Genpaku Sugita (1733–1817) is well‐known for his translation of ‘Kaitai Shinsho’ (New Text on Anatomy, in 1774) compiled based on a book of anatomy written in Dutch. This Japanese first full‐blown translation from a Western language contributed to the development of medical science in Japan. The masterpiece has been accomplished while many translated terms such as “shinkei” (= nerve) were coined. Over the past 240 years since then, anatomical methods have dramatically improved. Various optical clearing agents have been invented to clear organs including the brain without difficulty. Now, those agents can make brains transparent without damaging any of the fine structures, and enable researchers to observe neurons deep inside the brain. With our great respect to Genpaku Sugita, let us give him components of the optical clearing agents: urea, detergents and aminoalcohol. Behind him stands a vase of a soapberry tree bearing fruit that used to be raw material for detergents in Edo era. A soapberry tree which used to be raw material for detergents in Edo era is now in bloom behind him. Designed by TRAIS Co., Ltd. (Kobe, Japan)