Gennai Hiraga famous for a static electricity experiment was a multi-creator in Edo era.
Aside from a pharmacist as his main occupation, Gennai Hiraga was a multi-talented person as a writer of joruri and Kokkeibon (humorous novels), a mine developer, an oil painter, a copy writer famous for "Broiled eels for stamina on hot summer day" and also an inventor of a polygraph. He performed creative jobs in many fields as he described his behavior as "like a dragon." His many- sided activities departing from common sense should have been outstanding in the town of Edo in the 18th century. Gennai who put his heart into creative jobs with a wide field of vision not limited in Japan more than 200 years ago is still very popular among Edoites today.
