MaterialsChigirishima resembles Nagasaki's Battleship island but is still up and runningChigirishima Island, in western Japan's Seto Inland Sea, was originally two islands but they were landfilled and fused into one. SADAMU KAWAJIRIJune 21, 2026 07:17 JSTCHIGIRISHIMA, Japan -- Chigirishima, a small island in western Japan's tranquil Seto Inland Sea, looks more like a floating ship than a geographic feature. Packed with industrial structures, its silhouette is unique, standing in stark contrast to its thickly wooded neighbor, Ikunoshima Island, when viewed from the coast of Japan's main island of Honshu.
Exploring the island where nearly half of Japan's lead is produced
Chigirishima resembles Nagasaki's Battleship island but is still up and running
TL;DRAI
Chigirishima Island produces nearly half of Japan's lead output from a single industrial complex in the Seto Inland Sea. The geographic concentration of a critical material exposes Japan to geopolitical supply-chain vulnerabilities.
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