Sep 21, 2014 - 1 min read

Gorgeous Factory Illumination

Factory night views in the city that never sleeps

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

'The Silver Castle' (Mizushima Industrial Complex)

The view from the Washu-yama Skyline (Mt. Washu Expressway). Factories are shining in the dark and a thin veil of smog covers them from above

The Mizushima Industrial Complex at midnight

Pipeline of a paper factory located in Shikoku-chuo city in Ehime prefecture. There was a smell unique to pulp chips, and their fine particles hung in the air

Metallic, dull light like this always captures my mind

The night view of Tokuyama Industrial Region in Shunan city, Yamaguchi prefecture, seen from Mt. Taika. At night, there is no light on the top of the mountain and the only things you feel and hear are an intermittent breeze and the cries of night birds. But if you look into the distance you'll see the bustling view of lights and activity

A line of factories at Tokuyama Industrial Region continues close to the estuary on the opposite riverbank

Tokuyama Industrial Region in Shunan city, Yamaguchi prefecture, viewed from halfway up Mt. Taika

Factories! When night starts to fall they start shining, and their illuminated silhouettes loom mysteriously in the dark. Illuminated chimneys, pipelines, and factory buildings shine in dull, metallic hues. They look like looming castles that never sleep! The factories and plants in this industrial region, (it supported Japan through its postwar period of high economic growth), used to make this area shine brightly, like a City of Gold. However, the recent economic slump has forced them to reduce production, or to move production bases to overseas, and so the brilliant light of the entire area is sadly diminished. Although I know that we can't defy the change of the times, I want to see them shine out and shine bright as long as possible...