A main office dating from 1931 and a memorial site for the victims of the Kawasaki air raid give Ogimachi two distinct historical themes. One explores architectural and industrial history; the other commemorates the attack and the human remains discovered later.

The Main Office: Architecture on an Active Factory Site

The main office of the Kawasaki plant was built in 1931 as the main office of the then Showa Fertilizer Co., Ltd., the predecessor of Showa Denko. Given its period of construction, interior features and the involvement of a renowned building contractor, it is considered one of the representative factory buildings of the early Shōwa era in Kawasaki’s coastal industrial area. Despite post-war alterations, the stained glass, staircase railing and decorations on the wall parapet in the entrance still recall the original design. The main office continues to be used by Resonac Corporation’s Kawasaki plant. As it is located on an active factory site, it is not generally open to the public.

Industrial Technology History from the 1930s

The industrial heritage also has concrete milestones in technological development. A pioneering 1,250-horsepower compressor based on domestic technology was installed at Showa Denko’s Kawasaki plant (then Showa Fertilizer) in 1930 and is still in operation there. The equipment is not open to the public. In April 1931, Japan’s first factory for domestically produced ammonium sulfate was built in Ogimachi; in the same month, ammonia was synthesized for the first time using domestic technology. The factory reference concerns the production of ammonium sulfate; the second describes a milestone in ammonia synthesis. Together, these dates shed light on both plant construction and process technology, complementing the history of the individual compressor.

Ogimachi Substitute Jizo: Remembrance and Getting There

The Ogimachi Substitute Jizo memorial site is located at 12 Ogimachi, Kawasaki-ku. It was established to commemorate the victims of the 1945 Kawasaki air raid, after the human remains of eight victims were discovered in 1970. Its history therefore encompasses both remembrance of the attack and the later discovery of the remains.

You can reach the memorial site by bus from Shōwa Station on the JR Tsurumi Line or from JR Kawasaki Station, getting off at Shōwa-ekimae or Shōwa-Denkō-mae. Check current bus services before travelling. A memorial ceremony is held at Ogimachi Substitute Jizo every year on 25 July; the details may vary. If you would like to plan your stay around this date, check in advance whether the ceremony is taking place.

Two Historical Timelines

The themes differ clearly in chronological terms: the industrial heritage is marked by 1930 and April 1931, while remembrance is associated with the 1945 air raid and the discovery of the remains in 1970. The main office and technological milestones offer a glimpse into early industrial history; the Jizo memorial focuses on the victims of the war and remembrance. This comparison can help you choose the historical focus for your stay.

For the wider travel overview: Kanagawa Prefecture.