amazing stories Kiryu silk market during the Meiji - Taisho Eras
PREFACE This booklet is an attempt to introduce some of the figures of Kiryu s past who have contributed so significantly to the city s growth and prosperity. Only ten are included here, but as time permits, others will be added. There are many indeed! No one who lives in Kiryu can fail to sense its long history, evident in its many historical buildings and the common sight of the sawtoothed roofs of textile mills. Kiryu is well-known for its natural resources (beautiful trees, mountains, and rivers) and its manufacturing sector (textiles, machine-metalworking and pachinko). But its most significant and important resources are the many individuals who have contributed and continue to contribute to make this city great. The next time you pass a textile mill, or walk down Itoya-dori to drop in Basho for a cup of coffee, perhaps you will recall some of the figures written about in the pages here. Their spirit lives on... can you feel it? Kiryu International Exchange Association TABLE OF CONTENTS Kiryu Rokuro - The First Lord of Kiryu Castle - 1 Ono Hachiemon - Planner of Kiryu Shin Machi - 4 Okanobori Kageyoshi - Establishment of an Irrigation System for Local Farmers - 10 Arai Toemon - First Use of the Takahata Loom - 14 Iwase Kichibe - Inventor of an Automatic Yarn Thrower - 18 Kosaka Hanbe - First Use of a Drawloom in Kiryu - 22 Moriyama Yoshihei - Use of Chemical Dyes and Weaver of High Quality Silk Brocades - 25 Saba Kiroku - President of Nippon Textile Corporation - 29 Noma Seiji - Founder of Kodansha Publishing Company - 35 Koike Gyoshin - Owner - Proprieter of Basho Restaurant - 37
ó ó ) W
Kiryu International Exchange Association Kiryu City Hall 1-1 Orihimecho Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture 376-8501 URL: www.kiea.jp email: office@kiea.jp phone: 0277-46-1111 ext. 537 fax: 0277-43-1001