Introduction
History of any country can be characterized by many controversial events and issues. Japan is no exception as the country’s 20th century’s policies concerning other nations still raise many questions. Hashima Island is one of the reminders of such controversies in history. The island bears two meanings as it is both a symbol of the industrial development of the country and the site of exploitation of Korean people who became victims of Japanese imperialism (Kasemets 99).
The recent debate on the inclusion of the island in the list of world heritage sites reveals the controversy. Interestingly, the outcome of the debate shows the contemporary people’s attitude towards such events that took place in the 20th century. This paper includes insights into the history of the island and provides a brief analysis of the significance of the site as well as the debate on the development of the human society in general and Asian societies in particular.
Historical Background
The rapid industrialization that took place at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century helped Japan transform from a feudal society to highly industrial and become one of the most developed countries. This industrial empowerment contributed to the development of imperialistic policies that characterize the Meiji period (McCurry par. 2). Japan invaded the Korean peninsula and introduced rather harsh policies that resulted in the hard labor of Korean people (Kim and Reynolds par. 5). Hashima Island was one of the sites where this exploitation could be easily traced.
The island had been uninhabited until the end of the 19th century. In 1890, Mitsubishi purchased Hashima island when coal was found there (Davidov 154). Several “high rise apartment complexes” were built to accommodate miners and their families (Davidov 154). People of different backgrounds worked there including forced laborers. Thus, it has been estimated that 800 Koreans worked there for one year only (1944-1945) (Bo-eun par. 5).
It is possible to assume that thousands of Koreans had to work there in the first part of the 20th century. The corporation tried to receive as much profit as possible and, hence, the population density was unprecedented. For example, in “its peak of production” the island had the “highest population density ever recorded” (Davidov 154). It is clear that such a small island could barely host all those workers.
The living conditions were quite specific. On the one hand, the apartments were very small as the major goal was to accommodate as many workers as possible. For instance, the population of the island was 83,500 people/km2 in 1959 (Kasemets 98). The workers had to live in certain isolation as they could rarely leave the island. On the other hand, the island had a hospital, school, sports facilities, bathhouse, cinema and graveyard (McCurry 27). More so, the apartments had the latest electrical appliances and the bills for electricity were very reasonable (1 yen per month) (McCurry 27).
However, the perks associated with living settings could not outweigh the harsh and often inhumane working conditions. For instance, the depths of some mines reached 1,000 meters. Seawater often seeped into the mines and workers were exposed to numerous skin infections (Bo-eun par. 7). The safety regulations at that period were almost non-existent, and laborers on Hashima Island had to work in very dangerous settings. Such hazardous gases as methane often accumulated and explosions were rather frequent (Bo-eun par. 8). It is necessary to stress that Korean, as well as Chinese workers, were assigned to work in the most toxic spots. The temperatures underground were very high and sometimes simply unbearable, which can be still observed as the mines’ roofs caved due to the specific conditions (Bo-eun par. 9).
There are numerous attempts of escapes, which is another evidence of the horrible conditions people had to work in. Moreover, after the Nagasaki bombing, miners from Hashima Island were sent to clean up the territory (Bo-eun par. 9). Many people were exposed to significant levels of radiation and developed various chronic disorders or even died. Nonetheless, even without atomic bombs, the inhumane working conditions resulted in numerous fatalities and caused the development of serious chronic disorders in laborers.
It is necessary to stress that Koreans were placed in a specifically harsh working environment. As has been mentioned above, Korean laborers often had to work in the most toxic sections. Apart from that, they were treated as second-class workers and discriminated all the time (McCurry 15). Numerous survivors tell stories about this discrimination as they want to make sure that people remember the horrible events that took place on the island.
In the second part of the 20th century, however, coal started losing its significance and became replaced by such energy sources as oil or natural gas. The coal mining industry started declining, which resulted in the closure of numerous mines. The facilities on Hashima Island also lost its profitability, and the company decided to shut the project down in 1974 (Davidov 154). The island was abandoned completely within three months (Kasemets 98). Clearly, all the buildings were abandoned and are now in the organic decay. In 2001, the island was handed over to local authorities (Bo-eun par. 10).
At present, the island is a tourist hot spot. Different people find different things when visiting the island. Many people see it as an illustration of the period of industrialization, others regarded it as a ghost of imperialism while some want to see the location where one of the Bond films was set (Schneider par. 6-7). Apart from being a popular touristic destination, the island is still a subject of certain controversy.
Contemporary Issues
The Japanese government placed a bid for the island’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2009. One of the arguments to make the island a site of the historical significance was the fact that it was “home to one of the first-ever residential structure to be made from reinforced concrete” (Synenko 176). Another reason for inclusion was articulated by Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister who noted that Hashima could be regarded as an illustration of the country’s technological progress (Kim and Reynolds par. 6). This view is quite popular among Japanese people due to a number of reasons.
On the one hand, the mines produced significant amounts of fossil fuels that fostered the development of Japanese industries. The effective industrialization made the country one of the key players in the global political arena. The country also became a significant military force that had a considerable political influence on other nations in the region. On the other hand, the island itself was an illustration of the technological progress. As has been mentioned above, the laborers’ apartments were equipped with the latest electric appliances. The urban space was also developed quite wisely and in accordance with trends that still exist in the world (Kasemets 99). The island is also a symbol of the wise use of resources and the background of the country’s evolution into one of the most developed nations.
However, the South Korean government strongly opposed the island’s inclusion in the list of world heritage sites. Koreans stress that the use of forced labor of 60,000 Koreans during the period between 1910 and 1945 made the island inappropriate for the world heritage status (McCurry Japan Sites Get World Heritage Status par. 3). It has been proved that many Koreans were brought to Hashima island against their will.
However, according to Koreans, Japanese officials are still reluctant to draw people’s attention to this fact. Korean officials stress that insignificant attention has been paid to the investigation of the events of that period, and many facts are still concealed. The Korean government sees the island as a symbol of the unprecedented exploitation and Japanese imperialistic policies that led to the deaths of many Koreans. Notably, Korean officials do not mind the inclusion of Hashima island per se, but they stress that it is the Japanese government’s responsibility to tell the entire truth about the island and the price people paid for the technological progress of the country (McCurry par. 17).
It is noteworthy that the reluctance of the South Korean government to let the place become a part of the world heritage is the issue concerning compensations. The Japanese government stresses that the country has been paying compensations to survivors. The Japanese officials emphasize that the country paid all the necessary compensations as a portion of $800 million “reparations package” that was agreed and reflected in the treaties of 1965 (McCurry Japan Sites Get World Heritage Status par. 9).
Nevertheless, the former workers still go to courts to make companies compensate for their exploitation. People try to receive the unpaid amount of money and an apology from the conglomerates (McCurry par. 25). At the same time, some of the former laborers state that they see the island as the symbol of their struggle. They note that they had really bad times, but the work on the island made them stronger, which helped them in the following years (McCurry par. 30).
The issue was resolved (or at least partially resolved) in 2015. Japanese officials declared their readiness to undertake certain measures that will develop “an understanding that there were a large number of Koreans and others who were brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions in the 1940s at some of the sites” (as quoted in Kim and Reynolds par. 2).
The foreign ministry of South Korea was satisfied with this statement and the Japanese government’s commitment to acknowledge the crimes of the past. At the same time, this cannot be seen as a complete solution to the problem as many issues are still in place. Compensations and the issues concerning sex slaves are still disputable, and countries, as well as individuals, are trying to find answers to these questions (Kim and Reynolds par. 10). Some Korean officials are still distrustful as they do not believe the Japanese government will publicize all the information concerning forced labor (Kim and Reynolds par. 9). Nevertheless, it is clear that countries are moving in the right direction and will be able to find solutions.
Significance
The case concerning the issue between Japan and Kore is very illustrative and has considerable significance. It helps understand the latest trends that are taking place in society. Thus, it is clear that people are willing to preserve their history and understanding of their past. Japan wants to celebrate its technological progress that enabled the country to be one of the most powerful nations in the 21st century. Koreans also want to make people know about their tragic past. They want other nations to acknowledge the events that contributed to the division of the nation into two countries.
At the same time, it is also clear that countries are still reluctant to shed light on the crimes of their ancestors. It took six years for Japan to acknowledge some facts concerning the crimes of the past. The country did not want to shed light on and draw people’s attention to the imperialistic policies the country adopted in the 19th and 20th centuries. Japanese officials chose to pay some amount of compensation and try to forget about the disgraceful past.
Nonetheless, the decision made shows that contemporary society is more open and is ready to boldly speak about dark pages of its history. Of course, it is rather untimely to state that Japan is ready to provide all the information concerning the exploitation of Koreans. According to Japanese officials’ statements, they are committed to sharing only some information and some facts concerning the use of forced labor. However, the shift in people’s minds is evident, and there are chances that the government will provide more information on various policies.
There is another important outcome of the deal the two governments made. The inclusion of Hashima island to the world heritage list is an example of the way old disagreements can be resolved. Many issues contribute to the tensed relations between Japan and South Korea. One of these issues has been resolved, and there are high chances that other issues can be diminished. The modern nations are trying to forget about hostility and develop proper relations. Clearly, this does not mean that crimes of the past should be forgotten. However, tension can be overcome through acknowledgment and forgiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to note that Hashima island was a symbol for Japanese and Korean people. However, the island had different meanings for the two nations. For the Japanese, it is a symbol of progress and development while it is a symbol of oppression and exploitation for the Koreans. The island’s inclusion into the list of World Heritage Sites is a sign of the shift in people’s worldview. It is clear that people are ready to acknowledge mistakes of the past and find ways to overcome tensions. This is a positive trend as it may result in the development of the true global society where nations effectively collaborate. Of course, there are still many things to do, and there are still forces that are against such an approach. Therefore, people of each country should make sure they are open and ready to change.
Works Cited
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Kim, Sam and Isabel Reynolds. “Japan Wins UNESCO Recognition After Yielding to South Korea.” Bloomberg Business. 2015. Web.
McCurry, Justin. “Battleship Island – A Symbol of Japan’s Progress or Reminder of Its Dark History.” The Guardian. 2015. Web.
“Japan Sites Get World Heritage Status After Forced Labour Acknowledgement.” The Guardian. 2015. Web.
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Synenko, Joshua. “Geospatial detritus: Mapping Urban Abandonment.” Global Change: Urban Imaginaries of Waste, Excess, and Abandonment. Ed. Christoph Lindner and Miriam Meissner. New York: Routledge, 2016. 165-181. Print.