The History of Kamaishi

Kamaishi, originally a fishing town, has evolved into a town famous for its iron production. The Hashino Blast Furnace Relic located in Iwate Prefecture, is the first of the ten furnaces to be lit on December 1 1857; a day honored as the start of modern iron production in Japan. This ancient blast furnace has produced everything from samurai swords, to rails for high　speek　bullet　trains.　In　addition,　the　production　of　iron　from　this　furnace　played　a　significant role in the war effort during World War II. These iron from this furnance were used to make the first cannons in Japan. Most recently, the Hashino Blast Furnace Relic has been elected by UNESCO World Heritage as becoming a possible World Heritage site. When visiting Japan, come to Kamaishi`s Iron History Museum to learn about Japanese history that is not offered anywhere else in Japan.