“An Accumulation of Technology“
An Industrial City with a Long History
Forming the background of Hamamatsu’s development is the combination of a local creative spirit and the nation-wide transformation of Japanese industries. From the textile industries of the Edo era, to machine production as represented by powered looms, to the industries of musical instruments and transport vehicles, one can trace the pattern of industrial development in all its technological progressions.
As company after company emerged to sweep through the foreign market, industries developed hand in hand with technology and regional specialization. Hamamatsu saw the establishment of major enterprises based around textiles, musical instruments, and transport vehicles.
Many universities and other research facilities in the region, such as Shizuoka University, also enjoy long and distinguished histories. One example of a Hamamatsu-born scientist who embodies the intersection of research and technology is Kenjiro Takayanagi, a forerunner in the development of television. Recent research and development of optical technology have reached internationally acclaimed levels, paving the way for future creativity.
A Microcosm of Japan’s History
The roots of Hamamatsu’s industries can be traced back to the cotton fabric and lumbering manufacturers of the Edo period, with the former leading to the development of the textile industry and loom manufacturing. In 1912, the National Railway Authority opened its Hamamatsu factory (now the JR Tokai Hamamatsu Factory), bringing top-class metalworkers to the city. Powered loom assembly soon developed, followed by machine tools and transport vehicles. The lumber industry, in its turn, fostered the musical instruments and woodworking machinery industries.
All these various technologies came together to produce global manufacturers with advanced skills in casting, machining, forging, and heat treatment. One can say that a unique soil had been cultivated, one in which high standards in both technology and cost allowed products to compete successfully in a foreign market.
Institutions Engaged in Cutting-Edge Research
Technological research also flourished in this soil. The Hamamatsu Institution for Engineering (later the Faculty of Engineering at Shizuoka University), established in 1923, became an important center for new developments. Soon after its opening, Kenjiro Takayanagi began his research on television; other talented people followed in succession, dedicated to optical and electronic technology.
Even now, various industries are collaborating, changing and pursuing new fields of interest. Hamamatsu is not only a microcosm of Japan’s industrial history – it is also the key to the nation’s future.
