Conflict zones
A new spat over Japan’s wartime history draws in the United Nations
THE industrial ruins of Hashima, off the coast of Nagasaki, were the scene of a showdown in “Skyfall”, a James Bond film. Now the battleship-shaped island is the cause of a real-life conflict. Coal from its undersea mines helped fuel Japan’s development during the Meiji era of 1868-1912. The government has applied for the island, and 22 other sites, to be granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in recognition of their role.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Conflict zones”
From the May 30th 2015 edition
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