JNDA# 07-28
| Material | Silver |
| Composition | Pure Silver |
| Weight | 31.1grams=1.09oz |
| Diameter | 40mm=1.57in |
| Year of Production | 2013(Heisei 25 year) |
These silver coins were issued to commemorate the enforcement of Japan’s Local Autonomy Law.
Each of the 47 prefectures has its own unique design.
The Gunma Prefecture coin depicts the Tomioka Silk Mill, the East Cocoon Warehouse, and silk-reeling women.
Tomioka Silk Mill
The Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872. Created by the Meiji government, its purpose was the mass production and quality improvement of raw silk, Japan’s largest export at the time.
By adopting Western mechanical silk-reeling technology, this factory became a model for silk mills subsequently established throughout Japan.
It also pioneered silkworm breeding improvements, playing a central role in the development of Japan’s sericulture industry.
Although operations ceased in 1987, key original buildings, including the East Cocoon Warehouse, remain largely intact. It was designated a National Historic Site in 2005 and a National Important Cultural Property in 2006.
Female Workers
At the time of its founding, over 400 female workers gathered from across Japan worked at the Tomioka Silk Mill performing the silk reeling process. It is said that they took the skills they acquired here back to their respective hometowns, contributing to the development of the local silk industry.
