Thirteen thousand four hundred seventy-one square meters. That’s the size of this site. The Keishin Lake Improvement Waterworks Cement Plant Stele stands before you. It marks a pivotal moment in Kyoto’s history.
This stele commemorates a vital chapter. The construction of a cement plant in 1885. It was a bold move. Kyoto needed cement for the Keishin Lake Improvement Waterworks project. The city lacked the capacity for large-scale cement production. This plant was the solution.
Imagine the scale of this operation. Ten buildings housed the production. Three more held the kilns. Twelve places fired the kilns. Eight foundations supported the complex. Over the years this plant produced nearly 137 million pieces of cement. Approximately 107 million were used in the waterworks project. A remarkable feat of industrial ingenuity.
The stele itself is unassuming. It’s made of stone. It was erected in 1989. This unassuming monument embodies a significant undertaking. The plant’s construction represented a crucial step. It showcased Japan’s burgeoning industrial capabilities. It reflected the nation’s drive for modernization in the Meiji era.
The stele’s simple inscription speaks volumes. It tells of a vital chapter in Kyoto’s development. The Keishin Lake Improvement Waterworks were transformative. They forever changed the city’s infrastructure. This site’s enduring legacy is a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. It stands as a silent but powerful reminder of a transformative era. The Keishin Lake Improvement Waterworks Cement Plant Stele. A small but monumental piece of Kyoto’s past.