Haikyo

After a detour through Nitchitsu mining town’s doctor’s office, and then a peek at how the long gone residents once played, the last thing to do is look at their lodgings. A path that, starting off at the top of the town, began with some surprisingly well preserved apartments, indicating that they were vacated later than many of the other places, or alternatively were briefly returned to at a later date.

Yet that said, the last time they were used was still well before Japan had mastered the art of miniaturising music players,

and way before CDs were even considered, let alone called for.

Still, just like today, televisions were an integral part of the home, although perhaps not in this rather immoderate, almost Elvis-esque manner. 

But, with no satellite or cable, the meagre amount of channels obviously had to be supplemented somewhat; however, some of the choices were more than a bit suspect to say the least. And, should you want to, you can see a picture of someone’s personal collection here, but it should be stressed that it is decidedly disgusting and definitely not safe for work — or indeed what could be deemed as ideal before dinner. Plus, erm, animal lovers may want to look away. Or not as the case may be. 

Anyway, moving further down the mountain and far away from such material, the ageing process begins to become more prominent, yet there is still a strange sense that many people left only yesterday. At the last minute.

And in more than a bit of a rush.

Meaning they had to leave lots of belongings behind.

However, dolls or no dolls, domiciles still begin to deteriorate,

and when nature starts to take over,

nothing it seems,

can stop the wearing effects of weeds and the weather,

not even wardrobes.

And as such, these apartments and some other parts of the town may unfortunately not last much longer.

Which would be sad to say the least.

If you haven’t seen them already, and you feel like having a look, here are links to Part 1: A visit to the doctors, and Part 2: A day in the life.

For the long gone residents of Nitchitsu mining town, the decidedly disturbing doctor’s office was definitely not the place to be, but for those well enough, there were predictably places of work,

although needless to say, any note taking is now unnecessary.

And similarly silent is the restaurant which, as well as being ramshackle,

has a restroom that is more than a bit risky.

The town’s sole supermarket is not surprisingly also in a shocking state of disarray,

but at least the lack of stock means it’s considerably quieter than most Japanese stores.

Which is a bit like bath time.

Meaning the community feel is largely lost forever, with the town emblem,

and a huge tatami room,

only hinting at what must have been much happier times.

But sadness can also be a bit sinister, or it certainly is when sauntering round the small school in semi-darkness, as the ‘naughty seat’ is now in no way to be taken lightly,

and for those that are sick, the radio conjures up little comfort.

Plus there’s no point in calling for help either,

as the corridors will continue to be conspicuously quiet.

(click images for higher-res haikyo)

In the third and final part, I look at what’s left of the lodgings, and for those of you that missed it, part 1 looks at the decidedly disturbing doctor’s office.

Situated a good 3 hour drive from western Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture’s Nitchitsu mining town housed around 3,000 people at its peak in 1965, but now, any life is long gone, and the mountain’s iron and zinc remains unmoved.

When things finally wound down, however, many of the town’s inhabitants appear to have travelled lightly, leaving behind a lot of their belongings — the doctor in particular packing only important stuff. So his containers of monstrous,

and probably best left mysterious paraphernalia still remain,

along with all manner,

of medicine.

Surgical instruments too were also seen as secondary,

with rusty,

and wretched looking things,

still randomly scattered about.

As are the ex-residents records.

Meaning that while certain surgical procedures could still be performed, it wouldn’t be particularly pleasant,

although there is still be a comfy-ish bed for convalescence.

(click images higher-res horrors)

In Nitchitsu mining town haikyo #2: A day in the life, I take a look at the way those that were well worked, rested and played, and in Nitchitsu mining town haikyo #3: Home sweet home, a look at their lodgings.

Also, for more haikyo, there are images here of an abandoned house, hospital, cable car station, sports hotel complex, restaurant and love hotel.