Japan's terrifyingly beautiful monster factories

This gallery of Japanese monster factories at night are astonishing: industry at its most beautiful and terrifying. The resemblance to Final Fantasy VII's city scapes can not be accidental.

Fantastic photos of factories in Japan [Bouncing Red Ball via Gizmodo]

[#1 posted by batu b , February 10, 2009 9:51 AM]

It reminds me of the refineries in Long Beach. No big american flag, tho.

[#2 posted by ZoopyFunk , February 10, 2009 9:51 AM]

This must be where the Sony crap we don't need is made.

[#3 posted by zuzu , February 10, 2009 10:13 AM]

Or Mamoru Oshii's extended landscape pans of Hong Kong in Innocence.

[#4 posted by DSMVWL THS , February 10, 2009 10:49 AM]

Japan? That looks like the view from the New Jersey Turnpike.

[#5 posted by kaosmonkey , February 10, 2009 10:52 AM]

Kinda reminds me of Detroit...

[#6 posted by dculberson , February 10, 2009 11:10 AM]

Too clean and organized for Detroit.

[#7 posted by earbox , February 10, 2009 11:54 AM]

A monster factory, huh? So that's where Godzilla suits are made, I guess?

[#8 posted by knyghtryda , February 10, 2009 12:16 PM]

#4
I was thinking the same thing, or maybe the refineries off 80 or 680 near the benica/carquinez bridges in the Bay Area.

[#9 posted by hanov3r , February 10, 2009 1:40 PM]

The resemblance to Final Fantasy VII's city scapes can not be aOccidental.

There. Fixed that for you.

[#10 posted by katamari88 , February 10, 2009 1:46 PM]

I remembering seeing all of this when I was in Japan... quite depressing, if not unsettling, really.

[#11 posted by chunk , February 10, 2009 1:55 PM]

an almost Zen-like harmony between filthy and clean. sort of neat, honestly.

[#12 posted by imthefuture , February 10, 2009 1:58 PM]

It's only depressing because if it was in the US it wouldn't be open at night.

[#13 posted by mdh , February 10, 2009 2:01 PM]

Too clean and organized for Detroit.

Gary, Indiana?

[#14 posted by preluded , February 10, 2009 2:09 PM]

I'm not sure why these would be either terrifying or unsettling....do people things industrial products come from tiny villages or something? I think these are very cool and i'm very proud that the industrialized world can do this kind of thing.

We just need to tweak a few more things.

[#15 posted by kiint , February 10, 2009 2:11 PM]

I would also refer you to the short film STEEL CATHEDRALS (1985) by David Sylvian and Yasayuki Yamaguchi, shot in two days in and around Tokyo, Japan. Soundtrack also by Sylvian and features the voice of Jean Cocteau, with film of Japanese industrial factories and sites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp0wLAWyhW0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUqBUprtw88

[#16 posted by HazMatt , February 10, 2009 2:27 PM]

These are all pictures of refineries or other process plants, not factories. Just one of those stupid nitpicks I feel compelled to make, having worked in both.

You'll find that refineries around the world look similar to this. The cleanliness and organization isn't reflective of any sort of Japanese fastidiousness, but a necessity for safety when working with explosive products

[#17 posted by Geoffrey Sperl , February 10, 2009 2:56 PM]

#5: Our refineries aren't nearly that big, but the drive into downtown from I-75 is similar.

#6: That crack was uncalled for. We aren't in the greatest of shape but some of us are attempting to make things better around here.

[#18 posted by airshowfan , February 10, 2009 3:29 PM]

So in Japan, you can still take pictures like that without the police thinking you're a terrorist? Not bad.

[#19 posted by kaosmonkey , February 10, 2009 4:36 PM]

#17 I used to go to a lot of underground parties in the burned out shells of early nineties downtown Detroit buildings. Driving home at five AM, they sure seemed that big.

[#20 posted by Dani4a , February 10, 2009 6:56 PM]

And that is now my new desktop. Amazing photos!

[#21 posted by dnafrequency , February 10, 2009 7:22 PM]

These things line the river banks along large stretches of the Mississippi River here in Southeast Louisiana.

@#12, yup. They are open all night here, too.

[#22 posted by Itsumishi , February 10, 2009 7:36 PM]

Hey isn't this from that scene in Alien Vs. Predator 2?

[#23 posted by Anonymous , February 10, 2009 11:07 PM]

Gilbert Anonymous here:
It looks like Giedi Prime. Where's Baron Harkonnen?

[#24 posted by burningrome , February 11, 2009 5:43 AM]

Looks like Sarnia to me.....all that's missing are the huge flames from the stacks....

[#25 posted by dculberson , February 11, 2009 7:04 AM]

Geoffrey Sperl, I apologize; I kid because I love. I've spent a lot of time in Detroit and only make comments like that because I see the promise in the city. I know many people disparage Detroit to no end, so I shouldn't add to the noise.

I hope the mayor does a better job than Kwame and gets the D back on track. It was certainly improving before Kwame.

[#26 posted by brante , February 11, 2009 9:42 AM]

Now didn't the main Shin-Ra factory in FF VII have a giant cannon built into it?

I just hope the length of this establishment is oriented North-South...

[#27 posted by Anonymous , February 11, 2009 11:06 AM]

Check out the Eastman facility in Kingsport, TN.

[#28 posted by Anonymous , February 11, 2009 1:52 PM]

I'm sure if you adjusted the colour of any industrial area, it'd look as green as Midgar.

It was a great game, but Aeris is dead, get over it!

[#29 posted by Anonymous , February 11, 2009 8:24 PM]

Brilliant image, moronic commentary...

Yes, the idea that the setting of a Japanese made anime and video game series (Final Fantasy) resembles Japan is by no means accidental.