Hagi Reflection Furnace

Overview

The Hagi Reflection Furnace is a reflection furnace site located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is one of the component assets of the World Heritage site, "Industrial Heritage of Meiji Japan: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding, and Coal Mining". In 1855 (Ansei 2), sensing the need for coastal defense reinforcement, the Choshu Domain learned technology from the Saga Domain and planned the introduction of a reflection furnace to cast Western-style iron cannons. The Hagi Reflection Furnace is believed to have been a test furnace built based on this plan. The extant remains are the chimney section of the reflection furnace, standing 10.5 meters tall. The upper part is brickwork, while the lower part is constructed of andesite and red clay. It is believed that the stonework was originally coated with plaster. The upper approximately 5 meters are split into two branches because they were actually two independent chimneys. Two furnace bed remains have been excavated, corresponding to the chimneys, with the western furnace bed believed to have been primarily used. The Hagi Reflection Furnace is a particularly precious remaining structure among the existing early-modern reflection furnaces in Japan, attracting many visitors. It is a valuable place to learn about the technological prowess of the time and the Choshu Domain's efforts towards modernization. The surrounding area also boasts many historical structures such as Hagi Castle Ruins and the Shokasonjuku, making it ideal for historical sightseeing.