Top
JAPANESE  ENGLISH

Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces

  • Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces
  • Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces
  • Cross-section of the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces.
  • Interior of the reverberatory furnaces with firebricks (made locally). View from pig iron charging hole to tap hole.
  • Nirayama Furukawa River. The source of water and waterpower for cannon-boring at Nirayama still follows its original course.
  • Hidetatsu Egawa, a retainer of the Tokugawa Shogunate and who governed Nirayama, was acquainted with Western studies and proposed a national coastal defence strategy to the feudal government.
Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces Cross-section of the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces. Interior of the reverberatory furnaces with firebricks (made locally). View from pig iron charging hole to tap hole. Nirayama Furukawa River. The source of water and waterpower for cannon-boring at Nirayama still follows its original course. Hidetatsu Egawa, a retainer of the Tokugawa Shogunate and who governed Nirayama, was acquainted with Western studies and proposed a national coastal defence strategy to the feudal government.

Tokugawa Shogunate intendant in charge of the Nirayama district casted cannon in a hurried attempt to defend Edo after Perry's visit. The Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces consist of two twin structures enclosed by fire resistant bricks on a stone base. Construction in Nirayama began in 1854. The two south furnaces were completed in 1855 and the two north furnaces completed in 1857. The facility, located in the centre of a cannon manufactory, was operational in 1857 and lasted until 1864. It is one of a series of reverberatory furnaces built across Japan during the 1850s in an attempt to radically increase cannon production for national defence.

Unauthorized copying and replication of photos, text and contents are strictly prohibited.
Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces
Designation: National historic site
Locally Designated River
Landscape Planning Area
Address: 268 Narutaki, Naka, Izunokuni city, Shizuoka
Tel: 055-949-3450
Opening time : 9:00-16:30
Close : Dec 31, Jan 1