Page 153 - An Overview of Penghu

A longshot of the Kitajima Lighthouse

The lighthouse sits on Kitajima Island, an island on the
northern edge of the Penghu Archipelago. Kitajima is 18
nautical miles from Magong, and has been infamous for the
coral reef dotting its periphery. A record indicates that over
60 boats have sunk here.

The construction of the lighthouse, costing ¥ 203,000,
Kitajima Lighthouse
started in April 1899 and was completed in June 1902. The
lighthouse boasts 500,000 candelas, and can light an area of
up to 19 nautical miles, which is rare in the Far East.

Six Japanese divided into two groups of three, which
change shifts every five days, guard the lighthouse, while
their families live on another island. The guards for July
1932 were Oomori Shigeo, Matsuzaki Kōkichi, Yoshigai
Tokuichi, Kubota Kazuo, Kōno Kazuo, and Kōzuma Muneo.

The lighthouse guards'
dormitory and their
families.

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