In central Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, a cream-colored building stands out as the Former Jomo Muslin Office, once the headquarters of a textile company that bolstered the local economy during the Meiji and Taisho eras. Designated as an important tangible cultural property of the prefecture, this pseudo-Western structure now serves as a public museum.
The Former Jomo Muslin Office, headquarters of a company founded in 1902, was built around 1910. It produced muslin, a thin wool fabric, serving as a key economic driver in the region during the Meiji (1868–1912) and Taisho (1912–1926) eras. During World War II, the building was utilized by Nakajima Aircraft, a major military aircraft manufacturer.
Ownership transferred to the city in 1978, designating it an important tangible cultural property of the prefecture for its pseudo-Western style, symbolizing regional modernization. In 1979, it was relocated about 600 meters east from near city hall to its current site. The structure features a hip-and-gable roof using the traditional Japanese shakkanho system, but incorporates Western elements like a perfectly symmetrical exterior, shallow overhanging roof, and chandeliers in each room.
Shoes are removed upon entry, revealing four pillars. “These are entasis columns, which bulge slightly in the center,” explained an official from the city's Board of Education cultural promotion division. This style appears in ancient Greek architecture and the Middle Gate of Horyuji temple in Nara. The red-carpeted staircase has a dark brown handrail with decorative elements, while the second-floor hall's appearance shifts with light through sash windows.
Now operating as Tatebayashi Museum No. 2, it displays items like factory roof tiles and production bobbins. The building has served as a filming location, appearing as a student dormitory in the 2011 TV drama “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e: Ikemen Paradaisu 2011.” The city hosts jazz concerts and events to highlight its cultural value. “There is great value in the building remaining in its original state. We hope people will use it and recognize the importance and charm of this cultural asset,” the official added.
Address: 2-3 Shiromachi, Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Tatebayashi Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line; 10 minutes by car from Tatebayashi Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last admission 4:30 p.m.; closed Mondays in principle.