History of Industrial modernization
Japanese industry at the end of 19th century was 200years behind. After Mathew C Perry
came to Japan in 1853, Japan’s industrial Revolution was started.
Since Japan’s modern Steel Industry operation commenced in 1901 in Kitakyushu,
Japan became the world’s leading industrialized country in only 100 years.
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There is the KAIZEN strategy in the background to Japan becoming an industrialized country at a
rapid speed. The literary meaning of KAIZEN is improvement, refer to activities that continuously
improve all the functions applies to manufacturing process, purchasing and logistics, involve all the
employees form top management to site workers. KAIZEN is applied for many companies in Japan
and is greatly contributed to Japan’s Industry.
・1641 Dejima, a small artificial island was opened as Dutch trading port in Nagasaki
Nagasaki is the only place opened to oversea countries during the National isolation period
from 1639 to 1854.
・1853 Mathew C Perry came to Uraga;
the Commodore of the US navy, who played a significant role in Japanese history,
succeeded in opening Japan to foreign countries Japanese industry was 200years
behind European countries at that time
・1853 Japanese’s industrial revolution started in Saga, Kagoshima and any other places
・1867 The sovereignty of Tokugawa Shogunate was returned to imperial court
・1868 Meiji Restoration
the most important event in Japanese history, which heralded a new era of modernization
in Japan. This revolution restored the imperial rule to Japan after more than 250years of
Tokugawa Shogunate, bringing about a major shift in political and cultural structure.
National Slogan was Fukoku-kyohei, means “Enrich the country and strengthen the military”
to promote industries and strengthen Japan against Western power.
・1897 The Meiji Government made the decision to build the Imperial Steel Work in the small village
in Higashida, Yahata, next to the Dokai Bay and close to the coal-rich Chikuho area
・1899 First Head Office of the Imperial Steel Works registered on the World Heritage was built
・1900 The Former Forge Shop and the Repair Shop of the Imperial Steel Works registered
on the World Heritage were built
・1901 Operation of the Imperial Steel Work, in Yahata was commenced
In the beginning of the Blast Furnace was not successful, and then Japanese engineer
Kageyoshi Noro modified the design and successful operation followed in 1904
・1915 Yaskawa Electric establish in Kitakyushu
・1917 TOTO establish in Kitakyushu
・1945 The Atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima on August 6 and in Nagasaki on August 9
・1960’s Experience the industrial pollution problems
・1962 Higashida No.1 Blast Furnace 10th was blown in
・1963 Kitakyushu-city was born, five municipal cities ( Moji, Kokura, Yahata, Wakamatsu and
Tobata) were equally merged; that was a very rare case in the world as each the cities
had such different personality
・1972 Higashida No.1 Blast Furnace 10th was blown off late 1980s’ the structural flaw in
Japanese economy came to the surface and culming in collapse of bubble economy
・1990 Kitakyushu-city received the “Global 500 Award” given by the UN Environment Program
(UNEP) to individuals and organizations that combat environmental issues, and it was
first local government to win the award in Japan.
・2001 Kitakyushu Eco-Town Center opened first in Japan
・2008 Kitakyushu-city was designated as the Environmental Model City
・2011 Kitakyushu-city was designated as the Environmental Future City
・2015 Site of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution is registered on the list of World Cultural Heritage
Related sites to the Study tour
Study tour in Kitakyushu Study tour in Nagasaki History of Industrial modernization
History of Japanese Christianity Environmental Future city Kitakyushu
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