Tsuiji Reverberatory Furnace

The Tsuiji Reverberatory Furnace is a metalworking facility designed with Dutch-inspired architecture and constructed with specialized refractory bricks that withstand extreme heat. The site features informative displays and a scale model that shows how metal casting processes worked during the 19th century.

Built in 1850 under Saga Domain administration, this furnace became essential for producing cannons as Japan modernized its military capabilities. The project emerged from efforts to adopt Western metallurgical methods during a period of rapid technological change.

The furnace brought together metalworkers from different social backgrounds, including swordsmiths and metal casters, who collaborated to develop advanced manufacturing skills. Visitors can observe how this cooperation shaped the development of new craftsmanship in the region.

The site includes explanatory panels and models that help visitors understand how the furnace operated and what techniques were used. Walking through the grounds gives a clear picture of the facility's layout and its role in metalworking production.

This was Japan's first reverberatory furnace, built by craftsmen who successfully translated Dutch technical documents to master Western metallurgy methods. The ability to adopt advanced techniques by studying foreign manuals rather than receiving direct instruction was a remarkable engineering achievement.