Gunkanjima 軍艦島

Could this be the next BIG adventure for the "Hokusho Pirates"?


(Hokusho Pirates is a tentative name...what do you think?)

Hashima, aka Gunkanjima, was once the site of Japan's most densely populated city. Built on top of what used to be a small reef, the island was used to get to underwater coal mining areas from after WWII-1974. In 1974, Japan switched from coal to cleaner burning natural gas. People got everything they could pack on their backs, and took off. The island has been deserted for over 30 years now...

What we are talking about here is a veritable motherload of adventure. A ghost island. I mean this is any pirates dream. Where is it located you may ask? Off the coast of the Nagasaki Peninsula, right in my back yard...

See its exact location here: http://www14.big.or.jp/~kawamura/m-city/english_about_g.html

This illicit island has apparently been the source of legend in Japan, a salaryman's secret daydream fantasy. Because its so close, I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if I didn't try to get out there. People that have been out there report back that it is "like a time-capsule preserving a plethora of appliances, personal items, and architecture from the 60's and 70's." There was everything anyone needed or wanted on the island: movie theater, hospital, barbershop, apartments for everyone, schools, etc. Take all these things plus 5,000 people, pack them tightly around coal mining equipment in a space little more than five football fields long, and two football fields wide, and you've got Gunkanjima. The actual name of the island is Hashima, but it got its nickname "Gunkanjima" because its silhouette looks like a great battleship on the seas. In fact, during WWII, American forces actually fired on the island, thinking it was indeed a battleship blocking their path.

I'm not sure on the specifics, and most people seem to be very secretive about how to get out there, but I am going to do my best to make a trip. You, the viewer, will of course be showered with photographs.



For more information on Gunkanjima, follow the links below. I realize I ripped off these pictures from peoples web sites, and I am truly sorry. I did it just to prove my point about how much it looks like this island rocks. Once I have my own pictures, of course, this will be of no consequence.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/saiga/yuji/index.html
http://www.uwosh.edu/home_pages/faculty_staff/earns/hashima.html
http://www.nagayo-net.com/~gunkanjima/
http://unya.raindrop.jp/gunkanzima/welcome.html
http://www14.big.or.jp/~kawamura/m-city/english_photo_gallery.html
http://home.f01.itscom.net/spiral/hashima/hashima001.html

Some of these sites are in Japanese. Some of you may not know Japanese, or your computer might not be able to read Japanese characters. For this I suggest google translator:

http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en

If that doesn't work, clicking wildly is always a best bet.