The History and Development of Kurohone
Today’s Mizunuma area of Kurohone Town was once part of Kurohone Village in Seta District. The mountainous region was surrounded by the rich natural environment of the Tone River watershed.
Although Kurohone later became part of Kiryu City through Japan’s municipal mergers, its distinctive local history and cultural traditions continue to be preserved.
For many generations, the area’s main industries were agriculture and forestry. People made use of the mountainous terrain for farming and worked in the surrounding forests, creating a livelihood closely connected with the natural environment.
Until around the 1950s, sericulture was also an important part of the local economy. Many farm households cultivated mulberry trees and raised silkworms, producing raw silk that was connected with Kiryu’s famous textile industry.
From the Edo period through the Meiji period, the area was also linked to the Copper Mountain Road, a historic route connecting the Ashio Copper Mine with Kiryu. Copper, people, and goods traveled along this route, contributing to the activity and development of communities along the way.
A Textile Tradition Known as “Nishi no Nishijin, Higashi no Kiryu”
Kiryu has long been famous for its silk weaving industry. Its importance was expressed in the phrase “Nishi no Nishijin, Higashi no Kiryu”, meaning “Nishijin in the west, Kiryu in the east.” Nishijin in Kyoto was famous for its high-quality textiles, while Kiryu became one of the leading textile centers in eastern Japan.
Kiryu’s textile industry developed over many centuries and became an important foundation for the region’s economy and urban growth.
Sericulture and silk production were also practiced in the Kurohone area. Local households supplied materials and labor that supported Kiryu’s wider textile industry.
Today, tools and historical materials connected with sericulture and textile production are preserved at the museum, providing an opportunity to understand the rural communities behind Kiryu’s famous textile tradition.
Mizunuma Silk Mill: A Symbol of Japan’s Modern Industrialization
One of Japan’s First Privately Operated Western-Style Silk Mills
One of the most important stories associated with Kurohone is the history of the Mizunuma Silk Mill, which became a symbol of Japan’s industrial modernization during the Meiji period.
The mill was established in 1874 by Hoshino Chotaro, a wealthy local landowner. It is regarded as the first privately operated silk-reeling mill in Japan to introduce Western-style mechanical silk-reeling equipment.
Water wheels were used to power the machinery, creating a highly advanced production system for its time. The facility was more than a factory: it also served as a training school for silk-reeling techniques, helping educate workers and technicians who came from different parts of Japan.
Exporting Silk Overseas and Gaining International Recognition
The raw silk produced at Mizunuma Silk Mill was highly regarded for its quality and received awards at domestic and international exhibitions.
At the National Industrial Exposition of 1877, the mill received an award known as the Hōmon Medal. The following year, its silk won a gold medal at the Paris World’s Fair of 1878, demonstrating the quality of Japanese silk to an international audience.
In 1876, an ambitious attempt was also made to export Japanese raw silk directly to the United States. Arai Ryoichiro, the younger brother of Hoshino Chotaro, traveled to New York to research the American market and helped establish direct overseas sales of Japanese silk.
This initiative represents an important episode in the history of Japan’s early international trade and modern industrial development.
Exhibition Room 1: Discovering the History of Kurohone
Exhibition Room 1 introduces the history of the Kurohone area from prehistoric times through the modern period.
Archaeological materials excavated locally, historical documents, and other objects provide insight into how the community developed and how people understood their surrounding world.
Major Exhibits
Reconstructed Jomon-period pottery from the Shikakuno area provides a glimpse into life in prehistoric Japan.
Kokuzo-kyo, a Buddhist scripture associated with the worship of Akagi, is designated as an Important Cultural Property by Gunma Prefecture and reflects the religious traditions of the region.
Village registers from the Edo period document conditions within the village and provide valuable information about local society, administration, and everyday life.
Each of these materials helps tell the story of Kurohone’s past, including its religious traditions, social structure, and relationship with the surrounding environment.
Exhibition Room 2: Everyday Life in a Mountain Village
Exhibition Room 2 focuses on the everyday lives of Kurohone’s residents. A variety of traditional farming implements, forestry tools, household goods, and equipment related to sericulture are displayed.
Many of these objects were once used in ordinary households, making them particularly valuable for understanding how people adapted to life in a mountainous environment.
Traditional Tools and Folk Materials
Saws and other forestry tools demonstrate the importance of mountain work and forestry to the local economy.
The Ryutōsui fire pump was used to fight fires before modern firefighting equipment became widely available.
A corn shelling tool was used to remove kernels from ears of corn, while a sericulture machine for removing silk fibers reflects the importance of silkworm raising in local households.
The traditional Yakigan was used to warm sake during breaks from mountain work. Other everyday objects, including old phonographs and savings boxes, offer glimpses into the changing lifestyles of earlier generations.
Although many of these tools are no longer used today, they reveal the practical knowledge and creativity that made life in the mountain villages possible.
Lobby Exhibitions: People and Local Cultural Research
The museum’s lobby contains additional displays introducing notable people from Kurohone and the results of research by local historical and cultural organizations.
Materials concerning the elaborate carvings of Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine, as well as studies of local traditions and culture, provide visitors with opportunities to explore the region’s history in greater depth.
A Cultural Destination Surrounded by Nature
The Kurohone Historical and Folklore Museum stands in a peaceful natural setting where visitors can explore the area’s history while enjoying the atmosphere of the surrounding mountain landscape.
Nearby attractions include Mizunuma Onsen, known for its hot-spring facilities, and the Watarase Valley, an area noted for its scenic natural environment.
Combining a visit to the museum with sightseeing in the surrounding area provides a broader understanding of how nature, industry, transportation, and local culture have shaped Kurohone over the centuries.
The museum’s exhibits offer a particularly valuable perspective on mountain-village life, the development of Japan’s modern silk industry, and the cultural traditions of rural Gunma.
Preserving Kurohone’s History for Future Generations
The Kurohone Historical and Folklore Museum is more than a place to display old objects. It is an important cultural facility dedicated to preserving the history and traditions of the local community for future generations.
Every object in the collection reflects something about the lives, work, beliefs, and ingenuity of the people who lived in Kurohone.
By taking time to explore the exhibits and imagine the lives of earlier generations, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation of the character of this quiet mountain region.
The museum offers a memorable opportunity to discover the history and culture that have developed in harmony with Kurohone’s forests, mountains, agriculture, sericulture, and traditional industries.