There were many areas in Japan where the sericulture and silk weaving industries flourished.
Only one of them, Hachioji was called “Soto(Mulberry City)”.
Until 1995, a symbolic tower called “Textile Hachioji” stood in front of Hachioji Station.
Currently, there is a bridge “Mulberry Bridge” that connects the station and Kuwanamiki Dori St. as a new symbol that inherits the tradition of the textile town to the 21st century.
The bridge is adorned with the “Silk Dance,” a monument with the image of silk fabric wrapped around a figure eight, on a tower that resembles the Hachioji Castle.