The Strata of Time by Seido Kino | World Photography Organisation

Depopulation #1

Several elementary schools in the mid-mountainous areas of the San-in region are scheduled for consolidation shortly after their 150th anniversary. The number of students, which once numbered more than 100, has been drastically reduced to only a few students per grade level. The town's population has been reduced by half since Japan's rapid economic growth period, as young people have been pouring out to the cities. (Collaborate with Hiromu SAEKI)

Depopulation #2

The Hii River, which flows through Shimane Prefecture, is a raging river that is compared to the mythical eight-forked serpent. The overflows were so great that dams have been constructed upstream for flood control and water utilization. The construction was completed more than half a century after it was conceived, and the residents of the area today are living away from the land of their ancestors. (Collaborate with Hiroshi HASHIMOTO)

Depopulation #3

In Shimane Prefecture, the ancient iron manufacturing industry known as "tatara" has created corporate castle towns even in mountainous areas. The entire village was crowded with people making large rice cakes for celebrations. As Japan as a whole shifted to modern iron manufacturing using blast furnaces, the village now focuses on forestry, food, and tourism industries, and is enthusiastic about revitalizing the community. (Collaborate with Yoshida Exchange Center)

Depopulation #4

The Hirose Railway opened in Shimane Prefecture in the 1920s. The line was planned by residents in the Hirose district, which prospered as the castle town. Due to the development of motorization during the rapid economic growth and depopulation along the line, the number of passengers and freight decreased, and the aging facilities could not be renewed, so the train was discontinued. (Collaborate with Iwao YAMAMOTO)

Depopulation #5

In order to extract the iron sand required for Tatara iron manufacturing, "iron pit sinking" was practiced everywhere. The wasteland was not abandoned after mining was completed, but was planted with buckwheat noodles and turnips, and cattle and horses were grazed to cultivate the soil, which was then used as rice fields, constituting a recycling-oriented industry. (Collaborate with Shungo SHISHIDO)

Urbanization #1

The rapid economic growth in the coastal areas of the Sanyo region attracted large factories to the coastal areas and workers from all over Japan. The population doubled. To secure housing, mountains were cut down and apartment complexes were built. Later, as Japan became more affluent, urban areas shifted from housing complexes to single-family homes, which is how the cityscape looks today. (Collaborate with Isegaoka Primary School)

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Fukuyama City of Hiroshima Prefecture was chosen by Nippon Kokan Corporation as the construction site for a new steelwork. In those years, it was trendy for provincial cities to invite corporations to come and set up their plants. Fukuyama City was successful in riding the wave of this initiative. However, some local people were unhappy about the changes in the familiar landscape. (Collaborate with Takayoshi NAGAI)

Urbanization #4

During the period of rapid economic growth, trains carrying the growing number of people to the urban areas of Sanyo were also overflowing with passengers. The rate of train ridership far exceeded that of today's packed trains in Tokyo, showing a record of Japan as a developing country. Recently, the luxury sleeper train "Mizukaze" runs regularly on the same track, taking the affluent travelers. (Collaborate with Kaneyuki FUJIMOTO)

Urbanization #5

In Fukuyama city, 80% of the urban area was bombed and destroyed during the war. One of the national treasures called Fukuyama Castle was also destroyed. After the war, the high economic growth of Japan dramatically changed the appearance of the city. The city estimated that its population would double. By riding the wave of industrialization, Fukuyama became wealthy and Fukuyama Castle was rebuilt. (Collaborate with Tetsuo NAGASAWA)

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