A Tale of Two Mills: Socio-Technological Integration in Meiji Japan, 1868–1912

Industrial modernization in Meiji Japan (1868–1912) required more than isolated factors—it demanded the integration of socio-technological systems to enable paradigm-shifting technology transfer. A comparative analysis of Tomioka Silk Filature and Osaka Cotton Spinning Mill reveals two distinct pathways: Tomioka's ad hoc industrialization, where transferred technologies gradually merged with local practices, while Osaka exemplified a deliberate shift toward a new industrial paradigm. This study challenges mono-causal explanations by demonstrating that successful modernization hinged on the interplay of adapted artifacts, bio-materials, knowledge accumulation, factory management, and geographic advantages.

Wittner, D. (2022). A Tale of Two Mills: Socio-Technological Integration in Meiji Japan, 1868–1912. Technology and Culture, 63(2), 349–376. https://doi.org/10.1353/tech.2022.0050