Tetrapods

Pictures 110  Originally uploaded by ash-man.

We took these photos at Shikinijima over Golden Week.  Shikinejima is a gorgeous island off Tokyo but the shores are littered with these enormous concrete tetrapods. 

Are these things really necessary? Do they really stop erosion or are they just another excuse for spending tax dollars propping up the Japanese construction industry?
Or am I just cynical?

Decreed by the goddess on 05/07 at 08:20 PM
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Tags: flickr • politics • shikinejima • tetrapods • ugly

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• Jim offered on 06/05/08 at 06:46 AM.....

  Actually, they accelerate beach sand erosion and make everything worse. The US is ripping such things out as fast as they can. Japan is trying to surround the entire coast. Really.

  The book “Dogs and Demons” by Alex Kerr has quite a bit about the reasoning for putting them there.

• the goddess offered on 06/05/08 at 10:21 PM.....

  I have been reading Dogs and Demons which is why I noticed these moreso on this recent camping trip. They are an eyesore and a visual reminder of the issues that Alex Kerr points out in the book. I have put down the book for the moment as it was making me too angry and sad at the country that I live in at present. I will pick it up again soon I am sure.
  ——-

• Rob (Holland) offered on 07/03/15 at 06:30 PM.....

  It all depends of the built-up below the tetrapods. You cannot put them in plain sand (or other loose types of ground). You need layers of different grades to keep it all stable. Start with sand, some small bricks/rocks above, ahead with bigger ones, and after maybe a few other layers, put the tetrapods on.
  Good luck, and of coures those things help!

• Zoe Oliver (Canada) offered on 08/03/05 at 12:20 PM.....

  Hello Mighty Goddess.
  I stumbled across your blog while planning a trip to Japan…my boyfriend and I are interested in going to Shikinejima—-but neither of us speak Japanese! Do we need to buy tickets in advance at the port, or can we just show up in the morning?  You wouldn’t by any chance happen to know where to find some English information?

  Many thanks for any info,
  Zoe

• the goddess offered on 08/03/06 at 12:01 AM.....

  WOW - what a fabulous comment.  Shikine-jima is a fabulous place.  Are you planning on going camping or staying in a minshuku? 

  For the ferry tickets, you really need to book them over the phone in advance and then show up at the port to collect them before the ferry leaves.  The overnight ferry is the cheapest but make sure you get an inside space - not bed or anything, just not on the deck.  It gets a bit cold overnight.

  I suggest that the easiest way is to ask a travel agent in Japan to book the ferry tickets for you and perhaps accommodation.  If you need a recommendation of a good English speaking agent, let me know and I can sent you the contact.

• Toronto luxury condos offered on 08/04/19 at 04:17 PM.....

  It all depends of the built-up below the tetrapods. You cannot put them in plain sand (or other loose types of ground). You need layers of different grades to keep it all stable.
  (Link removed - please don’t use my blog for linking to commercial sites)