Sawtooth Roof Factory Stands as Monument to Ashikaga Textile History in Tochigi Pref., Japan

By Ayano Kimura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

15:10 JST, March 2, 2026

ASHIKAGA, Tochigi — A striking sawtooth roofline and imposing red-brick walls define the Tochisen factory, a site that has anchored the local community since it was run by Ashikaga Orimono, which began operations in 1914.

More than just a manufacturing plant, the facility serves as a cherished monument to the industrial grit of a region once known for its thriving textile industry.

In its infancy, Ashikaga Orimono churned out the cotton textiles that drove Japan’s export engine. The fragility of those products remains etched into the plant’s architecture, which was designed specifically to handle the most delicate of materials.

The plant’s sawtooth roofline was built for a reason: to hold windows that face north. This keeps out harsh ultraviolet rays that could degrade fabric. It also ensures a steady, uniform light, ideal for craftsmen checking the quality of their finished products.

The exterior is clad in bricks from Nippon Brick Manufacturing Co., a firm that legendary industrialist and entrepreneur Eiichi Shibusawa helped establish. The bricks are the very same as used for the iconic Tokyo Station building.

Inside, the original boilers that once powered the plant remain intact, standing taller than a person. Their massive heft still conveys the energy of Japan’s early industrial boom.

During World War II, the facility was converted for military production, turning out such items as parachutes for pilots, before returning to its textile roots after the war.

The factory was thrust into the spotlight for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. As part of an insurance company’s promotional campaign, the firm received a massive order to produce 1 million of Japan’s national flag, the Hinomaru.

The challenge was not just the sheer volume, but the technical difficulty of dyeing both sides of a thin fabric with uniform intensity. After major manufacturers turned down the job, the company was tapped in their stead, due to its reputation for superior dyeing techniques, and it successfully set the Hinomaru fluttering across the nation.

The business has continued to evolve alongside the changing times. Today, Tochisen focuses primarily on film dyeing and specialized processing, and it even produced medical face shields to meet the surge in demand for protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent years, the factory has gained fresh attention as a filming location, its well-preserved prewar and postwar atmosphere providing a backdrop for television dramas and movies.

“It is the mission of those who inherited this site to preserve it as a building the local community can be proud of,” said Shunji Akikusa, the company’s chairman.

Tochisen

Address: 1143 Fukuicho, Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture

Access: A 3-minute walk from Fukui Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line

Note: The interior is not open to the general public, although exceptions may be made for groups upon request.