Memorial workshop and cultural machine tools in Kumamoto University

Eleven machine tools preserved in the Museum of Engineering Faculty, Kumamoto University, were designated as national important cultural properties in 1994. The building was completed in 1908 as an experiment factory of old machines, named a memorial workshop, and has been used for research and education purposes for about 60 years. This is a Western-style research and education facility of the Meiji period that was built during the early stages of the development of industrial technologies in Japan, and is among few such facilities in existence. This cultural property thus has considerable historical and technological value, including its machine tools. The 13 machine tools in total, including the 11 mentioned above, were repaired under the centenary memorial project of the Engineering Faculty and all machines and tools were preserved in working condition in 1999.

At present, these machines and tools are accessible to the public and they are also utilized by being incorporated into the engineering education program of Kumamoto University.