Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 206

MOJI AND SHIMONOSEKI

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These two towns are situated on either side of Shimonoseki Straits, the western entrance of the Inland Sea-Moji with a population of 122,798 one the south and Shimonoseki with a population of 162,100 on the north. Shimonoseki (recently amalgamated with Hikoshima Island-population 126,385), is under the jurisdiction of Yamaguchi (population 130,000), 51 miles away, and Moji under that of Fukuoka (population 302,068) 47 miles away. The foreign merchants formerly all had their offices in Shimonoseki, but owing to the very rapid growth of Moji during the last 30 years, due mainly to its becoming an important coal and industrial centre, most of the foreign and Japanese main and local branch offices have removed to Moji. The city has now fine roads, and commercial buildings with most up to date tram, bus and motor car services. The head office of the Kyushu section of the Railway Bureau at Moji controls also part of the mainland and the eight hour Fusan ferry service. An imposing Government building houses the Customs Harbour, Marine Bureaux, etc., at Moji, and now wharves, capable of mooring steamers drawing 30 feet, are made nearby. Moji has important trade with the following neighbouring cities:-- Kokura, population 135,000; Yawata (Government Steel Works) 250,000; Tobata 77,556; Wakamatsu, 77,307 and Moji has absorbed the adjacent town of Dairi (on the west side), where there are now many factories and some foreigners' offices. There is a fairly strong tidal current through the Straits, but the anchorage, which is at Moji, is only affected by an eddy, and good holding ground is general. However, most of the larger vessels engage one of the numerous Buoys controlled by the Harbour Master. Steamers entering from the West can get pilots at Rokuren Light, where boats have to stop in any case for medical inspection and harbour-master's instructions. From the eastward this inspection takes place at Hesaki Light. Means of transport are good. Liners run regularly to all foreign ordinary ports of call; and, while from Shimonoseki the Sanyo Railway taps the north, from Moji the Kiushiu Railway taps the south of Japan. The Shimonoseki Station Hotel provides good accom- modation for foreigners. The Imperial Railway Department has also four large ferry boats plying between Moji and the Shimonoseki Station, while a ten-minute ferry plies between the usual landing places at Moji and Shimonoseki. A tunnel is now being made under the straits and will take at least 4 years to complete. Both towns have municipal waterworks, are lit by electricity, and are connected by telephone with the principal towns, from Kagoshima and Nagasaki in the south, to Tokyo in the north east. It should be specially noted that photographing and sketching are forbidden within a radius of ten miles round Shimonoseki and Moji on land and sea. The law in this respect is strictly enforced and ignorance is not accepted as an excuse.

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