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Jan 26 2010 16 Comments

Silent and now abandoned seminar house #1

Tucked away on an Izu hillside overlooking the Sagami Sea, the Okawa Seminar House, presumably once bustling with students and lecturers alike, is now not only silent, but slowly disintegrating.

abandoned Japanese building

But thankfully not enough, at least as far as the latter is concerned, to erase the signs of its one-time owner, Tokyo’s Nihon University — reminders of which are randomly dotted around the somewhat deceptively large complex.

abandoned Japanese building

However, why the facility closed its doors and said no to more seminars isn’t clear, and it’s arguably rather strange, at least considering the state it has been left in, when one considers that the University is the biggest such institution in Japan, boasting a colossal 68,000 undergraduates. Yet nevertheless close it did, and calendars along with long unread notices suggest that it was the best part of two decades ago when it did.

A situation that means the building’s numerous rows of desks have been silently sitting unused for an awfully long time.

abandoned Japanese building

And the blackboards are now only covered in grime,

abandoned Japanese building

or the names of groups.

abandoned Japanese building

Plus, away from the confines of academia, the games room is equally ghostly.

abandoned Japanese building

Leaving the corridors free to be roamed alone, with once locked doors no longer a problem.

abandoned Japanese building

Meaning plenty of rooms to peruse.

abandoned Japanese building

And the odd piece of apparatus to ponder.

abandoned Japanese building

Although a fire, unfortunately,

abandoned Japanese building

would pose much more of a problem.

abandoned Japanese building

But in time even that will be irrelevant, if in fact it isn’t already, as nature is slowly,

abandoned Japanese building

but surely,

abandoned Japanese building

taking back the building.

abandoned Japanese building

Next week, in part 2, I attempt something a little bit different, and take a close and concentrated look at a single piece of furniture found in the office.

Categorized: Haikyo, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Conti says

    1/26/2010 at 3:33 pm

    First time comment but big fan of your haikyo pictures. Really like the extinguisher.

    More please. Thanks!

    C

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/26/2010 at 9:27 pm

      Thanks! I certainly hope there’ll be more. Many more if I can find them.

      Reply
  2. JJ's Japanese Idols says

    1/26/2010 at 4:05 pm

    I love to see how nature takes over abandoned properties like this, though I prefer the ones that have been abandoned for 100 years or more, you can find something amazing everywhere. These pic’s are still awesome though.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/26/2010 at 9:33 pm

      Yeah, nature’s advance (along with left behind personal possessions) are what I find the most fascinating. I can’t really explain why either, but there’s something incredibly beautiful about vines and the like coming through windows and across floors.

      Reply
  3. Katie says

    1/26/2010 at 5:01 pm

    Reminds me of the Emperor and his sibling’s domicile in ‘IZO’ – a beautifully decomposing haikyo, whether a set construct or real location I don’t know.

    Reply
  4. Kafkaesque! says

    1/26/2010 at 5:47 pm

    Great pics. I like the one with the helmet the most.

    Reply
  5. Rob says

    1/26/2010 at 10:01 pm

    Another great set of pics Lee. Looking forward to the next installment ^^

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/26/2010 at 10:28 pm

      Cheers Rob! Not sure if the next installment will work or not to be honest, but I’m keen to try a slightly different approach.

      Reply
  6. Kirk says

    1/29/2010 at 12:21 am

    Just found your blog, very cool pictures! I have never been to Japan but I am going to check in on your site and follow for updates.
    I particularly liked the second to last shot with the vines coming in and taking over.

    Keep up the good work

    Reply
  7. Tornadoes28 says

    1/29/2010 at 1:44 pm

    Rust and corrosion are so common in Japan. But that fire extinguisher is amazing how the entire tank is just disintegrating from rust. Cool.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/29/2010 at 5:09 pm

      Yeah, I was struck by the fire extinguisher too. Despite all the haikyo I’ve visited, I’ve never seen one rust quite like that before.

      Reply
  8. Len says

    2/1/2010 at 12:25 am

    1.) I’ve been enjoying your shots from various abandoned places.
    2.) I’m quite struck by how many places you’re finding…and gaining access to. Are there really that many places left like that? And it’s amazing how many seemingly useful things are also left, like chairs and tables.
    3.) Have you seen a certain abandoned hospital in the greater Tokyo area? I’m not familiar with the name, but I’ve heard it’s rather famous as a haunted place.

    Thanks, Lee!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/1/2010 at 10:24 am

      Glad to hear you enjoyed the pictures Len.

      There are quite a number of haikyo about, but to be fair the vast majority of them I have found through this book, although there have been a handful that I’ve found myself. And yeah, the stuff left behind never ceases to amaze me either. That’s definitely what makes the places interesting for me.

      As for the hospital, if it’s the Keishin Hospital in Kanagawa you are thinking of, then, yes, I’ve been there. There are pictures here in part1 and part 2. No ghosts though. Just people like me and schoolies playing truant.

      Reply
  9. Magdalena Phoenyx says

    2/2/2010 at 5:55 am

    I’ve just recently become a fan of your stuff… fabulous pictures! I really really love this series, abandoned buildings have always been a source of fascination for me. Keep it up!

    Reply
  10. Lurker says

    7/22/2011 at 2:03 pm

    I would have a hard time keeping myself from taking that little floor lamp the hard hat is sitting on. I don’t want to thieve…

    Reply

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