Preliminary Study of Pedigree and Origin of Japanese Traditional Farmers Rocket

Paper number

IAC-05-E4.4.02

Author

Mr. Akira Kubozono, Ex-NASDA, Japan

Year

2005

Abstract

Co-Authors : Kunio Yoshikawa,The Field Work Institute of Japan and Toshio Saijyo,Japan Association of Rocketry

This paper summarize the Investigation Report on A Study of Worldwide Bampoo Rockets and the Pedigree and Origin of Japanese Traditional Farmers Rocket "Ryusei",contracted by Yoshida Town of Saitama Prefecture to The Field Work Institute of Japan,as JFY2004 budget expenditure. The Institute organized eleven members Committee,including author and two co-authors.                   

This paper present the main points of the worldwide bampoo rockets based on the field works and the available historiographies and records,and the analysis and consideration of pedigree,origin,specification,structure,manufacture,launch festval and others of the exisiting five Ryusei;Yoshida,Kusanagi,Asahina,Maihara and Kohka Seko.            In particular, though the pedigree and origin of each Ryusei have been investigating a long time by each Ryusei Preservation Committee,it is still not clear. Therefore,it remains the most interested theme to be studied. When a Chinese recked ship drfted ashore at Tanegashima Is.of the south end of Japan,in 1543,the middle age of Domestic War(1467-1615),a local young Lord bought two western matchlocks from Portuguse crew. Thenafter,a number of domestic matchlock were rapidly manufactured and then the long time era of war was finally ended amd Japan entered to the National Isolation Era ,Edo(now,Tokyo)or Tokugawa Syogun Era.             This paper describe that how the surplus guns and black powders were converted to the Ryusei Hanabi(firework)
and finally Ryusei itself,in order to thank and pray a more good harvest to the Shinto Shrine of each famers village, and finally the pedigree and orgin of each Ryusei areshown,under some hypotheses based on the introduction of matchlock at Tanegashima,along with another import route of Saltpeter,around 1626, to Tokugawa Syogun Ieyasu. Hereafter,those hypotheses are to be verified not only domestically,but also internationally;particularly with Mr.F.H.Winter who is a researcher of the history of rocketry in the world.

Abstract document

IAC-05-E4.4.02.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-E4.4.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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