On the Location of Woolen Yarn Spinning Industry in Japan

Abstract

Woolen yarn manufacture in Japan owes its origin to the government-managed Senju Carpet Mill which was established in 1879. Woolen spinning factory could scarcely be seen except for the factories where some leading traders combined woolen yarn spinning with woolen textile factory, with the purpose of yarn selfsufficiency, because the early woolen industry had laid the foundaion of market mostly on woolen textiles.Constequently the location also depended on woolen textiles, and not only location but also demand had been set within the limits of two districts, that is, Keihin and Hanshin districts at that time which had been the base and center of capital in the early woolen industry.When the twentieth century began, on the other hand, medium and small woolen textile industry, that had used the imported woolen yarn as raw materials and produced mere woven goods, sprang up: the northern Bisai and Tsushima, etc. of traditional cotton textile areas in Aichi prefecture succeeded in commercialization of “Kijaku Serges” (Serges for Japanease clothe's sake), traders concerned began to change their cotton textile productions into the “Kijaku Serges” productions in rapid succession. And then, these areas were gradually characterized by woolen textile lands, together with the adjustment of the consolidated technique. These areas took the opportunity to find manufactures of Western clothes by the leadership and encouragement of Western draper's traders in Osaka, at the time when importation of woolen textile was stopped during World War I. In the meantime, this place became one of the largest woolen textile area in Japan, and the monopolistic medium and small woolen textile area has been gradually formed since about 1930 so far as Western clothes are concerned. Such formation of a larger woolen yarn market in Japan (it was encouraged by the increase of import-customs duties) and the maldistribution in the northern part in Aichi prefecture-localization of market-was possible to promote the full-scale growth of woolen yarn spinning industry which aimed chiefly at manufacturing woolen yarn as merchandise. The above-mentioned fact may be said to be one of the greatest factor of accumulation of woolen yarn spinning mill in this district was active in 1930's, especially about 1935, though it was acted already since 1920's. Many of them had been closely connected with the medium and small woolen textile industry in Aichi prefecture. Fundamentally, the postwar accumulation has also a tendency to the same character.Woolen yarn spinning is one of water type-industry, too. In this respect, there was no difficult problem on the Nobi and the Ise plains (especially in prewar times).In case of the spinning from top-making which used import-wool as raw materials was managed, it became a problem whether marine transportation is convenient or not.As reconstruction works of Nagoya and Yokkaichi harbours were continued from 1920's to 1930's, however, they were equipped completely for the use of ocean line vessels. These respects are also considered essential factors that promoted the accumulation of woolen yarn spinning industry in the Tokai district.