Onomichi Shipyard Opens, Supercars Gather in Kure, and Nishikigawa Railway Turns 39—Three Approaches to Showcasing Industrial Heritage in Setouchi

Three events are taking place almost simultaneously along the Setouchi coastline. In Onomichi, the gates of a shipyard have opened, Kure’s shopping district is lined with supercars, and in Iwakuni, the Nishikigawa Railway is celebrating its 39th anniversary. All of these events aim to “showcase local industries,” but they do so in vastly different ways—opening the site, placing it in the city, and celebrating the railway itself. By comparing these differences, we can gain insight into how Setouchi’s industrial heritage is “comforting some and leaving a mark on others’ memories.”

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Onomichi Shipbuilding and Metalworking Festival—Opening the Gates and Speaking on Scale

Onomichi’s “Shipbuilding and Metalworking Festival” is an open factory event that transforms the usually restricted shipyard grounds into a venue. In 2024, the event attracted around 10,000 visitors, and preparations for a similarly scaled event in 2025 are underway.

The core of this event lies not in “viewing” but in “experiencing.” Visitors step into the massive dry dock, inhale the scent of iron, and observe welding sparks from a distance. When they feel the incline of the slipway beneath their feet, they physically grasp the fact that “hundreds of tons of iron slide into the sea from here.” The amount of information that cannot be conveyed through explanatory panels is present on-site.

Booths featuring local restaurants and specialty products are set up, but the main focus remains on the manufacturing site itself. Craftsmen demonstrate their work in their usual manner, while visitors peer closely at their hands. There is a conviction here that “the genuine scale will overwhelm people without the need for elaborate staging.”

Onomichi’s manufacturing output ranks among the top in Hiroshima Prefecture, with shipbuilding and metalworking serving as pillars of the local economy. However, in a city where residential areas and factories are adjacent, opportunities to learn about “what happens inside” the shipyard have been limited. The act of opening the gates itself becomes a mechanism to reconnect the relationship between the community and industry.

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Kure Supercar Show—The Significance of ‘Placement’

The “Kure Supercar Show,” held in Kure’s Nakamichi shopping district, is a free event that will gather over 50 supercars on November 1. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens—vehicles worth billions of yen will line the arcade shopping street.

At first glance, this may seem like a “car enthusiast’s festival” unrelated to industrial heritage. However, the significance of the venue being Kure is crucial. Kure has accumulated precise metal processing technology centered around naval arsenals since the Meiji era. After the war, this technology was repurposed for automotive parts and industrial machinery, broadening the scope of manufacturing. Placing supercars, as “crystallizations of technology,” in the shopping district of a city that once built the battleship Yamato creates a contrast that, whether consciously acknowledged or not, adds depth to the visitors’ perspectives.

Supercar owners drive in from various locations to gather in Kure. As they dine at local restaurants and stay in nearby accommodations, the economic impact of the event is significant. In the context of promoting the shopping district, it functions as a “device to attract people,” but when viewed from a broader perspective, this event also serves as a “device to rediscover the context of Kure through external eyes.”

Supercars may not have originated in Kure. However, by “placing” high-end machines in a city known for precision processing, the city’s technical DNA—essentially, the memory that “this place has historically produced remarkable things”—emerges, reflected in the curves of the vehicles. While the cars are on display, it is the city that tells the story.

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Nishikigawa Railway 39th Anniversary Festival—Celebrating the Act of Motion Itself

The Nishikigawa Railway in Iwakuni City was transformed from the JR West Japan Iwahibi Line into a third-sector line in 1987. It connects Kawanishi Station to Nishikimachi Station over 32.7 km as the Nishikawa Seiryu Line. With its 39th anniversary approaching in 2026, a festival themed around “Thank You” is being planned.

Tours of the Kiha 40 series diesel trains, visits to the vehicle base, and activities utilizing the natural scenery along the line are all part of the program. Each of these offerings is not uncommon for a railway event. However, the significance of the Nishikawa Railway’s 39th anniversary lies in something beyond mere spectacle.

Many third-sector railways across the country face discussions about their existence after surpassing 30 years since their transition. Issues such as aging vehicles, declining populations along the line, and strained municipal finances are all relevant to the Nishikawa Railway. The annual passenger numbers have significantly decreased from their peak, and the operation relies on support from local municipalities.

In this context, a festival celebrating the fact that “it has been running for 39 years” becomes more than just a commemorative event; it serves as a venue for the community to reaffirm the line’s significance. The scenic beauty visible from the windows of the Nishikawa Seiryu Line has functioned as a draw for tourists alongside the sightseeing train “Tokotoko Train.” However, the intrinsic value of this line is that it serves as a “daily means of transportation” for elderly residents and high school students commuting along the route.

“The fact that it is still running is amazing”—this is a line that the community consciously celebrates. The 39th anniversary festival is not just an event for railway enthusiasts; it is a ritual for local residents to confirm that “this line is still here.”

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Three Approaches Reflecting Structure

When lined up, it becomes clear that while the three events share the commonality of “showcasing industrial heritage,” their mechanisms are entirely different.

• Onomichi “opens the site.” What is showcased is the manufacturing line that is still in operation, and the audience experiences value by “entering inside.”
• Kure “places it within context.” By positioning external devices like supercars within the historical context of the city, the narrative of the city itself is brought to the forefront.
• Iwakuni “celebrates existence.” The fact that the line has been in operation for 39 years is turned into an event, reaffirming the relationship between the community and transportation infrastructure.

What unites the three is that none of them are “manufactured tourist content”; they exist along the continuum of local life and industry. The shipyard will continue to build ships tomorrow, Kure’s shopping district will return to regular business the next day, and the Nishikawa Railway will run its first train the following morning. What remains after the events conclude—the true effect of showcasing industrial heritage—lies in this continuity.

In the context of the “profitable tourism” promoted by the Japan Tourism Agency, the economic impact of such events is often questioned. However, another question should also be asked: “Who does this benefit?”—the moment when shipyard craftsmen can take pride in their work, the day when shop owners feel the bustling foot traffic, and the reassurance for local residents that “the trains will still be running next year.” These are small feelings that are hard to quantify in economic figures, but they represent the power that supports the community from within, built upon such accumulations of sentiment.

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Future Points of Interest

The Onomichi Shipbuilding and Metalworking Festival’s next focus will be whether it can connect with the nationwide trend of open factories amid the challenge of a shortage of manufacturing workers. Transitioning from “showing” to “inviting people”—if a pathway leading to recruitment can be designed, the significance of the event will deepen.

The Kure Supercar Show’s key will be its connectivity with the renewal of the Yamato Museum (which has already reopened in 2024). Whether it can transform a point event into a broader experience will change its positioning within Kure’s overall tourism strategy.

The Nishikawa Railway is approaching its 40th anniversary next year. If the 39th anniversary’s “Thank You” expresses gratitude to the community, the 40th anniversary should become a platform to question “how to operate in the next decade.” The role of this year’s festival in providing a foundation for discussions on the form of continued existence, rather than mere survival, is significant.

Each of the three events reflects the circumstances of its respective city while grappling with the same question—”How do we pass on what has continued in this place?” There is no single answer, but it begins with opening the gates, placing it in the city, and celebrating existence. Within these actions lies a glimpse of the wisdom needed for Setouchi’s industrial heritage to survive.