The is a list of sites, landmarks, machines, and documents that made significant contributions to the development of mechanical engineering in Japan. Items in the list are certified by the .
Overview The Mechanical Engineering Heritage program was inaugurated in June 2007 in connection with the 110th anniversary of the founding of the JSME. The program recognizes machines and their related systems, factories, specification documents, textbooks, and other items that had a significant impact on the development of mechanical engineering in Japan. When a certified item can no longer be maintained by its current owner, the JSME acts to prevent its loss by arranging a transfer to the National Science Museum of Japan or to a local government institution.
Categories Items in the Mechanical Engineering Heritage (Japan) are classified into four categories: Sites: Historical sites that contain heritage items. Landmarks: Representative buildings, structures, and machinery. Collections: Collections of machinery, or individual machines. Documents: Machinery-related documents of historical significance. Each item is assigned a Mechanical Engineering Heritage number. No. 100 is a dual entry, composed of both a collection and documents.
Items certified in 2007
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0011868SiteSteam engines and hauling machinery at the Kosuge Ship Repair DockNagasaki Prefecture0021908LandmarkMemorial workshop and machine tools at Kumamoto UniversityKumamoto Prefecture0031875CollectionForged iron treadle latheAichi PrefectureMade by Kaheiji Ito0041908CollectionIndustrial Steam TurbineNagasaki PrefectureParsons steam turbine0051967Collection10A Mazda Wankel engineHiroshima Prefecture006CollectionHonda CVCC engineTochigi PrefectureFirst engine to meet the emission standards of Clean Air Act (1970)0071971CollectionFJR710 Jet EngineTokyo0081933CollectionYanmar small horizontal Diesel Engine, Model HBShiga Prefecture0091912CollectionProfessor Inokuchi Ariya's centrifugal pumpAichi Prefecture0101929CollectionHigh frequency generator (radio)Aichi PrefectureMade by German AEG0111963Collection0-Series Tōkaidō Shinkansen electric multiple unitsOsaka PrefectureOperated 1964–19780121902–1909CollectionClass 230 No. 233 2-4-2 steam tank locomotiveOsaka Prefecture0131962-1974CollectionYS11 passenger airplaneTokyoFlown 1964–20090141952CollectionHonda Cub F bicycle engineTochigi Prefecture0151928CollectionChain stitch sewing machine for the production of straw hatsAichi Prefecture0161924CollectionNon-stop shuttle change automatic loom, Toyoda (Toyota) Type GAichi Prefecture0171885CollectionHand operated letterpress printing machineTokyo0181943CollectionKomatsu G40 bulldozerShizuoka Prefecture0191950CollectionOlympus gastrocamera GT-ITokyo020CollectionBuckton universal testing machine see fig. 3Hyōgo PrefectureInstalled in 19080211953CollectionMutoh manual drafting machine MH-ITokyo0221851CollectionMyriad year clockTokyo0231935CollectionThe Chikugo River Lift BridgeBetween Fukuoka and Saga PrefectureClosed in 1987, reopened for pedestrians in 19960241897, 1901, and 1934, published DocumentJSME publications from the early days of the societyTokyo0251905DocumentHydraulics and hydraulic machinery, lecture notes by Professors Bunji Mano and Ariya Inokuchi at Imperial University of TokyoTokyo
Items certified in 2008
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0261888SiteSankyozawa Power Station and related objectsMiyagi PrefectureOperating since 18880271908, 1905SiteHydraulic lock and floating steam crane in Miike PortFukuoka Prefecture0281923CollectionOmnibus (Ford TT type)Saitama PrefectureAdapted from the chassis of a Ford Model TT that was imported from the United States0291947CollectionMechanical telecommunication devicesIwate PrefectureMade by Shinko Seisakusho Co.0301903, patentedCollectionYazu Arithmometer (Mechanical calculator)Fukuoka PrefectureInvented by Ryōichi Yazu0311910CollectionInduction motor and design sheetIbaraki Prefecture
Items certified in 2009
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0321881SiteMechanical device of Sapporo Clock TowerHokkaidōClock mechanism imported/installed from E. Howard & Co., moved in 19060331808LandmarkMinegishi watermillTokyoWater Mill Farmhouse at Nogawa River, Musashino area, in operation until 19680341943CollectionThe Master Worm wheel of the Hobbing machine HRS-500Shizuoka PrefectureMachining by the Hobbing machine of Rhein-Neckar from Germany035CollectionLocomobileHokkaidōThe oldest private steam automobile in Japan, one of eight imported from Locomobile Company of America in 1902, failured in 1908, discovered in 1978 needing only a boiler replacement and remained operable until 19800361916CollectionArrow-GouFukuoka PrefectureThe oldest Japanese-made car created by Koichi Yano0371897CollectionBritish-made 50 ft TurntableShizuoka PrefectureImported from Ransomes & Rapier and installed in an unknown location. Moved in 1941, then moved again to Ōigawa Railway in 1980, still in operation
Items certified in 2010
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0381907LandmarkCarousel El Dorado of ToshimaenTokyoProduced by Hugo Haase, refurbished and operated in Toshimaen from 1971 to 2020The carousel King, Hugo Haase0391835LandmarkRevolving stage and its slewing mechanism of Konpira Grand TheatreKagawa Prefecture0401947CollectionElectric vehicle TAMA (E4S-47 I)Kanagawa PrefectureProduced by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd because of the oil shortage after World War II. The car has a single 36V, 120A motor and can travel 65 km with a single charge, has a maximum speed of 35 km/h0411949CollectionThe first Japanese forklift truck with internal combustion engine Shiga PrefectureHas a maximum load of . Modeled after Clark Material Handling Company's model.0421931, installedCollectionTakasago and Ebara type centrifugal refrigerating machineKanagawa Prefecture0431967CollectionAutomated Ticket Gate (Turnstile)Kyoto PrefectureModel 3S2PG operated until 2009, by OMRON and Kintetsu Railway
Items certified in 2011
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0441908LandmarkSeikan Train Ferry and Moving Rail BridgeHokkaidō and Aomori PrefectureLandmark is both and the moving rail bridge at Aomori Station, and Mashū-Maru and the moving rail bridge at Hakodate Station0451924CollectionType ED15 Electric LocomotiveIbaraki PrefectureIn operation until 19600461872CollectionSilk reeling machines of Nagano PrefectureMachines are: 2 silk reeling machines imported by French engineer for Tomioka silk mill and various Japanese-made silk machines0471897CollectionToyoda Power LoomAichi prefectureInvented by Sakichi Toyoda0481965CollectionHydraulic excavator UH03Ibaraki PrefectureDouble hydraulic pumps and double valves, previous excavators had a single pump and valve.0491953CollectionZipper chain machine (YKK-CM6)Toyama PrefectureModeled after a machine that was imported from the U.S. in 1950.0501962CollectionTakamisawa Electric's Ticket Vending MachineNagano prefectureThe first multi-function train ticket vending machine, contained a printing mechanism and was capable of vending multiple types of tickets.
Items certified in 2012
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0511958LandmarkTokyu 5200 series and Tokyu 7000 series railcarsKanagawa Prefecture0521929LandmarkYoshino Ropeway, an aerial lift line.Nara PrefectureOpened on March 12, 1929. Oldest surviving aerial lift line in Japan.0531889CollectionIkegai Corp. LatheTokyo0541955CollectionRicoh desktop copier model Ricopy 101, blueprint reproduction machine.Shizuoka PrefectureUses a diazo chemical process.0551980CollectionWashlet G innovated by Toto Ltd.Fukuoka PrefectureThe basis of the design was from American Bidet company, imported in 1964.
Items certified in 2013
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0561976, importedLandmarkMechanical car parking system ROTOPARKTokyoMade by Bajulaz S.A. company of Switzerland, installed underground at the south exit of Shinjuku Station.Rotopark, Bajulaz S.A. Geneva Switzerland 0571930-1931CollectionDawn of Japanese home electric appliances made by ToshibaKanagawa Prefecture Electric Refrigerator Model SS-1200 (1930) Electric Washing Machine Model A/Solar (1930) Electric Vacuum Cleaner Model VC-A (1931)0581865, importedCollectionYokosuka Naval Arsenal steam hammerKanagawa PrefectureImported from Netherlands0591954CollectionOkuma Corporation non-round plain bearing and GPB Cylindrical GrinderAichi Prefecture0601927Collection16mm Film ProjectorAichi PrefectureDeveloped by Hidenobu Sakaki, founder of Elmo.06119th centuryCollectionJapanese Automata Yumihiki-Doji (lit: a boy bending a bow), a karakuri ningyōFukuoka PrefectureCreated by Hisashige Tanaka
Items certified in 2014
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes062LandmarkSoil and Tractor Museum of HokkaidoHokkaido063LandmarkMuseum of Agricultural Technology ProgressSaitama prefectureAt the Institution of Agricultural Machinery, part of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.0641928-1971, operatedLandmarkTelpher of the Port of ShimizuShizuoka prefecture065CollectionJapanese snow vehicles KD604 and KD605Tokyo (KD604) and Akita Prefecture (KD605)Reached the South Pole in 1968.0661913, 1960, 1969CollectionJapanese wristwatchesTokyo Laurel Type 12 (1913) First-generation Grand Seiko (1960) Quartz Astron 35SQ (1969)0671879CollectionDouble Housing Planing MachineAichi PrefectureMade by Akabane Engineering Works, Ministry of Industry0681954CollectionFuji Automatic Massage MachineOsaka PrefectureDeveloped by Nobuo Fujimoto, who created Fuji Seisakusho.0691932, first editionDocumentThe Collection of Drawings for Japanese MachinesTokyoCreated for the purpose of "disseminating correct knowledge of domestic products to general engineers and serving as reference drawings in terms of teaching mechanical engineering."
Items certified in 2015
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0701931LandmarkRailway bascule bridge Suehiro KyoryoMie Prefecture0711966CollectionAutomatic encrusting machine Model 105Tochigi PrefectureThe first version of the machine, Model 101, was created in 1963.0721951CollectionMikasa's automatic transmissionTokyoThe first Japanese Automatic transmission with torque converter.0731949CollectionFirst Japanese-made coin counterHyogo PrefectureMade by Kokuei Machinery Manufacturing0741936CollectionKobayashi-style wood gas engineHiroshima Prefecture0751959CollectionThe small once-through boiler Type ZPEhime PrefectureManufactured by ‘Miura Seisakusho’ Co., Ltd.0761977CollectionElectric industrial robot "MOTOMAN-L10"Fukuoka Prefecture
Items certified in 2016
No.Year createdTypeDescriptionLocationNotes0771966, began operationsLandmarkMatsukawa Geothermal Power PlantIwate PrefectureThe first commercial power plant in Japan.0781958CollectionSubaru 360 Model K111Gunma Prefecture Nicknamed tentoumushi means ladybug0791911CollectionDouble expansion marine steam engineSaitama PrefectureWas used on the Tachibana maru (Kanji: たちばな丸), a small wooden steamship0801916CollectionItoki Shoten's Zeni-ai-ki, a simple cash registerTokyo0811919CollectionGasoline measuring equipment type No. 25Kanagawa PrefectureCreated by Uchu Tatsuno, the founder of Tatsuno Seisakusho0821962CollectionGate-type car wash machineAichi Prefecture0831870CollectionOptical instruments of the Kashinosaki LighthouseWakayama PrefectureA rotating flash lamp lighthouse.
Items certified in 2017