Hashima - Battleship Island

Hashima, Gunkanshima, Battleship island. Only 1 of 505 uninhabited islands off the coast of Nagasaki. The ancient Mitsubishi corporation bought this place during the industrialization of Japan back around the turn of the previous century. It became a coal mining facility, complete with typhoon proof sea walls. Tons of forcibly recruited workers from all over Asia were brought here and stuffed in huge concrete apartment blocks, especially during WWII. In the 60's, after the discovery of the wonder-element Petroleum, places like this were abandoned en mass. The bottom most photo depicts the infamous "Stairway to Hell."