Shiriyazaki Lighthouse
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name = Shiriyazaki Lighthouse
Shiriyazaki tōdai
尻屋埼灯台
| image = Cape Shiriya and Kandachime horses.jpg
| caption = Shiriyazaki Lighthouse
| location = Higashidōri
Aomori Prefecture
Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|41|25|49.4|N|141|27|43.6|E|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt = 1876 (first)
| yearlit = 1951 (current)
| automated =
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation = brick and concrete
| construction = brick and concrete tower
| shape = tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
| marking = white tower and lantern
| height = {{convert|32.82|m|ft}}
| focalheight = {{convert|45.70|m|ft}}
| lens = Second Order Fresnel
| intensity = 2,000,000 candela
| range = {{convert|34|km|nmi}}
| characteristic = Fl W 10s.
| country = Japan
| countrynumber = JCG-1604{{Cite rowlett|jphn9}}
}}
{{nihongo|Shiriyazaki Lighthouse|尻屋埼灯台|Shiriyazaki tōdai}} is a lighthouse located on the outermost extremity of Cape Shiriyazaki, the northeasternmost point of Honshu, in Higashidōri, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It received protection as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/274952|title=尻屋埼灯台|work=Cultural Heritage Online|publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs|language=Japanese|accessdate=23 April 2020|archive-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727230947/https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/274952|url-status=dead}}
History
The Shiriyazaki Lighthouse was one of the 26 lighthouses built in Meiji period Japan by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton. Work began in June 1873. The lighthouse was completed on October 20, 1876 (after Brunton had departed from Japan), and was the first western-style lighthouse in the Tōhoku region. On November 20, 1877, a fog bell was installed due to the high incidence of fogs and days of poor visibility in the area. This was the first fog bell in Japan, but the sound proved to be too weak, so on December 20, 1879 it was replaced by the first fog horn in Japan.[http://www.tokokai.org/hist/e/e-hist.htm Historical Lighthouses of Japan] Other noteworthy events include the installation of the first electric power generator for a lighthouse in Japan in 1901.
In 1945, during World War II, Shiriyazaki Lighthouse was bombarded by United States Navy warships, cracking its Fresnel lens and causing severe damage to its structure, killing its attendant. However, the following year, on several occasions, fishermen reported being able to see a light in the ruined lighthouse, which enabled them to land safely despite a deep fog. However, when authorities investigated, they found that the stairs were blocked with rubble and the light room was completely destroyed. A temporary light was installed in the ruined structure from August 1946, and the rumors ceased.[http://www.tokokai.org/je_aids/e/e_koro08.html Anecdotes related to Aids to Navigation] The lighthouse was repaired and went back into operation in 1951. The lighthouse is maintained by the Japan Coast Guard.[http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/02kanku/aomori/new/aomorihoanbu/toudaitop.html Japan Coast Guard 2nd Division]
The Shiriyazaki Lighthouse is registered with the Japanese government as an "A-grade Lighthouse" for historic preservation and is listed as one of the "50 Lighthouses of Japan" by the Japan Lighthouse Association.[http://www.tokokai.org/archive/index02.html Japan Lighthouse Association home page] {{in lang|ja}}
See also
{{Portal|Japan|Engineering}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- Brunton, Richard. Building Japan, 1868-1879. Japan Library, 1991. {{ISBN|1-873410-05-0}}
- Pedlar, Neil. The Imported Pioneers: Westerners who Helped Build Modern Japan. Routledge, 1990. {{ISBN|0-904404-51-X}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.tokokai.org/hist/e/e-hist.htm Historic Lighthouses of Japan]
- [http://yamatae.sakura.ne.jp/Lh2/siriya.html Lighthouses in Japan] {{in lang|ja}}
- [http://www.adnet.jp/nikkei/kindai/15/ 尻屋埼灯台] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812000825/http://www.adnet.jp/nikkei/kindai/15/ |date=2016-08-12 }} Japan's Modern Industrial Heritage {{in lang|ja}}
{{Lighthouses of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Lighthouses completed in 1876
Category:Transport buildings and structures in Aomori Prefecture
Category:Buildings of the Meiji era
Category:1876 establishments in Japan