GENERATION OF CONCRETE BLOCK MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC HOUSING IN POSTWAR JAPAN (PART 2) : GUNMA PREFECTURAL FIREPROOF APARTMENT AND GONKURO KUME

This study explores the origins of the concrete block (CB) industry in postwar Japan, using Gunma Prefecture as a case where CB production became prominent. Focusing on the Gunma Prefectural Fireproof Apartment—the region’s first CB public housing project—the research analyzes its construction process and design. It finds that the adoption of the “Jukyo-shiki” system, developed by architect Gonkuro Kume, played a crucial role. This adoption acted as a catalyst for the local CB manufacturing industry, linking early public housing initiatives with regional industrial development.