1895
Specimen Department was established
Genzo Jr. taught science while working for the company, and established the Specimen Department to manufacture specimens. The company produced a wide selection of specimens and models for schools and other customers, including mounted rare animals and birds, human skeletons, and physiological models.
1896
Japan’s first X-ray photographs
Eleven months after the discovery of X-rays by the German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, Genzo Jr. and his younger brother Genkichi, with Professor Han’ichi Muraoka of the Third Higher School (today’s Kyoto University), succeeded in taking X-ray photographs in Shimadzu's lab, launching the company’s involvement with X-ray technology.
1897
Shimadzu manufactured its first storage batteries. In 1908, it marketed them as GS (“Genzo Shimadzu”) storage batteries
Manufacturing of X-ray devices for educational purposes began
1900
Osaka Branch Office was established (followed by Tokyo Branch Office in 1906 and Kyushu Sales office in 1909)
1909
Shimadzu completed the first domestically-produced medical X-ray system
Imports of foreign medical X-ray system began. Shimadzu was also active in this area, designing a large X-ray device that employed a motor-driven DC generator to charge a storage battery. The battery served as the power source for a Wehnelt interrupter induction coil-type large DC X-ray device, which was delivered to the Kohnodai Army Garrison Hospital (Chiba).
1911
First issue of Science, a monthly technical journal, was published
First large, Japanese alternator-type medical X-ray system was built
Shimadzu delivered a sensitive-coil-type X-ray system to the Japanese Red Cross Otsu Hospital in Shiga. The power source employed a rectifier to convert AC to DC. As a pioneer of medical X-ray system in Japan, Shimadzu was leading the way.
1912
Shimadzu registered the crossed circle as a commercial trademark
