Built as the Office of a Government-Supported “Model Factory”
The building was constructed as the office of the Kiryu Nenshi Limited Partnership, which was established in 1902.
At the time, the Japanese government was actively promoting industrial development through its national policy of “Shokusan Kogyo,” or the promotion of industry. Six model factories were established across Japan as part of this modernization effort, and the Kiryu silk-spinning factory was one of the leading examples.
What Is Silk Spinning?
Silk spinning, or nenshi, is the process of twisting yarn to adjust its strength, texture, and other characteristics. It is an essential step in textile production.
The mechanization of this process greatly increased productivity and helped strengthen Kiryu’s industrial foundations.
Kiryu had already developed as an important textile-producing region, but the modernization of silk spinning allowed the city’s textile industry to expand further and adopt more efficient production methods.
A Western-Style Stone Building from the Taisho Era
The building is a two-story timber-and-stone structure with exterior walls finished in cement plaster. The roof is now covered with metal sheets, although slate tiles were used when the building was originally constructed.
Its neat Western-style design is particularly significant because relatively few Western-style stone buildings from before the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake remain in Japan.
It is also considered one of the oldest surviving Western-style stone buildings in Gunma Prefecture.
In the past, the factory occupied a vast site filled with sawtooth-roof factory buildings and modern machinery, including French-style silk-spinning machines.
Today, however, the former office building is the only surviving structure from this once extensive factory complex. Standing quietly amid the modern city, it serves as a rare witness to the prosperity of Kiryu’s industrial past.
Growth into One of Japan’s Largest Silk-Spinning Factories
As the business expanded, the company underwent several changes. In 1911, it became Model Factory Kiryu Silk Spinning Co., Ltd., and in 1918, it was renamed Japan Silk Spinning Co., Ltd.
Under the name Japan Silk Spinning Co., Ltd., the factory grew to an impressive scale, with capital of 600,000 yen and a site covering more than 14,000 tsubo, an area equivalent to approximately 46,000 square meters.
It eventually became one of the largest silk-spinning factories in Japan.
In 1944, during World War II, the factory was converted into a military production facility. After the war, silk-spinning operations did not resume at the site.
The former office building was temporarily requisitioned by the Allied occupation forces and later went through a period of deterioration. In the 1960s, it came under the ownership of a financial institution and was renovated, but its basic structure was preserved, allowing its historical architectural value to survive.
An Advanced Factory That Also Provided Education for Female Workers
One notable feature of the factory was that it had a school within the factory complex.
Many young women worked there as factory workers, but the company sought to provide them with education and technical training rather than treating them solely as a source of labor.
This was considered an advanced approach at the time and represents an important example of the connection between modern industry and education in Japan.
Imagine the former factory complex filled with rows of sawtooth-roof buildings, the sound of machinery echoing through the site, and young women learning their skills while receiving an education. Such a scene offers a glimpse into the energetic period when Kiryu was becoming known throughout Japan as a “textile city.”
Preservation as an Important Cultural Heritage Site
In 1994, the building was designated as a Kiryu City Important Cultural Property under the name “Former Office Building of the Model Factory Kiryu Silk Spinning Limited Partnership.”
In 2015, it was also recognized as one of the component cultural properties of the Japan Heritage story “Kakaa-Denko: Gunma’s Silk Story.”
The building suffered damage during the Great East Japan Earthquake, but restoration work was subsequently carried out, allowing it to reopen to the public.
Today, it functions as a facility displaying local historical materials, where visitors can learn about Kiryu’s modern industrial history and the development of its textile industry.
Experience Japan’s Modern Industrial Heritage
The Silk Spinning Memorial Museum is more than simply a historic building. It is a valuable tourism resource where visitors can gain a sense of Japan’s industrial modernization.
The substantial stone exterior and calm interior still evoke the atmosphere of the Taisho era (1912–1926), when Japan was rapidly developing its modern industries.
Kiryu once had numerous factories involved in textiles, weaving, dyeing, and related industries. Many of these facilities have since disappeared, making the surviving former office building particularly important as an example of the city’s industrial heritage.
Visitors can sense the efforts of the people who worked here, as well as the technological innovations that helped transform Kiryu into one of Japan’s leading textile-producing cities.
Preserving the Story of Kiryu, the “Textile City”
The Silk Spinning Memorial Museum preserves the story of Kiryu’s textile industry and the lives of the many people who supported its development.
The seemingly simple process of twisting silk yarn became an important part of the industrial transformation that helped modernize Japan.
Exploring this historic Western-style building provides more than an opportunity to see an old structure. It offers a chance to learn about the technology, labor, education, and industrial development that shaped modern Kiryu.
For travelers who want to understand the history of Kiryu as a “textile city,” the Silk Spinning Memorial Museum is an especially meaningful place to visit. Its quiet architecture preserves the memory of an era when craftsmanship and new technology were working together to build the foundations of modern Japan.