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Kobe, 1900s
Human Conveyor Belt (4)

A very rare view of boats with harbor workers on their way to a steamer at Kobe Harbor, visible in the back. This article looks at how Japanese coaling was done from the workers’ viewpoint.

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Nagasaki, 1910s
Human Conveyor Belt (3)

An extremely rare onboard view of Japanese women coaling a US cruiser in Nagasaki. The majority of harbor workers coaling ships in Nagasaki were women. In other ports they also played a crucial role.

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Moji 1890s
Human Conveyor Belt (2)

Mounds of coal at Moji Harbor in Kyushu. Two steamers are being coaled in the background. Coal for foreign steamships was a major objective when U.S. warships forced Japan’s borders open in 1855.

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Nagasaki 1910s
Human Conveyor Belt (1)

A “human conveyor belt” coaling a steamship in the harbor of Nagasaki. Even mechanized coaling stations could barely coal faster than a Japanese crew. Women were crucial for this feat.

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Tokyo, 1920s
Sotobori at Tokyo Station

On this aerial photo of Tokyo Station you can see a waterway above the station. There is no waterway there today. What is this and what happened?

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