Abandoned Places: Hashima Island

     Continuing with our look at the forgotten places of the world, we now turn to something that is pretty unique: Hashima Island. It is perhaps better known by it's colloquial name, "Battleship Island". The concept of an abandoned island city it indeed a romantic one for the urban explorer or abandoned site enthusiast. But, like many of the places left behind, it has an overwhelmingly dark history.

     The island serves as a singularly perfect microcosm of Japan's hurried progress during the industrial revolution. When coal suddenly became an in-demand resource the owners of the island wasted no time in getting a rudimentary mining operation running. Over time, with the help of foreign advisers and merchants, the island both enjoyed and suffered the ravages of extreme progress without forethought or regard for the human side of business.

     All of the workers on the island were subjected to poor conditions and insanely crowded conditions. In point of fact, workers suffered through living in the most densely populated area in recorded history. 83,500/km² people lived in each square kilometer. To compare, the current population density of downtown New York is 10,429.6/km²

     Forcibly recruited workers toiled under conditions so horrible that many decided to kill themselves rather than continue to work. by August of 1945 over 1,300 workers had perished on the island. The operation continued to function until 1974. The Japanese government has decided to re-open a small portion of the island to tourists by constructing a walkway from which the interior of the island can be viewed. The structures within are considered too unsafe to allow people back inside.


For links with a full account of the fascinating history of the island as well as pictures and first hand accounts, click "Read More".





http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/earns/hashima.html
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2007081567758
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashima_Island
http://gakuran.com/gunkanjima-ruins-of-a-forbidden-island/