When entering any school it’s only natural to expect a noisy greeting from the sounds of the students within, but not in Nichitsu mining town, as an ever-dwindling number of children due to the gradual decline of the area’s mining activities meant the community’s school was eventually forced to close its doors in the early 1970s — a decision that now makes the institution a very different place indeed, even before one actually enters, with no need anymore to change from outdoor shoes, to indoor ones.
And where kids once careered down the corridors.
Or clattered in and out of classrooms, regardless of the rules.
There is now only silence.
A silence that’s all the more noticeable due to the signs of so many sounds — especially those made by the students who once studied here.
Like drums left discarded.
Or pianos that are now unplayable, let alone unplayed.
Plus a varied selection of recorded music. In this case a nostalgic piece of vinyl that for some reason T.M. didn’t take home.
Instead choosing to leave it behind in a room that’ll never again have any festive cheer funnelled through its speakers.
And in Japan, where all manner of rules are continually, almost religiously, repeated, this discarded and slightly damaged megaphone seems especially subdued.
Silently suggestive of the sounds that were once an integral, and no doubt sometimes irritating, part of the school.
For those interested, there are my original posts on Nichitsu, covering the doctor’s office, dwellings and day to day life of those who once lived there, as well as a more recent visit to the now further decayed doctor’s place.
Jason Collin Photography says
You should have brought some batteries and tried the old megaphone. If it worked, that could have scared the hell out of whoever was there with you.
Was this classroom scene still there:
http://www.jasoncollin.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/gunma-haikyo-urban-exploring-450.jpg
Lee says
We actually met somebody in there, which happened the first time too, so that was more than enough without the use of a megaphone.
Yeah, that classroom is still exactly the same, but it has been done to death, and it also didn’t fit with the story I wanted to tell. That said, it’s still a beautiful room.
brixter says
You can digg time capsules in old school such as this.
Tornadoes28 says
It looked like a happy place back in the day. Now it’s just kind of depressing.
Lee says
For me at least, it wasn’t quite depressing, as the school just gradually wound down, but it was certainly a little sad considering all the memories the place contains.
S in Shanghai says
Stunning pics Lee, I like the way you mix the old pics in. I’m not sure if it’s depressing, more melancholy I will say.
/S
Lee says
Thanks! Yeah, the old pics were a lucky find and a nice contrast. It’s always fascinating to see how things once were. And I agree, melancholy is probably the best way of describing it.
Lizzy says
Fantastic as always. I’m so jealous. Perhaps T.M. wasn’t really a fan of Christmas Carols. I’m sure s/he must’ve heard the record enough times to be quite done with it. ^_^
Lee says
Thanks Lizzy! Yeah, maybe. White Christmas could well have been as overplayed as Last Christmas is these days…
Rob says
Great pics as usual Lee 🙂 Thanks for posting these up.
Lee says
Thanks Rob. And you are more than welcome.
Florian says
Great pictures of a very, very interesting location! Too bad it’s in the middle of nowhere…
greetz says
Good it’s wonderful pics
Mark says
Fascinating set of pictures. For example the picture of the hallway of the school, with the sign ‘please don’t run’ (ã¨ã³ã ã—注æ„) It’s easy to imagine children giving life to that place in better times, giving it a very melancholic atmosphere. On my next visit to Japan, I’ll consider looking for one of these haikyo sites too.
Edsel says
Nice photos from here. I was out there about a week ago and it was a really nice place to explore. It looked like the first level floor in one section of the hallway was stating to cave in under the weight of some couches someone put on it.
Here is a link to my photos if you would like to check um out
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edsel12/sets/72157625160478099/