments, everything then needed for science education in elementary and junior high schools. The catalog also stated that it would accept any order, including for models and cast products.
1884
Umejiro (Genzo Jr.) built a Wimshurst electrostatic generator at age 15
1886
Genzo Sr. began publishing the monthly Physics and Chemistry Industrial Arts Journal
Genzo Sr. launched a monthly journal on science and technology that profiled new findings by up-and-coming scholars, visionary academic theories, and practical science and technology. This issue is now part of the Shimadzu Foundation Memorial Museum collection.
1891
Scientific specimen manufacturing began
