zoom_in Click to enlarge

Ino Tadataka

▲ ▼

description Ino Tadataka Overview

Ino Tadataka was a 18th and early 19th-century Japanese cartographer. He undertook Japan’s first comprehensive national survey during the late Edo period. His meticulous work resulted in the earliest accurate maps of the country's coastline and interior, significantly advancing geographic knowledge. These maps were initially published after his death and remain valuable resources for historians, geographers, and those studying early Japanese geography.

help Ino Tadataka FAQ

Who was Ino Tadataka and why is he significant in the history of cartography?

Ino Tadataka (1745–1818) was a Japanese surveyor who conducted the first modern geodetic survey of Japan, producing the first accurate maps of the entire Japanese coastline. Remarkably, he began this massive surveying project at the age of 55, after retiring from his career as a sake merchant.

When were Ino Tadataka's maps of Japan published?

Ino Tadataka's maps were published posthumously in 1821, three years after his death, by his team of surveyors who completed the final compilations. The complete set comprised both large-scale regional maps and a comprehensive map of the entire Japanese archipelago.

How did Ino Tadataka conduct his surveys of Japan?

Ino used triangulation and astronomical observation methods learned from the Japanese astronomer Takahashi Yoshitoki, walking and measuring vast portions of the Japanese coastline between 1800 and 1816. He traveled extensively on foot through Ezo (modern Hokkaido), Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu, conducting multiple multi-year survey expeditions.

How accurate were Ino Tadataka's maps compared to earlier Japanese maps?

Ino's maps were dramatically more accurate than any previous Japanese maps and remained the definitive maps of Japan for most of the 19th century. They were still considered authoritative references as late as the Meiji period, decades after his death.