FACTORS THAT RAILROAD BRIDGES WERE IMPORTED IN THE MEIJI ERA

Abstract

 This research focuses on the fact that Japanese railroad bridges were standardized under the leadership of hired foreign engineers during the Meiji era (1868-1912), and most of railroad bridges were imported from the United Kingdom and other countries during the same era. After pointing out the inscrutableness of the fact, this research tries to specify the factors that railroad bridges were imported in the Meiji era through an analysis of the steel industry in the same era, a comparison with the shipbuilding industry, and an analysis of the thought of Viscount Masaru Ino-ue, who led the railway administration in the Meiji era. As a result, the background of import of railway bridges was found that the railway industry at the time was striving for rapid network expansion, that Viscount Masaru Ino-ue had a feeling of incompetence in Japan’s bridge technology, and that hired foreign engineers for railroad bridges were highly trusted by the railway authorities.