What is “Erekiteru (Oelekitere)”, Friction Generator, for People in Edo Period ?

Abstract

A friction generator was firstly introduced to Japan in 1765 in a book describing about European culture. This generator was called “Erekiteru (Oelekitere)” in the book and introduced as a medical equipment. Hiraga Gennai got a broken Erekiteru and was successful in restoring it in 1776. This is the Japan's first electric machine. After that, a lot of Erekiteru were domestically produced and sold in Japan. Sometimes Erekiteru were used in show business and people at that time enjoyed it. On the other hand, intellects at that time thought that Erekiteru were scientific instruments to simulate natural phenomena.