Somvang Ouanlasy 

(KPL) Modern industry in Japan began in the City of Kitakyushu when the Government-owned Yahata Steel Works, boasting the nation’s first modern blast furnace, was established in 1901.

The Kitakyushu Industrial Zone, one of the country’s four major industrial zones, supported national high growth. On the other hand, this high growth was accompanied by serious industrial pollution. 

Kitakyushu City has been developed as a heavy and chemical industrial zone specializing in such fields as iron and steel, chemicals, and ceramic industries. However, the sudden economic growth and urbanization since the 1960's has caused air, water and other pollution. To cope with these problems, Kitakyushu City set up the regulations and programme necessary for environmental conservation, including pollution prevention.

The citizens, local governments and businesses have all joined forces to combat this damage to the environment.

In the past, not even bacteria could live in the Dokai Bay, known then as the “Sea of Death.” Now, over 100 species of fish have returned to the bay. While once the sky rained down the highest level of polluted precipitation in Japan, earning it the moniker of “The Seven-Colored Smoke,” the skies have improved to the point where the city has been officially recognized for its starry sky. After much struggle Kitakyushu had finally reclaimed its beautiful seas and skies.

Kitakyushu City is located on the northern tip of Kyushu, one of four main islands in Japan, and on mid way between Tokyo and Shanghai.

The population of the city is about one million and twenty thousand and the city has been one of the four major industrial zones that advanced Japan's economic development.

Kitakyushu has supported Japan's modernization as a leading industrial zone specializing in iron and steel, chemical, ceramic, and electrical industries since the early 20^th century. Economic growth, industrial progress and population increase also resulted in pollution problems, and Kitakyushu was no exception.

Dokai Bay, located in northern Kitakyushu and surrounded by factories, was polluted with untreated domestic and industrial waste water that contained harmful substances. Fish and shellfish completely disappeared by 1960 and the bay became known as the "Sea of Death". In 1966 the dissolved oxygen in Dokai Bay was recorded at 0 mg/l, and COD, Chemical Oxygen Demand was 36 mg/l.

However, owing to continued efforts by citizens, local businesses, universities, and governmental organizations, the environment was improved significantly.

Dokai Bay, the "Sea of Death", experienced an impressive improvement in water quality as a result of restrictions on industrial waste water, development of sewerage systems, and sludge dredging jointly carried out by businesses and government.

More than 100 species of marine life have been confirmed to return to Dokai Bay.

KPL