Kitakyushu

Kitakyushu City is the "steel city." Kitakyushu has Yahata Steel Works. Opened 1901. Birthplace of Japan's steel industry. For Kitakyushu residents, "steel" is pride. Yahata Steel Works is a UNESCO World Heritage site (registered 2015). But Kitakyushu has problems. Population is declining. Kitakyushu's population peaked in 1979 (1.68 million). By 2020, 940,000. 44% decrease in 41 years. Why? Steel industry declined. Yahata Steel Works still operates, but scale is greatly reduced from its 1960s heyday. Many Kitakyushu residents left the steel works. Young people migrated to Fukuoka City. For Kitakyushu residents, "past glory" is heavy. Kitakyushu flourished as the "steel city." But now it's a "declining city." For Kitakyushu residents, "cars" are "products." Made from steel. But that steel industry is declining. Kitakyushu residents lost jobs "making" cars. No time to "enjoy" cars either. Kitakyushu has an autorace track (attached to Kokura Keirin). But autorace is motorcycle racing. Not car racing. Kitakyushu has almost no automobile circuits. Nearest is Autopolis (Oita Prefecture, about 120km). If Kitakyushu residents want to do motorsport, they need to leave the prefecture. But Kitakyushu residents can't afford it. Population declining, economy shrinking, future unclear. For Kitakyushu residents, the "future-oriented culture" called motorsport is far.