History and Connection with the Silk Industry
The warehouse was constructed in 1913, during the Taisho era. It was originally built as an auxiliary warehouse for the Hosogayazawa Branch of the Gunma Commercial Bank.
Its main purpose was to store valuable goods, particularly silkworm cocoons and raw silk, that had been deposited as collateral for loans. The facility later passed through the Meiji Commercial Bank and eventually became associated with the Hozen Bank, the predecessor of Yasuda Bank.
In addition to its role as a collateral warehouse, the building was also used as a cocoon-drying facility and a bank branch office.
Maebashi once flourished as a major center of Japan’s silk industry and was known as a “city of raw silk.” Silk production and related commerce formed an important part of the local economy. The former Yasuda Bank warehouse preserves a tangible connection to this period of economic development.
Historical Timeline
1913: Completed as an auxiliary warehouse for the Hosogayazawa Branch of the Gunma Commercial Bank.
1951: Transferred to the Maebashi Goods Market Cooperative.
2004: Registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
2012: Registered as part of the Gunma Silk Heritage collection.
Architectural Overview
The Former Yasuda Bank Collateral Warehouse is a two-story brick building with wooden floor and roof structures. The roof is covered with traditional Japanese clay roof tiles.
The building measures approximately 54.540 meters in length and 10.908 meters in width. Its building footprint is approximately 693 square meters, while the total floor area is approximately 1,179 square meters.
The foundation is made from carefully cut andesite stone. A course of foundation stones, generally measuring approximately 910 millimeters wide and 300 millimeters high, supports the brick walls.
Distinctive Brickwork and Craftsmanship
One of the most interesting features of the warehouse is its brick construction. The bricks were manufactured by the Japan Brick Manufacturing Company, and the walls use the traditional English bond pattern.
The joints feature a special finish known as covered-rim pointing. This sophisticated technique required a high level of craftsmanship and was also used in the construction of Tokyo Station.
The individual bricks measure approximately 225 × 108 × 58 millimeters, making them somewhat larger than standard JIS bricks, which generally measure around 210 × 100 × 60 millimeters.
The relatively large bricks contribute to the building’s substantial appearance and reinforce the impression of strength and durability required of a warehouse designed to store valuable goods.
Structure and Design
The building has a gable-roof design and consists of two stories of brick construction with a traditional tiled roof. Its overall scale is approximately 30 ken in length and six ken in width.
The roof structure incorporates a wooden king-post truss, providing the stability and strength required for a large warehouse.
The warehouse was designed with two large storage sections. Its wooden interior floors were constructed to withstand the weight of heavy quantities of silkworm cocoons and raw silk.
Much of the building’s original appearance has survived, making it an important architectural record of the commercial and industrial prosperity that supported modern Maebashi.
A Record of Maebashi’s Modern Industrial Development
The Former Yasuda Bank Collateral Warehouse is valuable not simply because it is an old warehouse. It provides physical evidence of the economic and social history of Maebashi during a period when the silk industry played a major role in the development of the city.
The building also demonstrates the development of modern construction techniques in the region. Its brick walls, specialized pointing, wooden roof trusses, and carefully designed storage spaces reveal the skills of the craftsmen and builders of the period.
For visitors interested in industrial heritage, architecture, Japanese silk production, and the modernization of Japan during the Meiji and Taisho periods, the warehouse offers an opportunity to explore an important aspect of Maebashi’s history.
A Cultural Heritage Site Connected with Silk
The former warehouse is an important part of the story of Maebashi as a center of raw-silk production and trade. Along with other surviving sites associated with Gunma’s silk industry, it helps illustrate how silk contributed to the region’s economic growth and its connections with wider markets.
Its designation as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property and its inclusion in Gunma’s Silk Heritage reflect the building’s continuing importance as a piece of modern Japanese industrial heritage.
Access
By car: Approximately 15 minutes from Maebashi Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
By public transportation: Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Maebashi Station, or about 5 minutes by car from Chuo-Maebashi Station on the Jōmō Electric Railway.
A Historic Warehouse Preserving the Story of Maebashi’s Silk Industry
The Former Yasuda Bank Collateral Warehouse is a valuable surviving example of a Taisho-era brick warehouse and an important reminder of Maebashi’s silk-industry heritage.
Its distinctive brickwork, sophisticated construction techniques, wooden roof structure, and well-preserved appearance provide visitors with an insight into the architecture and commerce of early 20th-century Japan.
A visit to this historic building offers more than an architectural experience. It is also an opportunity to learn about the development of Maebashi’s silk industry, the city’s commercial history, and the modernization of Japanese industry.