- No-39
- Mutsurejima Lighthouse
 |
now loading
|
 |
-
■ Commentary
Mutsurejima Lighthouse is situated on the western entrance of the Kanmon Straits. Construction began in October 1870, and the following year it was completed and lit. It was the third lighthouse west of Kobe and is the oldest modern lighthouse in the prefecture. It was established on the west entrance to the straits at the same time as Hesaki Lighthouse.
The fact that a lighthouse was established here was impacted by the Shimonoseki bombardments, which were carried out by the combined 4-country fleet after the Choshu Domain incited the war to expel foreigners was incited by the Choshu Domain. Since the country was opened up to the world, ports opened in various places and trade began, causing the Japanese political situation and economy to become unstable. Opportunities to protest the open-port policy grew for supporters of the expulsion of foreigners to protest the open-port policy, and in 1863 the Choshu Domain that was central to this movement to expel foreigners attacked an American trade ship, and French and Dutch battleships that passed through the Kanmon Straits. To retaliate, a fleet from the United States, Britain, France, and the Netherlands fired on Shimonoseki in August 1864.
Within the Domain, Shunsuke Ito (Hirobumi) of the Choshu Domain, who had hurriedly returned from studying overseas in Britain and Monta Inoue (Kaoru) endeavored to avoid fighting, but their efforts were in vain. Fighting began on August 5th. However, the Choshu army lacked technical strength and equipment compared againstto the sophisticated ammunition used by the combined 4-country fleet, and that disparity was plain.
The combined fleet disembarked its landing force and completely destroyed the Shimonoseki batteries in 3 days. Later, Shinsaku Takasugi engaged in negotiations and peace was established on August 14th. The Choshu Domain accepted terms that included the ability for foreign ships to freely pass, the sale of goods needed by foreign ships such as coal and food, and the removal of the Shimonoseki batteries.
An exorbitant indemnity of 3 million dollars was demanded from the Choshu Domain by the triumphant countries on the premise that it would be impossible to pay. The unreasonable indemnity was undertaken not by the Choshu Domain, but the Meiji government that continued to pay it up until the middle of the Meiji period (1868–1912).
Furthermore, the demand was made to use part of that indemnity to open ports and establish lighthouses financed by Japan so that foreign ships could safely enter port. One of those is Mutsurejima Lighthouse. Together with Hesaki Lighthouse they were called twin lighthouses and became guideposts for ships passing through the Seto Island Sea to Hyogo (Kobe Port).
The stone tower is made of granite, stands 4.15 meters tall, and has a diameter of 4.7 meters. The round annex attached to the tower is also made of stone and stands 3.4 meters high. The lantern sitting atop the tower is copper on the top and iron on the bottom.
The cost at the time of its construction was 10,310 yen. As with Hesaki Lighthouse, it was also designed by Richard Henry Brunton, the “father of Japanese lighthouses.” Under the on-site supervision of the foreigner, John Mitchel, Japanese stonemasons were employed to complete construction. -
■ Information
Address：Mutsurejima, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Tel： 093-321-1481 (Moji Coast Guard)
Parking：Not available
Hours : なし
Closed : なし
Fee : なし
Other/Notifications：Only the exterior can be viewed
URL: -
■Category
Category: Constituent cultural properties
Genre: Story 2
Areas:Shimonoseki area
| BACK | |
now loading
|
|
NEXT |
Go to this place |
 |
