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saba kiroku and the
growth of textile industries in Kiryu

Translated from the Japanese text, "Watashitachi no Kiryu",
published by the Kiryu City Board of Education, 1997.

Orihime Shrine is located on the corner of the property surrounding the Kiryu City Performing Arts Center. On the grounds of the shrine there stands a monument dedicated to the memory of Saba Kiroku, a man who contributed greatly to the development of the textile industry in Kiryu.
The land surrounding the Performing Arts Center, including the present City Hall grounds, was once the site of a large textile company named the Nippon Textile Corporation (Nippon Orimono Kaisha.) Saba Kiroku was the president of this company.
ORIHIME SHRINE.jpg
Orihine Shrine
The manufacturing plant of the Nippon Textile Corp. was capable of all stages of textile production, from plying thread to weaving fabric. Water was diverted from the Watarase River in a channel which flowed along the plant compound. The channel served to drive the water wheels which powered the weaving looms in the factory and also generated electricity. It was an enormous factory, unlike any other.
SKETCH
Factories on the compound of
the Nippon Textile Corporation
THE STATE OF TEXTILE MANUFACTURING IN KIRYU PRIOR TO THE NIPPON TEXTILE CORPORATION

The "Jomo Karuta" (a traditional memory card game) refer to Kiryu as "a textile center of Japan." From days of old, Kiryu prospered as a textile manufacturing town.
During the Edo Period (1600-1867), a Kyoto textile specialist came to Kiryu to teach the use of standing weaving looms, called "takahata" in Japanese. As a result, textile manufacturing expanded quickly in Kiryu. Prior to this, textiles were produced on looms called "teoribata," which are hand looms at which the weaver sits flat on the floor to operate.
Once the use of standing looms had been introdiced in Kiryu, the number of weavers who could use the looms increased steadily. Eventually, Kiryu textiles were being produced on a par with textiles from Kyoto. In keeping with these developments, a silk market was opened in the town of Kiryu.
TAKAHATA
Takahata loom
TEORIBATA
Teoribata loom
In addition to technical expertise, textile manufacturing in Kiryu prospered thanks to the efforts of the textile merchants as well. Among these successful merchants were Saba Kichiemon, a trailblazer from Tokyo, known as "Number One in Joshu," (the former name for the Gunma area), and other merchants like Onozato Kizaemon and Kakiage Bunzaemon.
SABA EMPORIUM
Saba Emporium
TEXTILE MANUFACTURING IN KIRYU DURING THE MEIJI PERIOD (1868-1911)

The use of the flying shuttle gradually spread throughout the industry. The idea of powering weaving looms by the use of water wheels was adopted from the United States and the machinery to do so was imported from there.
In addition, the use of Jacquard looms spread, mechanizing the production of fabrics in which the design was woven directly into the cloth.
The majority of looms during the Meiji Era were constructed from wood. Metal looms were relatively scarce.
FLYING SHUTTLE
Flying Shuttle
JACQUARD
Jacquard loom
THE NIPPON TEXTILE CORPORATION

Examining the layout of the Nippon Textile Corporation, one cannot help but be amazed. The site of the company encompassed what is now the Kiryu City Performing Arts Center, Kiryu City Hall, Showa Kominkan (Community Center), and Kiryu General Hospital (Kiryu kosei byoin).
This factory employed machinery manufactured in foreign countries and was geared up to produce large quanities of products.
The building had the characteristic sawtoothed roof formation with traditional Japanese tiles using for roofing. It was a very unusual construction for Japan. In addition, in order to supply the bricks necessary for constructing the buildings, the Kiryu Brick Manufacturing Company was established.
An electrical power plant was built to produce electricity used to operate machinery and provide lighting for the factory. It was the third oldest electrical power plant in the country.
To transport the manufactured goods, a railroad track was laid from Kiryu Station to the company compound. During the 1880's, there was no other factory which could compare with the Nippon Textile Corporation in terms of size or facilities and equipment.
GENERATOR
Electrical Generator for the Power Plant
(next to Kiryu General Hospital)
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACTORY

Saba Kiroku decided to construct the Nippon Textile Corporation for the further development of the textile industry in Kiryu and to produce high quality textles that could compete effectively with textiles produced in Europe and the United States.
During the latter half of the 1870's, railroads expanded across Japan and manufacturing towns such as Kiryu and Ashikaga were able to send large volumes of products to consumer markets in Tokyo and Yokohama.
Around that time, Nanking satin, imported from China, was very popular. The hand weaving techniques of Japan were losing out to foreign competitors it seemed to Kiroku. Knowing the conditions in the United States and Europe, he realized that it had become an age of large scale manufacturing.
Kiroku wanted to export Kiryu textiles to markets around the world. to acheive this goal, he reasoned, he would have to begin large scale manufacturing himself.
JAC MACHINE
1880's Jacquard loom

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE

October, 1887 Saba proposes to build the Nippon Textile Corporation.
November, 1887 Permission is received from the government to proceed.
December, 1887 Saba Kiroku is named the Nippon Textile Corporation president.
March, 1888 Construction of the water channel begins. Kiroku travels to the U.S. and Europe to purchase machinery.
August, 1888 The railroad is extended from Kiryu Station to the factory compound.
December, 1888 Kiroku employs technicians to use the machinery he has purchased.
June, 1889 Construction of the channel is completed. Factory for plying yarn is completed.
May, 1890 Construction begins on the dyeing, weaving and finishing plants.
August, 1890 Kiryu experiences major flooding and construction work is significantly delayed.
October, 1890 All four divisions are completed and manufacturing begins.
November, 1891 Electrical lighting is supplied in the factories and manufacturing begins both day and night.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHANNEL

The construction of the company began first with the digging of the water channel. It was Kiroku's plan to use water power to drive the machinery. For this purpose, he engaged the services of Jiro Yamaoka, a civil engineer employed by the national government.
The site of the mouth of the channel was chosen near the rock face along the Watarase River, beneath Akaiwa Bridge. The reason for this was that it was felt that such a location would best withstand flooding. So, they cut through the rock face to create a sufficiently strong channel entrance.
The water flowing in the channel would turn the water wheels which would in turn drive the machinery and generate electrical power. In the meantime, Kiroku established the Kiryu Electrical Light Company, supplying others with electricity as well. Those who had been dependent on oil or gas lamps for light were delighted.
Vestiges of the water channel can be seen near the cedar trees lining the road just past Kiryu General Hospital.
INSTALLATION OF MACHINERY FROM OVERSEAS

Kiroku wanted to manufacture goods using new machinery. However, there were few large machines constructed of iron in Japan at that time. For that reason, Kiroku traveled to the U.S. and Europe to purchase the machinery firsthand.
He bought a great many machines, including weaving looms and thread plying machinery. Since he did not know how to install the machines, he employed engineers from the U.S. In addition, he engaged engineers to teach his employees how to use the machines.
Many difficulties were encountered during the construction of the factories. For instance, since the builders did not know the size and shape of the machines Kiroku was importing, it was difficult to design the factory buildings. It was, in fact, necessary to alter the blueprints for the buildings in order to accommodate the machinery. That was one of the reasons it took four years to complete construction.
NIPPON TEXTILE
The Nippon Textile Coporation
in operation
PRODUCTION OF ORIHIME SATIN

Once the construction of the facilities was completed, manufacturing began and the production of satin increased dramatically. Within 2 to 3 years from the start of operations, the production of satin had increased four to five fold. Year by year, production grew steadily.
Kiroku also researched dyeing techniques. For this purpose, he established the Dyeing Research Laboratory. As a result, the colors of Orihime satin soared in popularity. Until that time, most of the satin had been imported, but the company eventually surpassed the production of Nanking Satin from China. In so doing, Kiroku had achieved one of his goals.
The following are statistics relating to the production of Orihime satin from 1893 to the first half of 1896:

1893 : 7,600 bolts produced
1894 : 32,680 bolts produced
1895 : 47,773 bolts produced
1896 (first 6 months) : 30,440 bolts
ORIHIME SATIN
Label from Orihime Satin produced
by the Nippon Textile Corporation, Kiryu
OTHER ASPECTS

One of the special characteristics of the company was its ability to manufacture a product from start to finish. From plying the thread to dyeing it and weaving the fabric to finishing it - the entire process took place on the factory compound. Never before nor after has there ever been a company in Kiryu like the Nippon Textile Corporation.
The techniques of weaving during that period had not yet advanced much in Kiryu, nevertheless, the construction of a factory on such a scale gives credit to Kiroku's foresight and vision. He was a man of great courage and energy.
Kiroku, while on a business trip to China met with an untimely death in an accident. He was only 42 years old at the time. Without a president, the leadership of the company was soon passed to another. It can be said without hesitation that Saba Kiroku devoted his entire life to the growth and development of textile manufacturing in Kiryu. Surely, the dreams of Saba Kiroku are included in the ongoing development of Kiryu as a "high-tech / fashion city," a center for textile manufacturing.
SABA KIROKU
Saba Kiroku
A CHRONOLOGY OF THE LIFE OF SABA KIROKU
1858 Born in Hajika Village, Tochigi Prefecture, the 6th son of Gihei Aoki.
1872 Employed by Saba Emporium.
1876 Marries the daughter of Saba Kichiemon and becomes the adopted son-in-law.
1883 Establishes the Dyeing Training Center.
1886 Travels to the U.S. and purchases Jacquard looms and other machinery.
1887 Establishes the Nippon Textile Corporation.
1888 Travels to the U.S. and Europe to purchase machinery.
1891 Begins the sale of Orihime satin.
1893 Establishes the Kiryu Electric Light Company.
1900 Dies in an accident in China.
SABA MONUMENT
Monument to Saba Kiroku
on the grounds of Orihime Shrine



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