About
The monument standing in the forecourt of Teikyo University of Science Senju Campus conveys the memory of the “Ghost Chimneys” that once towered over this site. These chimneys were the symbol of the Senju Thermal Power Plant, built in 1926, and featured a mysterious structure in which four chimneys were arranged in a diamond shape, making them appear as one to four chimneys depending on the viewing angle. For this reason, they were affectionately called the “Ghost Chimneys” by the public and became a landmark that colored the Showa era.
After the power plant was decommissioned in 1963 and the chimneys were dismantled the following year, part of them was reused as a slide in the schoolyard of the adjacent Motojuku Elementary School. While playing on this slide, children could physically sense the presence of the former chimneys. However, after Motojuku Elementary School was closed, the slide also finished its role. Later, when Teikyo University of Science established its campus on this site, the upper half of the slide was used to create the current monument in order to preserve the local history.
Next to the monument is a 1/20 scale model of the chimney, allowing visitors to experience how the number of chimneys appears to change depending on the viewing angle. This recreates the visual charm of the former “Ghost Chimneys” and conveys their mysterious structure to visitors.
Visiting this place allows one to reflect on the Showa era. Along with the smoke once emitted by the chimneys, the history that supported the development of the region lives on here. The monument quietly speaks to visitors as a bridge connecting the past and the present.