Jinta Hirayama
Japanese, 19th Century
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Jinta Hirayama was an enterprising pyrotechnist who, in 1877, founded The Hirayama Fireworks company in Yokohama. Hirayama is from Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture). Japanese fireworks at the time primarily emitted only subdued orange hues but Hirayama is credited as being one of the first to incorporate brighter colors. And when Ulysses S. Grant visited Japan in 1879, it was Hirayama’s company that was responsible for the fireworks show.
In 1883, Hirayama became the first Japanese to ever register a patent in the United States – 2 years before Japan even had a patent registry – for “Daylight Fire-Works.” Hirayama passed away in 1900.