From 1887 until 1974, Hashima Island, aka 'Battleship Island', was populated by coal miners and their families, until the mines were shut down.
After the island was completely deserted, it became known as 'Ghost Island', the empty buildings now only play home to residual memories of the past.
After the island was completely deserted, it became known as 'Ghost Island', the empty buildings now only play home to residual memories of the past.
Battleship Island
Hashima Island. The large, concrete blocks, studded with window frames, the glass having long ago been smashed, stand silently. Once homes full of life, these buildings are now empty, give Hashima Island its nickname 'Ghost Island'. The island’s shape also provides it with its other moniker 'Battleship Island'.
At one time Hashima Island was described as the most densely populated place in the world. Now it is completely empty, the buildings starting to tumble as nature takes the island back for her own.
Located just fifteen kilometres off the western coast of the Nagasaki Peninsula, the island was just another piece of land breaking up the East China Sea, until coal was discovered on the sea floor. With this discovery, the Mitsubishi Company purchased the island in 1890 (though it was began to be populated from 1887), and began to set up undersea mines in which to retrieve the coal.
At one time Hashima Island was described as the most densely populated place in the world. Now it is completely empty, the buildings starting to tumble as nature takes the island back for her own.
Located just fifteen kilometres off the western coast of the Nagasaki Peninsula, the island was just another piece of land breaking up the East China Sea, until coal was discovered on the sea floor. With this discovery, the Mitsubishi Company purchased the island in 1890 (though it was began to be populated from 1887), and began to set up undersea mines in which to retrieve the coal.
Hashima Island 1959. For nearly 30 years the workers of the mine would be ferried to the island from the mainland, and back again, a fifty minute journey. However, in 1916 the company began building concrete apartment blocks to house the workers closer to the mine sites. These buildings were the first major concrete buildings in Japan, the strength of the material desirable due to frequent typhoons hitting that part of the sea.
This first apartment block was nine stories high, and could house several hundred workers. Soon more and more blocks were built, until the island reached its population peak of 5,259 in 1959. This will have been quite a crush of people, considering Hashima was barely 500 meters long, and only 150 meters wide. This population packed into such a small space gave it the highest population density anywhere in the world.
This first apartment block was nine stories high, and could house several hundred workers. Soon more and more blocks were built, until the island reached its population peak of 5,259 in 1959. This will have been quite a crush of people, considering Hashima was barely 500 meters long, and only 150 meters wide. This population packed into such a small space gave it the highest population density anywhere in the world.
Primary School Sports Day. Besides the residential blocks, schools, temples, restaurants and markets were built to provide for the relevant services and needs of the population.
Almost every piece of land was built upon, until the point where the natural aspects of the rock were covered, and the island took on a much more artificial look.
A sea wall was constructed, to help alleviate flooding when seas were rough, and a small hospital for the inevitable accidents that come with mining. It is not known how many deaths took place on the island, and in the undersea mines, but people that had lived on the island make mention that there were many, with more than a few being needless.
Almost every piece of land was built upon, until the point where the natural aspects of the rock were covered, and the island took on a much more artificial look.
A sea wall was constructed, to help alleviate flooding when seas were rough, and a small hospital for the inevitable accidents that come with mining. It is not known how many deaths took place on the island, and in the undersea mines, but people that had lived on the island make mention that there were many, with more than a few being needless.
Leaving It All Behind...
Boarding the ship to leave Hashima. In the 1960s, Japan began to use petroleum as a energy resource, and as, such coal mines began to be closed down. In 1974, Mitsubishi closed the coal mining operation on Hashima Island. With work being offered back on the mainland, the population of the island quickly dropped, as entire families left for better opportunities.
People left the island so quickly, that many left the majority of their possessions behind. The blackboards in the classrooms still contain the writing from lessons long past, and houses still contain much of their furniture, in some instances plates, cups and cutlery still laid out on tables.
Bicycles are left to rust in the streets, and children's toys gather dust in rooms and corridors. Posters still manage to cling to walls that crumble with a touch, and books sadly flap open and closed in the dust choked breezes that blow gently amongst the claustrophobic alleys between buildings.
People left the island so quickly, that many left the majority of their possessions behind. The blackboards in the classrooms still contain the writing from lessons long past, and houses still contain much of their furniture, in some instances plates, cups and cutlery still laid out on tables.
Bicycles are left to rust in the streets, and children's toys gather dust in rooms and corridors. Posters still manage to cling to walls that crumble with a touch, and books sadly flap open and closed in the dust choked breezes that blow gently amongst the claustrophobic alleys between buildings.
Today
Hashima long abandoned, the apartment blocks now silent. For many decades after the island was abandoned, it was illegal to go anywhere near it. The punishment for trespassing was said to be 30 days in jail and deportation. Safety reasons aside, it is difficult to find a reason for such harsh punishment, some believe that the Japanese maybe hiding secrets on the island, perhaps they do not wish proof of supposed Korean slave labour to be unearthed?
Today you can book a walking tour of the island, the buildings are off limits due to risk of collapse, but several board walks have been created so people can enjoy one of the relics of Japan's industrial past.
Today you can book a walking tour of the island, the buildings are off limits due to risk of collapse, but several board walks have been created so people can enjoy one of the relics of Japan's industrial past.
Hashima Island is now a ghost town. As for ghosts... an interview with a man who returned to the island thirty years after leaving it as a child, believes it is haunted. With so much of the past still in place on the island, remnants of people’s lives, it would be hard to believe there would be no residual energies present.
An interesting fact about the island was that it was used for the external shots of Bond villain Silva's deserted island in 'Skyfall'.
An interesting fact about the island was that it was used for the external shots of Bond villain Silva's deserted island in 'Skyfall'.
Ashley Hall 2013
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