The Core of the Works, Where Silk Is Boiled Clean
The Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building (羽前絹練株式会社精練棟, Uzen Kenren Kabushiki-gaisha Seirentō) is a single-story timber workshop from the late Taishō period, standing north of the preparation wing at the Uzen Kenren works in Shinkaicho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on December 3, 2024.
Here woven silk is boiled in tanks to remove the gum and other impurities left from the cocoon. The national record gives a tile and sheet-metal roof and a building area of 368 square meters, on an L-shaped plan. It is registration number 06-0223.
This is where the scouring, seiren, that gives the company its name takes place, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs counts it among the core facilities of the works.
Why the Scouring Building Was Registered
The Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building was registered under the criterion for buildings that contribute to the historic landscape of the country. Its form is shaped by work with hot water and steam.
A raised vent roof, a Koshi-yane, sits on the ridge of the gabled roof, and together with openings on the south and north walls it releases scalding steam. Inside is an earth floor, with rails for moving cloth into the tanks running beneath a queen-post truss.
What to Look For
From outside, look for the vent roof. The Scouring, Dyeing, First Finishing and Second Finishing buildings all carry one, and together they make the works' distinctive roofline; on the Scouring Building, letting out steam is its most important job.
The rails in the earth floor and the queen-post truss, both noted by the Agency, show how a wide room with few posts was used to move the cloth. The Japan Heritage guide notes that scouring is still done with kettles in use since the company's early days.
Visiting the Scouring Building
Uzen Kenren is a working factory, and no public tour program has been confirmed. Stay outside the grounds and view what you can from the road. Directions are on the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. page.
The Scouring Building lies among the workshops on the west side, so probably only part of its roof can be seen from the road.
Q&A
- What happens in the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building?
- Woven silk is boiled in tanks to remove gum and other impurities from the cocoon.
- When was the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building built and registered?
- It dates from the late Taishō period and was registered on December 3, 2024, under registration number 06-0223.
- What is the vent roof on the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building for?
- Together with openings on the south and north walls, it releases the hot steam produced by scouring.
- What is inside the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building?
- An earth floor with rails for moving cloth into the tanks, beneath a queen-post truss.
- Can I visit the Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building?
- No public tours have been confirmed; probably only part of the roof is visible from the road.
Basic Information
| Name | Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building (羽前絹練株式会社精練棟) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21-5 Shinkaicho and other lots, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2024 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-story timber, tile and sheet-metal roof, building area 368 m² |
| Owner | Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (working factory; exterior from the road) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. Scouring Building
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015133
- Japan Heritage Portal (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Uzen Kenren Co., Ltd. (Japanese)
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/2980/
Last verified: 2026.10.06
