The Head Office of a Silk-Reeling Giant
The Chuo Printing Building (Former Katakura-gumi Office) (中央印刷社屋（旧片倉組事務所）) is the head office of a silk-reeling company of 1910 in Kawagishi, Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 20, 1996 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a copper roof and a building area of 335 square metres; registration number 20-0002.
Artificial-Stone Pilasters and Brick Walls
The building was put up as the head office of Katakura-gumi, one of Japan's leading silk-reeling firms, and passed to affiliated companies, which still use it (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Its exterior combines artificial-stone pilasters with brick walls, and its interior, Western at heart, cleverly takes in Japanese motifs (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the artificial-stone pilasters set against brick walls (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Chuo Printing Co., Ltd. (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1910 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it originally?
- The head office of Katakura-gumi, a silk-reeling firm.
- What marks its exterior?
- Artificial-stone pilasters and brick walls.
- What is the interior like?
- Western, with Japanese motifs.
- When was the Chuo Printing Building (Former Katakura-gumi Office) registered?
- On December 20, 1996 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Chuo Printing Building (Former Katakura-gumi Office) (中央印刷社屋（旧片倉組事務所）) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1-20 Kawagishi, Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1996/12/20 (Heisei 8) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, copper roof, 335 m² |
| Owner | Chuo Printing Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Chuo Printing Building (Former Katakura-gumi Office) (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000047
Last verified: 2026.10.25