The Place Two World Heritages Can Been Seen

Nirayama Hansyaro

(Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture)

【Kakumei (革命)】means revolution that brings a sudden shift in the way people live. In 19th century, the wave of Industrial Revolution (Kakumei, 革命) and westernization swept through Japan. Japan lagged significantly behind the world technologically because it had adopted a "closed country" policy for more than 200 years that isolated Japan from the outside world. The government raced to modernize the country in response to incursions of foreign warships into Japanese territorial waters.

Iron was a crucial materials for the industrialization and modernization of military. The military capabilities of Japan were inferior to the Western nations. The vessels of western nations equipped with advanced cannons posed a serious threat to Japan. In order to defend the nation, there was an urgent need for the production of cannons within the country.

A government officer, Egawa Hidetatsu, was assigned to build a furnace to cast cannons in the village of Nirayama. In order to construct a furnace, Egawa referred a book titled “Casting Process at the National Iron Cannon Foundry in Liege,” which was written by Major-General Ulrich Huguenin of the Dutch Army.

The reverberatory furnace was developed in Europe between the 17th and 18th centuries. The heat and flames is concentrating at one point by an interior ceiling shaped like a dome to melt cast iron. Firebricks were a key material to build the dome and chimney because the heat and flames reached thousand degrees in the dome.

The Nirayama Hansyaro stands stately at a mountain edge of a countryside. It consists of the four bricks chimneys framed with rusty grid-like iron. The contrast of light brown chimneys and dark brown iron frames color is set off against the green trees and blue sky. The sheer massive structure was awe-inspiring, not only for its historical importance but also its beauty of its design. One of the highlights of the visit was seeing the blast furnace up close.Despite the passing of time, the site is well-preserved and offers visitors a glimpse into the past.

Replicas of the cannons are displayed at the back of the furnace, showcasing the same type of cannon produced at the site. The first cannon was casted in 1858. The casting was carried out at night because the quality of the casting iron was assessed by observing the color of heat that was visible in the darkness. Over the course of six years, the furnace produced nine cannons, although the precise number is unknown. The site provided a unique and valuable window into Japan's technological achievements during the last Samurai era. In recognition of its historical and cultural importance, the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

Aside from its historical significance, the Nirayama furnace is also known for its stunning view of Mount Fuji from the adjacent tea plantation hill. Visitors can take in the magnificent sight of the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji rising in the distance, with the furnace's brick chimney providing a stark contrast to the natural scenery. It is a place where two UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be beheld simultaneously, making it the only spot of its kind in the world.

A modern and cozy restaurant awaits visitors at site. This restaurant offers an exquisite menu of local cuisine, including the signature dish of fresh wasabi rice bowls. A bowl filled with warm, fluffy rice is served with fresh wasabi and a small metal grater. Grating wasabi on the grater releases its pungent aroma, stimulating your nose with its spicy and zingy flavor smell. Simply put grated wasabi and a sprinkle of bonito flakes over a bowl of rice, then add a touch of soy sauce and it's ready to eat. When you eat fresh wasabi, it produces a strong, pungent sensation that can feel like a burning or tingling in the nose and sinuses. Some people may also experience watery eyes or sweating.