Castles without a king, power stations without energy, tombs without descendants, places that no memory can no longer exist, bygone eras, peaceful wars. In its Atlas of Abandoned Places, published in October, Jonglez editions take us from Belgium to Japan to discover the depths of the heritage abandoned by humanity. This winter, “Marianne” offers you exclusively certain extracts from the book. Ninth episode in Japan.
Hashima, better known as Gunkanjima (“the island of warships” because of its resemblance to a military building), actually hides a completely abandoned town behind its immense coastal walls.
In 1810, coal was discovered on Hashima, but it was not until 1890, when Mitsubishi purchased the island, that mining began in earnest. The workers settled on the island with their families and in 1959, Hashima had on its 6.3 hectares and just under 8,000 inhabitants, which constituted at the time the highest population density in the world. The island was entirely covered in buildings: it included apartment buildings, schools, a hospital, a fitness center, a cinema, stores, a sanctuary, a Pachinko games room, public baths, bars and even a brothel. In 1974, the mine permanently closed its doors, bankrupted by oil, which had become cheaper and easier to extract, and its inhabitants deserted it.
Gunkanjima is an abandoned island located in Nagasaki Prefecture. The island got famous because of his unbelievable appearance: surrounded by a sea wall, you will find an entire abandoned city with huge concrete buildings. The original name of the island is actually Hashima, but it is also called the Battleship Island (translation of Gunkanjima) or the Ghost Island. It appeared recently in the James Bond movie Skyfall and got even more famous. More info on http://www.totorotimes.com/gunkanjima
@ 2012 Jordy Meow
Renewed popularity
The island remained empty until the early 2010s, when access became authorized again. Serving as a filming location or inspiration for several films, including 23e film from the James Bond series, Heavy rainor even Inception by Christopher Nolan, the island is now a popular destination that charms movie buffs and photographers as much as adventure-seeking tourists. The city of Nagasaki, located 5 kilometers away, offers official tours allowing visitors to discover a small part of the “ghost island”.
READ ALSO: The Orbiter K-2 Pitchka, space shuttle abandoned by the Cold War in the middle of Kazakhstan
Éditions Jonglez, October 2024, 192 p., €25
