An abandoned island off the coast of Japan where thousands lost their lives has a dark history of slavery and forced labor and is considered one of the world’s “creepiest” places
If you’ve ever wondered what the Earth would be like if all humans disappeared, this eerie abandoned island off the coast of Japan is a perfect example.
Hashima Island is located nine miles off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, and was reclaimed by nature and completely uninhabited for more than 50 years. Although it currently has a population of zero, it wasn’t always that way and many unfortunate people have passed through it through a long and dark history of slavery and forced labor.
Nicknamed Gunkanjima (Gunkanjima) because of its appearance, the island originally flourished as a coal mining site in the 1800s when rich coal reserves were discovered. Mitsubishi purchased the island and mine in 1890, when industrialization was rapidly growing, and housed workers and their families there.
Giant manufacturing companies settled on the island, fortifying its walls and building apartment complexes, schools, public baths, swimming pools, gardens, clubhouses, and even pachinko parlors, a popular Japanese pinball game enjoyed by islanders. did. .
People living on the islands were paid much more than those working on the mainland, and many had homes equipped with the latest technology. However, conditions were difficult for residents, and thick sea air mixed with smoke from the mines led to severe respiratory illnesses.
Eventually the coal reserves were depleted and mining there was no longer possible. As the people left and the island became vacant, the only notable concrete structure collapsed and nature began to reclaim the land.
In 2015, UNESCO considered adding the island to the World Heritage List to commemorate Japan’s industrial revolution. However, many opposed it, feeling that Hashima’s dark history had to be acknowledged.
During World War II, Chinese prisoners of war were brought to Hashima Island along with exploited Korean immigrants and forced to work in harsh and inhumane conditions, including performing the most dangerous tasks in the mines. Ta. Fleeing the island was not an option, and thousands died of starvation or exhaustion.
Japan had never previously acknowledged the island’s history of forced labor and slavery, so the island was added to UNESCO’s list only after Japanese authorities agreed to the recognition. However, many see this as a monumental setback in attempts at reconciliation between South Korea and Japan, which have a long and fractious history, and many are still fighting to reverse the decision.
Abandoned since 1874, Hashima has found new life as a tourist attraction for those intrigued by its rich and sinister past. Since 2009, tourists have been able to visit the island in tour groups. Its apocalyptic atmosphere has also attracted filmmakers, and the location was used to film scenes for James Mendes’ 2012 James Bond blockbuster. Skyfall.