Art Festivals & Events

Towards the end of the Edo period (1603-1868), as foreign ships approached Japanese waters, the Mito Domain built a reverberatory furnace and manufactured iron cannons for coastal defense. The project, however, after facing numerous failures and further exacerbated by internal conflicts within the domain, proved unsuccessful and the furnace itself was destroyed. Nevertheless, this initiative was instrumental in nurturing talents who would later contribute significantly to modern Japan.

This special exhibition showcases materials related to the reverberatory furnace, including diagrams of the cannons, scrolls depicting scenes of iron production, and raw materials for ironmaking. Through these artifacts, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the historical role of the Mito Domain in leading the establishment of modern industries during the Meiji era.