by Whitney Matthews
Gunkanjima: A “Battleship” of Industrial History in Nagasaki
With its rich nature and history, Nagasaki Prefecture offers many fascinating places to visit. One unique place in Nagasaki I recommend visiting is Hashima Island, commonly known as Gunkanjima (“Battleship Island”) due to its shape.
I first became interested in Gunkanjima when I was a university student, and I gave a presentation about the island for my Japanese class. Gunkanjima is small―only 6.3 hectares in area―but at one time it had a population of over 5,000 people. This means that Gunkanjima had the highest population density in the world! Most of these people worked in the coal mines below the island, or they were family members of the workers. In addition to housing, the tiny island featured shops, schools, hospitals, a shrine, and even a movie theater. An entire community of people lived, worked, and went to school on the island.
Starting in the late 1800s, Gunkanjima was inhabited for several decades. However, the mine stopped producing coal, and it was closed in 1974. Because the mine closed, all of the remaining workers had to leave the island to find jobs elsewhere. Then, the island became empty. The buildings on Gunkanjima remained and gradually became ruins.
島に残る建物群から、かつての暮らしの気配を感じることができます。
The island was closed to the public until 2009, when boat tours to the island began. When you go on a tour, you may not be able to set foot on the island. This is because the boat may have trouble docking due to rough seas. So, if you get to land, you’re lucky! I went on a tour, and I was fortunate to be able to land. The tour company I used even gave everyone a certificate commemorating our successful landing.
天候や海の状況によっては上陸できないことも。上陸できたら、とても幸運です。
Most of the island was still closed, and I was limited to a small walking area on one side of the island. But I was still able to see many of the decaying structures. I imagined how they looked decades ago when they were full of life. The contrast between past and present made me feel sad. Thanks to interest from the public, however, Gunkanjima has a hopeful future. Gunkanjima became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015 as part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. Also, a research base was recently built on the island. It is the first new building on Gunkanjima in 56 years! This facility is dedicated to studying and preserving the island’s structures. I hope to visit again someday, and I encourage everyone to go see Gunkanjima for yourself.
ミニ解説+クイズ by 高橋美由紀(愛知教育大学名誉教授)
今回の英文では、長崎の軍艦島が紹介され、かつてのにぎわいと現在の静かな姿が対比されながら、その独特の魅力が語られています。筆者は、島が世界遺産に登録されたことや、保存のための研究施設が建てられたことに触れ、過去の姿に思いをはせつつも、未来への希望を感じています。この「過去と現在のコントラスト」と「未来への期待」が、筆者が軍艦島に強く惹かれている理由だと読み取れます。こうした外国人の視点から、日本の産業の歩みを見つめ直すことは、異文化理解だけでなく、自国の歴史や文化への新たな気づきにつながります。生徒たちが英語を通して日本を再発見する貴重な学びとなっています。
語彙
population density = 人口密度
inhabited = 人が住んでいる
ruins = 廃墟
dock = 接岸する
commemorating = 記念する
decaying structures = 崩れかけた建物
facility = 施設
表現・フレーズ
commonly known as ~ = 一般的に〜として知られている
was closed to the public = 一般公開されていなかった
set foot on the island = 島に上陸する
if you get to land, you’re lucky = 上陸できたらラッキーだ
full of life = 活気にあふれている
is dedicated to ~ = 〜に専念している、〜のための
文法的に難しい構造
Gunkanjima is small―only 6.3 hectares in area―but at one time it had a population of over 5,000 people.
挿入句で情報を追加している。
The contrast between past and present made me feel sad.
抽象名詞 contrast + make 人 原形 の構文。
Thanks to interest from the public, however, Gunkanjima has a hopeful future.
Thanks to ~ = 〜のおかげで
Part 1: 内容理解度クイズ
Q1. What is Gunkanjima’s nickname based on?
A. Its color
B. Its shape
C. Its history
D. Its size
Q2. At its peak, how many people lived on Gunkanjima?
A. About 500
B. About 1,000
C. Over 5,000
D. Over 10,000
Q3. Why did people leave the island in 1974?
A. A big storm destroyed the island
B. The coal mine closed
C. The island became too crowded
D. The government banned living there
Q4. Which of the following shows the writer’s feelings?
A. The island is boring now.
B. The island has no future.
C. The contrast of past and present made the writer sad.
D. The writer didn’t care about the island.
Q5. True or False
You can always land on Gunkanjima during a tour.（ True / False ）
解答：Q1 B / Q2 C / Q3 B / Q4 C / Q5 False
Part 2: Short Answer
Q6. Why does the writer think Gunkanjima has a “hopeful future”?
解答例：Because it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Because a new research facility was built to preserve the island.
Part 3: Bonus Challenge
Q7. If you could visit Gunkanjima, what would you like to see or learn?
（日本語でも英語でもOK）
例：I want to see the old buildings.
I want to learn about the people who lived there.
チャレンジクイズ
1. 穴埋めクイズ
英文を読んで、（ ）に入る語を選びなさい。
1. Gunkanjima once had over ( ) people living on the island.
A. 500 B. 5,000 C. 50,000
答え：B. 5,000
2. The island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in ( ).
A. 2009 B. 2015 C. 1974
答え：B. 2015
2. 並べ替えクイズ
語句を並べ替えて正しい英文を作りなさい。
3. lived / people / many / island / the / on
答え：Many people lived on the island.
4. land / lucky / you / are / to / you / if / get
答え：You are lucky if you get to land.
3. True or False
本文の内容と一致していれば 〇、一致していなければ ×を書きなさい。
5. The writer could not land on the island during the tour.（ ）
答え：×（False）
6. Gunkanjima had schools, shops, and even a movie theater.（ ）
答え：〇（True）
4. 三択クイズ
7. Why did people leave Gunkanjima in 1974?
A. The island became too dangerous.
B. The coal mine closed.
C. A big storm destroyed the island.
答え：B. The coal mine closed.
5. 推理クイズ
8. Why does the writer feel “sad” when visiting the island?
A. Because the island is too crowded now.
B. Because the island looks very different from its lively past.
C. Because the writer didn’t like the tour.
答え：B. Because the island looks very different from its lively past.
6. ボーナス
9. What part of Gunkanjima would YOU like to see?（日本語でも英語でもOK）
※自由回答のため正解なし
例：I want to see the old apartment buildings.
I want to learn about the coal mine.
Whitney Matthews
ウィットニー・マッシューズ / 米国ジョージア州出身、東京大学本部勤務。小学校時代に漢字に魅了され、日本語を学びたいと西海岸の大学へ。そこからさらに日本へ。2006年の1年間の交換留学を経て、2008年に本格来日。それから早くも16年（2024年時点）。休暇には日本人のあまり行かない「秘境」や「穴場」を求めて方々を探索中。
