Named in memory of Inou Tadataka (1745–1818), a very able geographer and surveyor. He began to study astronomy and surveying methods after he retired from his official job at the age of 50. He began surveying in Hokkaido {see planet  (3720)} at his own expense. Since the map he made was found to be excellent, the Tokugawa government asked him to continue the survey in Honshu. He completed his survey of the Japanese coastal area by measuring astronomical latitudes at 1200 places, and he derived the length of the meridional arc of one degree to be 110.8 km. His map, smuggled to Europe on a Durch ship, won wide respect there. (M 34352) _ _.