Kunitomo Ikkansai

Kunitomo Ikkansai (国友 一貫斎, November 21, 1778 – December 26, 1840) was a Japanese gun manufacturer of the early 19th century, who, after having spent several months in Edo, where he could get accustomed with Dutch wares, built Japan's first reflective telescope in 1831. It was of the Gregorian type.

Kunitomo Ikkansai
Born(1778-11-21)November 21, 1778
Kunitomo, Nagahama, Shiga
Died(1840-12-26)December 26, 1840
NationalityTokugawa shogunate
Occupationgunsmith, inventor
In this Japanese name, the family name is Kunitomo.

Kunitomo's telescope had a magnification of 60, and allowed him to make very detailed studies of sun spots and lunar topography. Four of his telescopes remain to this day.

Kunimoto also developed manufacturing methods for guns, and also created an air gun based on rangaku knowledge acquired from the Dutch in Dejima.

Other uses of the name
  • 6100 Kunitomoikkansai, a main belt asteroid discovered in 1991, is named after Kunitomo Ikkansai.
  • Kunitomo's reflecting telescope, 1831.
  • Observation of the moon by Kunitomo in 1836.
  • Air gun developed by Kunitomo, circa 1820–1830.
  • Air gun trigger mechanism.


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