Environmental Future city Kitakyushu

 

 

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Kitakyushu is the city of leading Global Environment

Kitakyushu-city has the long history of Environmental improvement since the pollution problem

experienced in 1960′.  Now Kitakyushu-city is leading World environment as the Environmental

Future City selected by Japanese Government and also designated as the first ‘ Model City for

Green Growth ‘ in Asia by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD) in 2011.

 

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The history of Environmental improvement

 

The History has commenced in 1901. The city once experienced the worst air pollution in Japan

and saw Dokai Bay turned into a “sea of death.” But it regained blue skies after overcoming its

pollution problem by the efforts of city, companies as well as the women’s association. Kitakyushu

City, once known as a “town of pollution,” now plays the role of the driving force in creating a

recycling-oriented society in Japan making use of the experience and know-how it accumulated

in the process of overcoming its pollution in order to provide international cooperation.

 

The city grew as an industrial city after the establishment of Yawata Steel Works in 1901. 
It led Japan during the period of modernization and high economic growth with a focus 
placed on heavy industry.

 

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Back then, plumes of smoke coming out of the steelworks were referred to as  “seven-colored

smoke” which was sung as part of the lyrics of the song of former Yahata City as it was regarded

as a symbol of prosperity. However, the prosperity of industries brought about severe pollution 

and quite naturally the “seven-colored smoke” polluted the air and caused dust deposition. 

 

In the 1960s, air pollution in the Kitakyushu area was the worst in Japan and Dokai Bay was turned

into a “sea of death” due to effluent from factories. It was citizens who first noticed this problem of

pollution. The city started to hear the voices of its residents saying such things as, “my house is

becoming sandy” and “the laundry gets dirty” from around 1950.

 

The Women’s Association in Tobata area stood up, investigated the problem themselves and asked

the council, administration and companies to take measures against pollution. ‘I Want Blue Sky’, a

documentary film produced by the Tobata Women’s Association in 1965 was what symbolized the

citizens’ campaign calling for measures against pollution.

 

Pushed by the voices of its citizens, the Kitakyushu administration started to take action to grasp 

the actual situation by measuring the level of air pollution. It then gave instructions and conducted 

on-site inspections at these companies urging them to take measures to improve the situation.

Finally, the city concluded a pact on pollution prevention with each plant and established the Council

on Air Pollution Prevention made up of the city, Fukuoka Prefecture, then Regional Bureaus of

International  Trade and Industry and about 30 companies in the city.

 

These companies responded by putting pollution control facilities in place as well as improving the

process of production.

In the meantime, the Air Pollution Control Act and Noise Regulation Act came into force in 1968 and

the following year, in 1969, a smog alert was issued for the first time in Japan. Fourteen pollution

control related bills passed the so-called ‘Pollution Diet’ in 1970.  Thus, public concern towards

pollution problems grew high throughout Japan while in Kitakyushu, the city and companies worked

hand in hand to tackle the pollution  problem which resulted in rapid improvement in the environment.

 

As a result, by around 1980, the blue sky came back to the town once covered with ‘ seven-colored

smoke.’ Furthermore, over 100 species of fish live in Dokai Bay which was once nicknamed the ‘sea

of death’ where not even bacteria could live. In 1985, the Organization for Economic Co-operation

and Development (OECD)  introduced Kitakyushu in its White Paper on the environment as a city

that transformed itself from a ‘Gray Town’ into a ‘Green Town.’ Also the city was selected as one of

the  ‘Starry Towns’ with a favorable atmospheric environment in the ‘Starry Town Contest’ 
held by the Environment Agency in 1987.

These initiatives by Kitakyushu City are highly recognized by the global society. In 1990,  the city

received the ‘Global 500 Award’, which is given by the UN Environment  Program (UNEP) to

individuals and organizations that combat environmental issues, and was the first local government

to win the Award in Japan. At the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, Kitakyushu

City was honored with the ‘Local Government Honors Award. The city is the only local government

to win the Award  in Japan.

 

In addition, the initiative towards a better environment was enhanced and it started the sorted

collection of cans and bottles in 1993. In 1998, a system in which residents are obliged to use

designated plastic bags for municipal waste started. In 2001, ‘Kitakyushu Expo-Festival 2001’ 

with the environment as a theme was held at Higashida area, an idle land owned by Nippon

Steel Corporation, where infrastructure improvement work was going on based on the concept

of ‘Kitakyushu Renaissance. Then, the concept of a ‘Green Village’ in Yahata Higashida began

in 2003. Thus, efforts towards a better environment advanced further.

 

As mentioned above, Kitakyushu was recognized as the ‘Environmental Model City’ together with

12 other local governments in 2008. The ‘Kitakyushu Asian Center for Low Carbon Society’ was

opened in 2010, and in 2011 the city was selected as a ‘Environmental Future City’ and also as

the first ‘Model City for Green Growth’ in Asia by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and

Development (OECD).

 

A new challenge as the driving force towards realizing a global low carbon society  has started 

in Kitakyushu City where Japanese industry started.

Plastic PET Bottle recycling

 

 

 

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Plastic PET Bottle recycling by Nishi-Nippon PET Recycling.  Based on the “Law for Recycling

of Containers and Packaging,” plastic (PET: polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are sorted by

municipalities and recycled into pellets/flakes, which can be used as raw materials for polyester

fibers, egg cartons.

 

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General information  

Address	1-62 Hibikimachi Wakamatsu, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka-prefecture
Access	A 30 minutes ride a vehicle from JR Kokura Station
Days of visit	Weekdays except Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays
Fee	No visiting fee is required
Booking	Japan KYUSHU Tourist can arrange the tour

 

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Kitakyushu Eco-Town Center

 

 

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Eco Project information center that supports the Eco-town.  It introduces initiatives and activities

implemented in Eco-town to encourage people to proactively used the facility for such activities

as environmental study sessions and interaction amongst visitors.

Kitakyushu Eco-Town is a project being developed after the city received approval from the central

government. It is composed of two main areas; a corporate park (Comprehensive Environmental

Industrial Complex, Hibiki Recycling Area) located in Hibikinada area in Wakamatsu Ward where the

majority of the companies engaged in the recycling business based on the Eco-Town Project, and a

practical research area where enterprises and universities conduct research.

 

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First Eco-Town Center in Japan opened in June, 2001

 

With an eye to building a “resource-recycling society,” Kitakyushu-city is engaged in the

‘Kitakyushu Eco-Town Project’ in which an environmentally-friendly society is formed by bringing

together recycling plants and research institutes. The Kitakyushu Eco-Town Center plays the role of

an information center that supports the Eco-Town. It introduces initiatives and activities implemented

in Eco-Town to encourage people to proactively use the facility for such activities as environmental

study sessions and interaction amongst visitors.

 

With visitors coming from all over Japan, the center takes reservations for visits as well as provides

tours of recycling plants and research facilities. Inside the center, technologies and products related

to the environment and recycling are exhibited while the details of the project of the Kitakyushu

Eco-Town Center are introduced on panels hanging on the wall. Furthermore, the center provides

facilities available for environmental study, exchange activities and research work.

 

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 General information  

・Address	10-20 Koyomachi Wakamatsu Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka-prefecture
・Access	A 30 minutes ride a vehicle from JR Kokura Station
・Opening hours	9h00 to 17h00
・Days Closed	Sunday, National holiday, December 29 through January 3
・Fee	No entrance fee is required
・Booking	Contact Japan KYUSHU Tourist for booking

 

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Environmental improvement history of Kiyakyushu

 

 

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The city once experienced the worst air pollution in Japan

 

Saw Dokai Bay turned into a “sea of death.” But it regained blue skies after

overcoming its pollution problem by the efforts of city, companies as well

as the women’s association.

 

Kitakyushu City, once known as a “town of pollution,” now plays the role of the driving 
force in creating a recycling-oriented society in Japan making use of the experience 
and know-how it accumulated in the process of overcoming its pollution in order to 
provide international cooperation.

 

The city grew as an industrial city after the establishment of Yawata Steel Works in 1901. 
It led Japan during the period of modernization and high economic growth with a focus 
placed on heavy industry.

 

 

Back then, plumes of smoke coming out of the steelworks were referred to as
 “seven-colored smoke” which was sung as part of the lyrics of the song of former 
Yahata City as it was regarded as a symbol of prosperity. However, the prosperity 
of industries brought about severe pollution and quite naturally the “seven-colored 
smoke” polluted the air and caused dust deposition. 
In the 1960s, air pollution in the Kitakyushu area was the worst in Japan and Dokai 
Bay was turned into a “sea of death” due to effluent from factories.

It was citizens who first noticed this problem of pollution. The city started to hear the 
voices of its residents saying such things as, “my house is becoming sandy” and 
“the laundry gets dirty” from around 1950. The Women’s Association in Tobata area 
stood up, investigated the problem themselves and asked the council, administration 
and companies to take measures against pollution. ‘I Want Blue Sky’, a documentary

film produced by the Tobata Women’s Association in 1965 was what symbolized the

citizens’ campaign calling for measures against pollution.

 

Pushed by the voices of its citizens, the Kitakyushu administration started to take action 
to grasp the actual situation by measuring the level of air pollution. It then gave 
instructions and conducted on-site inspections at these companies urging them to take

measures to improve the situation. Finally, the city concluded a pact on pollution 
prevention with each plant and established the Council on Air Pollution Prevention 
made up of the city, Fukuoka Prefecture, then Regional Bureaus of International 
Trade and Industry and about 30 companies in the city. These companies
responded by putting pollution control facilities in place as well as improving the process 
of production.

 

In the meantime, the Air Pollution Control Act and Noise Regulation Act came into 
force in 1968 and the following year, in 1969, a smog alert was issued for the first 
time in Japan. 

 

Fourteen pollution control related bills passed the so-called ‘Pollution Diet’ in 1970. 
Thus, public concern towards pollution problems grew high throughout Japan while in

Kitakyushu, the city and companies worked hand in hand to tackle the pollution 
problem which resulted in rapid improvement in the environment.

 

As a result, by around 1980, the blue sky came back to the town once covered with ‘
seven-colored smoke.’ Furthermore, over 100 species of fish live in Dokai Bay which 
was once nicknamed the ‘sea of death’ where not even bacteria could live.

In 1985, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 
introduced Kitakyushu in its White Paper on the environment as a city that transformed 
itself from a ‘Gray Town’ into a ‘Green Town.’ Also the city was selected as one of the 
‘Starry Towns’ with a favorable atmospheric environment in the ‘Starry Town Contest’ 
held by the Environment Agency in 1987.

These initiatives by Kitakyushu City are highly recognized by the global society. In 1990, 
the city received the ‘Global 500 Award’, which is given by the UN Environment 
Program (UNEP) to individuals and organizations that combat environmental issues, 
and was the first local government to win the Award in Japan. At the Earth Summit 
held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992, Kitakyushu City was honored with the ‘Local 
Government Honors Award. The city is the only local government to win the Award 
in Japan.

 

In addition, the initiative towards a better environment was enhanced and it started the 
sorted collection of cans and bottles in 1993. In 1998, a system in which residents are 
obliged to use designated plastic bags for municipal waste started. In 2001, 
‘Kitakyushu Expo-Festival 2001’ with the environment as a theme was held at 
Higashida area, an idle land owned by Nippon Steel Corporation, where infrastructure
improvement work was going on based on the concept of ‘Kitakyushu Renaissance.
Then, the concept of a ‘Green Village’ in Yahata Higashida began in 2003.
Thus, efforts towards a better environment advanced further.

As mentioned above, Kitakyushu was recognized as the ‘Environmental Model City’ 
together with 12 other local governments in 2008. The ‘Kitakyushu Asian Center for 
Low Carbon Society’ was opened in 2010, and in 2011 the city was selected as a 
‘Environmental Future City’ and also as the first ‘Model City for Green Growth’ in 
Asia by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

A new challenge as the driving force towards realizing a global low carbon society 
has started in Kitakyushu City where Japanese industry started.

 

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Kurogane Railway

 

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Dedicated Railway for Yawata Steel Works. The railway connected between Yawata and

Tobata, construction work took three years, and completed in 1930. The most difficult

and hard work was making Miyatayama tunnel with a total length of 1180 m due to suffering

from floods. The gates of the Miyatayama tunnel are decorated with stately designs.

 

The rail way crossing the road

Miyatayama tunnel Yahata side

Miyatayama tunnel Tobata side

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General information  

Address

Connected between Higasida, Yahata-higasiku and Nalabaru, Tobota-ku, Kitakyushu-city

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Kokura Castle Garden

 

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Kokua Castle Garden made at the former site of Shitayashiki (lord’s guest house) located

next to Kokura Castle. This garden consists of a Japanese garden and a daimyo yashiki 

(a lord’s house), a building of the Shoin-zukuri type (a style of Japanese domestic architecture).

In this garden, not only can you see Japanese traditional architecture, but also enjoy the Tea

Ceremony at the Experience Zone.

 

Japanese Garden

 

Japanese Cultural Experience 

Time to enjoy dressing in Kimono, tea ceremony experience, and Rickshaw riding experience 

Kokura Castle Garden and Kokura Castle. You can also take beautiful photographs in this location

to provide you with wonderful memories and recollection of your visit to Kokura.

 

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Mojiko Station

 

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It is the only Station building that is designated as an Important National Cultural Property 

together with Tokyo Station. Mojiko Station is a beautiful station built in the Renaissance 

style and modeled on the Termini Station in Italy. 

 

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Kyushu Railway (nowadays JR Kyushu) began rail services between Mojiko Station 

and Takase Station in 1891 and the Station building was built in 1914.

 

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This was the first railway in Kyushu and subsequently Mojiko prospered greatly as a gateway 

to the Kyushu region after that.

 

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This was the first railway in Kyushu and subsequently Mojiko prospered greatly as a

gateway to the Kyushu region after that.

 

 

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General information  

Address	1-5-31 Nishikaigan, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka-city
Access	13 minutes by a JR local train from JR Kokura station

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Kokura Castle

 

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Kokura was the transportation hub from Honshu and all areas of Kyushu during Edo

period from 17th to 19th century. The Castle town was constructed in the Kokura and

Kokura Castle was build in 1602 and spent 7 years construction at the north side of

Kokura facing to Kanmon strait and next to Murasaki river.

The height of Castle tower is 6th tallest in Japan after Himeji Castle.

The castle had a fivefold and six layered donjon and it was built in the architectural 

style called “Kara-zukuri”.

You can take many photos of traditional Japanese scenery that you have never

seen before.

 

Castle tower

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Moat around Castle tower

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Around Castle 

 

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Kanmonkyo bridge

 

 

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Kanmonkyo Bridge is the suspended bridge crossing the Kanmon Straits, a stretch of water

separating two of Japan’s four main islands. On the Honshu side of the bridge is Shimonoseki

and on the Kyushu side is Kitakyushu-city.  The Kanmonkyo bridge was opened to vehicles

in 1973 and connected the Kyushu Expressway in 1984. It is the 34^th largest suspension bridge

in the world with a central span of 712 meters.

 

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Kanmon Strait

The Kanmon Straits, separating Honshu and Kyushu, is a very busy waterway with as many as

700 small and large ships a day passing through it. There are a total of seven ways to cross the

straits such as the 1,068-meter-lomg “Kanmon-kyo Bridge”, the “Shin-Kanmon Tunnel” , the

“Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel”, to cross on foot, the “ferries”, and the like.

 

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Konamon Pedestrian tunnel

Only the place in the world !   You can cross the strait on foot. The Kanmon Strait, separating

Honshu and Kyushu, is a very beautiful and busy waterway with as many as 700 small and 

large ships a day passing through it.

 

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General information  

 

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Uomachi & Kyomachi Shopping street

 

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Uomachi and Kyomachi Ginteigai are the arcade downtown shopping streets connected from

JR Kokura Station. The literal meaning of Gintengai is the Silver roof arcade shopping street

and Uomachi Gintengai is the birth place of Japanese arcade shopping street constructed in

1991. Now, there are many kind of fantastic shops and restaurant along the street.

 

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