Staying
still moments in Japan, I came across another very strange place, causing the
thrill of anxiety and fear. The uninhabited island Hashima was used as a scenery
in the Thai horror film called “Hashima Project” (2013), which I have not seen
yet, but I'm going to catch up in the near future. An ominous and mysterious
mood has also starred in a supporting role in the movie Skyfall (2012) as the
scenery further adventures of the British agent 007.
However,
starting from the beginning. Hashima is one of the 505 uninhabited islands
nearby Nagasaki and is located approximately 15 km from the city. The history
of the island began in 1887 when found the deposits of bituminous coal and
started construction of the first mine. In 1907 Mitsubishi Company, which
owned the island, completed the development phase and strengthening of banks.
Mine on the
island produced annually about 150 000 tons of coal. The mine employed more
than 3000 employees. To provided decent living conditions, in 1916 Mitsubishi
built the first residential apartments. Residential buildings consisted of one sleeping
room of 10 m2, windows, doors and vestibule. Kitchen, bathroom and toilet were
a common part of many families.
After World
War II Hashima continued to increase. With the development appeared another
services and institutions, such as kindergarten, primary school, secondary
school, hospital, cinema and others. Anyone who has lived on the island received free housing, electricity and water, but instead had to help keep the island in
proper condition, and participated in social work. At that time also changed housing
policy on the island, marriage received better quality apartments.
The era of
coal ended when the industry began to use petroleum oil. In the late 60's
practically the entire Japanese economy was based on oil already. Many coal
mine was then closed. Mitsubishi slowly but steadily reduced the number of
employees at Hashima, slowly closing the mine. The official farewell to the
island was on 15 January 1974, when the last of the workers drew up a farewell
word "sayonara Hashima" and then left the place.
Currently,
the main attraction of the island are abandoned, concrete blocks with the
surrounding breakwater and pervasive emptiness and apocalyptic landscape. And
all of these features allow me with a peaceful heart add Hashim to my list of places
that I visit when the flights to Japan will be cheaper.
http://www.hashima-island.co.uk/
Photos: Wikipedia
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