Hashima Island

Hashima Island, also called Gunkanjima (Battleship Island), is an industrial ruin on a small island located about 20 kilometers south of Nagasaki (JP). Underwater coal mining was conducted from the island between 1887 and 1974. Under the management of the Mitsubishi Group, the island was further developed from 1916 onwards and housed up to 5200 inhabitants. The first reinforced concrete building in Japan was built on the island. In January 1974, coal mining was declared finished, and in April 1974, the last boat left the island. Since then, the buildings on the island have been empty. Photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre documented this ghost town in their book Gunkanjima. The pictures testify to a flight-like exodus of the inhabitants. Many everyday objects seem to be waiting for their former owners.