Why They Built a High-Rise City on a Tiny Rock

In 1959, a tiny sixteen-acre rock off the coast of Japan was home to over five thousand residents. Owned entirely by Mitsubishi, this self-contained corporate island boasted a population density nine times greater than Tokyo. It was a place where families lived in the country's very first reinforced concrete high-rises, all while living directly above a labyrinth of coal mine shafts plunging miles beneath the ocean floor. In this documentary, we explore the incredible engineering and brutal working conditions that defined life on Battleship Island. You will learn how a desolate reef was transformed into a hyper-dense metropolis, the reasons behind its sudden evacuation in 1974, and how it eventually became a haunting monument of industrial decay and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. #history #japan #abandoned Support the Channel by becoming a member 👉    / @itshistory   Request an episode here 👉 https://forms.gle/siuafjjyP8iHjQ2MA IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.    • IT'S HISTORY 🔥 Trending   » Subscribe:    / @itshistory   » Listen podcasts: https://ffm.bio/itshistory » CONTACT For brands, agencies, and sponsorships: [email protected] Click here to book a sponsorship with me http://thoughtleaders.io/reserve/its-... » DISCLAIMER Some media elements in this video are used under the fair use provisions of U.S. copyright law (Title 17, Section 107) for purposes of commentary, criticism, and education. If you believe your image or content was used in a way that violates your rights, please contact us at [email protected] » CREDIT Scriptwriter - Ryan Socash Editor - Karolina Szwata Host - Ryan Socash » NOTICE Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.