Hashima Island

We approach Hashima, more famously known as 'Gunkanjima' or Battleship Island. From the deck of our tour boat, the reason for this moniker becomes clear: the island’s silhouette, fortified by massive sea walls and crowded with…

Upon landing, the first architectural feature that demands our attention is the massive concrete sea wall that encircles the island. Built to protect the reclaimed land from the violent typhoons of the East China Sea, it also…

We now move toward the remains of the mining facilities. The coal found beneath Hashima was of high quality, essential for fueling Mitsubishi’s expanding fleet of steamships and the warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. …

Dominating the residential sector is Apartment Block 65, the largest building on the island. Completed in 1945, this U-shaped reinforced concrete structure is a prime example of 'modernist' living taken to its extreme. …

Despite the harsh industrial exterior, Hashima was a complete community. In this section of the ruins, you can find the skeletal remains of a school, a hospital, shops, and even a movie theater. …

We must now address the most contentious aspect of Hashima’s history: the use of forced labor. Between 1939 and 1945, hundreds of Korean conscripts and Chinese prisoners of war were brought here to work the mines. …

In recent years, Hashima has found a new life in global popular culture, most notably as the inspiration for the villain's lair in the James Bond film 'Skyfall.' While the film was mostly shot on sets in the UK, the visual…

As our boat pulls away and the silhouette of the Battleship fades into the mist, reflect on the 'Intertwined' nature of the local and global stories we have explored. Hashima is a mirror of Japan as a nation: a story of rapid…