The Guardian Deity of the Sea

Lighthouses served Japan well from the end of the Tokugawa shogunate into the Meiji Era. After it opened the island nation to the world, the Japanese government promised to build them in various ports so that foreigners could navigate their own vessels into Japan. At first, European engineers were contracted for this project, but after they returned home, Japan built the first all-Japanese lighthouse: Ogijima.

Made with Setouchi Region granite, it is one of only two reportedly uncoated lighthouses in the nation. In the time before electricity, lighthouses were lit with oil. Ogijima is one such tower, and it was maintained by four local families that live in an official residence. They labored all night, refueling the fire and polishing the lenses.

The Setouchi Region is narrow and dotted by many islands, large and small, making it extremely difficult to navigate by ship. It is also prone to thick blankets of fog which makes it easy for ships to crash into the shoals of Ogijima. Despite these precarious conditions, a great number of ships set off north of Ogijima to different regions all over Japan; from east to west connecting Kansai and Kyushu, and north to south, connecting Honshu and Shikoku. Oil industry ships, foreign vessels, and marine taxis such as yachts and kayaks frequent the area. Many fishing vessels cast their nets around the area as well.

The glow from the lighthouse is like an indispensable guardian deity to these ships. Ever since its completion 100 years ago, Ogijima Lighthouse has been watching over the mariners of the Inland Sea.