Kiryu: a silk textile city using water mills

Abstract This study investigates the historical development of Kiryu, a regional city in Japan renowned for its silk textile industry, with a particular focus on the period from the early to the middle Meiji era (approximately 1870–1890). By reconstructing the historical water channel network and analysing the spatial distribution of textile-related industries, this research clarifies how waterpower shaped Kiryu’s urban structure and specialised production processes. This study also traces the technological genealogy of modern waterwheels introduced at the Japan Textile Co. factory, revealing that Kiryu’s modernisation was closely linked to global advances in water-powered industrial cities, especially those in the United States. The findings demonstrate that Kiryu’s experience was unique: it was a city with a long-standing tradition of water-powered silk production that successfully integrated the world’s most advanced waterwheel technology. By situating Kiryu’s history within an international framework, this study provides new perspectives for the evaluation and preservation of industrial heritage in regional cities, and it highlights the potential for the global recognition and revitalisation of local historical legacies.