Hagi Castle - Industrial Sites

As Western forces increasingly threatened Japan’s sovereignty in the mid-19th century, Chōshū samurai were among the first to take proactive steps toward modernization—not just for progress, but for the defense of their domain against foreign powers. Hagi Reverberatory Furnace One of Chōshū

Hagi Castle - Industrial Sites

As Western forces increasingly threatened Japan’s sovereignty in the mid-19th century, Chōshū samurai were among the first to take proactive steps toward modernization—not just for progress, but for the defense of their domain against foreign powers.

Hagi Reverberatory Furnace One of Chōshū’s earliest industrial endeavors was the Hagi Reverberatory Furnace, constructed in 1856 as part of an effort to develop Western-style iron production. However, the project was ultimately abandoned before it could produce usable iron. The reasons were twofold: high production costs and a lack of the specialized metallurgical knowledge required to build an efficient and functional operation.

Ebisugahana Shipyard The Ebisugahana Shipyard, founded in the spring of 1856, was Chōshū’s response to the increasing necessity of naval defense. By December of the same year, the domain launched its first Western-style warship, the Heishin Maru. It was followed by a second vessel, the Kōshin Maru, completed in 1860. These were the only two warships ever built in Hagi, as naval production later shifted to more centralized facilities. However, the shipyard’s breakwater—unchanged since that era—can still be seen today. Along the shore, archaeological excavations have also uncovered workshops and craftsmen’s residences

Gunji Cannon Foundry Recognizing the importance of artillery in modern warfare, Chōshū established a cannon foundry in 1857 to manufacture cannons and cannonballs for coastal and domain defense. The facility remained in operation until 1868, when Japan’s military infrastructure was consolidated under the new Meiji government, and arms production was centralized.

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Reverberatory Furnace

Ebisugahana Shipyard

Gunji Cannon Foundry

Ebisugahana Shipyard

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Hagi Castle - Industrial Sites

Hagi Castle - Industrial Sites

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