Pollution Variety Show

"On a Smog Survey from the Air -- Like Seeing a Fire from an Airplane" (Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 27, 1962.)
"Osaka's commercial district was overlayed by a gray blanket, and visibility from about 7:00 to 10:00 am was about 300 meters in Kita Ward, Nishiyodogawa Ward, and Eastern Osaka. In the very bad places one could see only 50 meters." (Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 21, 1963)
In addition to the air pollution, which had been reported this way in the press, the water pollution, ground subsidence, motor vehicle pollution, noise, vibration, and the like were so bad that the area was called the "Pollution Variety Show."

Factory smoke in Nishiyodogawa Ward

Ono River turned into a cesspool

Note: The photos are from a collection published by the Executive Committee on the 70th Anniversary of Nishiyodogawa's Ward Status.

Visit other eras

River Community Urbanization Pollution Era Regeneration

Then & Now
The Way It Was
Life Long Ago War Prosperity & Industrialization
War Damage to Nishiyodogawa
Tyhpoon/Flood Damage Pollution Variety Show
Health Damage
Citizens' Struggle Regeneration Begins
Post-Earthquake Recovery
Court Settlement and Establishment of Foundation