#nagata

Overhead Wires in Japan (Nagata, Hyogo)

For one of my homework assignments, I think I’ve finally settled on my topic: overhead wires in Japan. You really do see them everywhere, and walking under them sometimes feels like stepping into a giant spider’s web.

There’s actually a bit of history behind why Japan still has so many overhead cables. After the Second World War, rebuilding cities quickly and cheaply was the priority, so putting wires above ground was the fastest solution. Even today, keeping them overhead makes repairs much quicker—especially in a country where earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rain are frequent. Burying power lines is safer and tidier, but it’s also extremely expensive and time-consuming. So the result is this tangled skyline of wires that’s become almost a part of the “Japanese city” aesthetic.

I think it’ll make a really interesting choice for my homework, since it’s something you see daily but rarely stop to think about.

For those of you not familiar with Nagata....

Ooooooh boy. You should be in for a treat.