■ Tsushima office under construction to exhibit the 30-year history of the project
Tsushima has been focusing on on-site construction work, with the installation of the Aren tunnel entrance two years ago and the extension to 20m last year, but an office is currently being set up to allow visitors to learn about the progress of the construction and its history.
[Photo] Tsushima Koura Office, paired with the Aren Incline Shaft site on the west coast
The office is located in Koura, Izuhara Town, which is home to Izuhara Port, the gateway to the sea, in what is now Fuchu, Tsushima, and is a 10-minute drive from the ferry terminal. It was previously located near the only national highway that runs 80 km north to south, but in recent years, the national highway has been built straight through the mountains, so the office is no longer on the national highway. However, it remains located at a key point in the Japan-Korea Tunnel Project.
Tsushima's population has been steadily declining, and while it once had a peak population of 90,000, it now barely exceeds 30,000. The bustling restaurant district, once home to squid fishing boats, has become completely quiet. Instead, 200,000 Koreans flock to the island annually, keeping the tourism industry afloat. Koreans are a common sight walking around town, and many seem to be repeat customers, with Korean being spoken everywhere even in supermarkets frequented only by locals. Even the ferry terminal has had to be separated into separate areas for Japanese and foreigners. This island is Korea's closest foreign country.
The concept and consciousness of the modern nation-state have created borders and given rise to conflict. However, conversely, they have also become a gateway for exchange. Tsushima, a border town, is an island of deep significance for both Japan and East Asia.
[Photo] Izuhara Port, Tsushima's sea gateway. As the name suggests, the waves that crash on the shore are rough.
