Haikyo: Japanese Ghost Towns
Matsuo Mine, North Japan
So, same as it ever was: I’m thinking about Japan. Sure, it has quite a bit to do with the fact that the boss-dudes are in Tokyo as we speak, preparing for what can only be a truly epic shop launch in beautiful and wondrous Shibuya.
As happy as I am that this is going on for Mishka, and as demanding and stressful and ultimately rewarding as it all must be, it’s really all I can do to not desperately try to commission a Keep Watch field trip to some radical Japanese Haikyo sites.
Haikyo is japanese for ‘ruins’. Nuff said. While I was in Tokyo last month, I had some time to kill at a bookstore, and I had already found my copy of Catcher in the Rye, so I started browsing and found an awesome photo-journal called , by Kaoru Nakata and Jun Nakasuji. As someone who doesn’t speak or read japanese (in any form), I couldn’t read a lick, but the photos spoke for themselves. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.
And, as it turns out, Ruins are like…a thing in Japan. Much the same as they are everywhere else, but, I don’t know…I guess I just wasn’t thinking about it.
I bought my book (Mandarake was FINALLY open), filed under ‘awesome loot I bough in Japan’ and eventually came back and got on with my life. Until I was sent this link a few days ago and well. First, science tells me I’m probably a hologram. And now, there are all these killer Dharma stations spread around Japan that I didn’t think to go to when I was there.
The Chemical Pools of Osarizawa Mine
Kanagawa Tokyo Bowl, brought to you by the owner of the Empire State Building. The real one.
Underground Vault (!!!) at Yamanashi
I’ve looked at travel rates like six times this week already. It’s taking over my mind.
So yeah, Mishka fam, currently projecting your message of hope, radness, and prosperity to the other side of the globe: if you end up making it to one of these, or any Haikyo spots while in Japan, think of good ol’ Hateball. Take lots of pictures. And tell me every single detail.
- Hateball
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:01 pm
how did hashima not make it on that list?
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:26 pm
So weird. I think the HDR photos makes them look creepier than they actually are though. Makes me think of that theme park in Spirited Away where they eat too much sausage and turn into pigs.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@peterabbit: wow. You hit the nail on the head with the spirited away. Netflixed! Again! I agree with you that the photos are a bit drama-queen, but that’s half the fun!
@aziz: Woah. It’s like Japanese Alcatraz! Thanks for the link…
March 4th, 2010 at 10:53 am
@Hateball
What’s the name of the book? There is just a comma where it looks like the title of the book should be. Either that or me or my computer are retarded and cannot see the title.
I’m gonna see if I can find it in the japanese bookstore.
Thanks.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Nevermind, there were about a dozen different ‘ruins’ books in the photography section. Very cool.
March 4th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
@ClambakeSale: Sorry about that…I have no idea what happened there. If you’re still interested, it’s ‘The Ruins Tour’. You can click through on the image to see the cover, too.
Glad folks are digging this! I guess I should make a trip to Alcatraz one of these days, as if you can’t be with the ruins you love, you should maybe love the ruins your with.
March 6th, 2010 at 12:07 am
you’ve just given me another reason to visit Japan… again! I was totally unaware of this until today. Strange considering I love visiting derelict buildings here and have in the UK and Australia but never though it something to do in Japan; or maybe my ID was just warding me off to keep me from danger. I’ve seen what happens to people who go snooping about in forgotten places in Japan. Kappa and Tengu rip you apart and feast on your soul.
Some of those toxic sites may be the bed chambers of Kaiju.
Fucking rad!