Factory Fashions
(Photos courtesy of Kawasaki City Tourist Association)
In 2007, “Kojo Moe” (factory fetish) became a popular buzzword, spawning a number of books and even going so far as to be nominated as one of the year’s trendy new words. Four years on, the phenomenon remains popular. In mixi, Japan’s largest SNS, more than 25,000 people have joined a community called the “Group That Loves Factories and Refineries.” The Hato Bus company, which operates tours to sightseeing spots in and around Tokyo, has even been successful in promoting evening tours to industrial plants in Kawasaki City. While such places may appear as gloomy sources of pollution by day, they look quite exotic when lit up at night.