The textile industrial region of Totigi prefecture is usually divided into two, the one Asikaga and Sano, and the other Kiryû and Yûki. In this paper the author divides it into three regions according to the distributions of weaving machines, of occupations connected with the textile industry, and of the varieties of textile fabrics.
There are many kinds of weaving machines, that is, narrow width (12 inches), broad width (over 24 inches), hand looms and motor looms, plain weaving and figured weaving. The author has further observed the distribution of patterns, increase or decrease; and the density in the distribution of looms. The occupations are divided into textile manufacturers, owners of factories, thread merchants; and of dyeing, finishing, and throwing workers. As to the kinds of fabrics, there are “Meisen”, “Obi”, crepe, “Kabe”, cotten crepe, and native Yûki pongee (Tumugi). All these elements are used in determining the geographical divisions.
Fig. 1 shows the region now described, Fig. 2 ; the distribution of moter looms for wide and for narrow width weavings, and of band looms. Fig. 3; distribution of centres for looms. Fig. 4; the decrease in hand looms and increase in moter looms. Fig. 5; the density in distribution of weaving machines. Fig. 6; textile occupations. Fig. 7 the distribution of production of important fabrics.
Large geographical regions are divided with the four textile guilds as their respective centres. Seventeen small regions are determined mainly by the varieties of looms.
