An angler’s thoughts on Amakusa’s bridges

An account from April 2020. Bridge impressions and the closing access directions are retained in their original historical context.

The water beneath Haiya Bridge in Ushibuka is famous as a strong-current ajing spot. The bridge itself is beautiful, designed by an Italian architect.

How a bridge makes you feel

The bridge at the entrance to Amakusa is known as the First Bridge. Since a new bridge was built alongside it, more traffic seems to use the new one.

But the railings on the new bridge are low. This is a place known for strong winds, so I find myself questioning that height. An acquaintance who lives in Amakusa says they use the original bridge because the new one feels frightening.

Hearing that makes me want to say the designer cannot have considered how people feel. That is going too far, of course! Still, if you are going to build something, I would like all sorts of things to be thought through more carefully—especially people’s feelings.

Ushibuka is a long way away, at the far end of Amakusa. It is a pity that you have to go all that way to cross the beautiful Haiya Bridge. In another sense, though, it is worth the journey.

First of all, crossing this bridge feels good. It really does.

And it is beautiful from below.

Renzo Piano, in Ushibuka

The architect is Renzo Piano. His well-known projects include the Centre Pompidou, the passenger terminal at Kansai International Airport, and the New York Times Building, among many others.

In other words, a very famous architect indeed.

Impressive, Ushibuka.

As for the bridge at the entrance to Amakusa… with such a spectacular view around it, too.

Oh well. Let it go. Or rather, do not think about it. Just cross as usual.

But those railings really are low. And when the wind is strong—as it quite often is—it does feel a little frightening.

What do you think?

Perhaps your head is so full of fishing that you simply drive across. That may be the best way. I do the same myself.

It is just that, once my acquaintance mentioned it, I began to notice.

And, inevitably, the fishing spot

What interests me more, though, is the fishing.

Park around the position from which this photograph was taken, then walk back the other way. The water visible over the wall beside the narrow roadside strip is an ajing and eging spot.

I think the way to approach it is to leave the car around, or a little behind, the position of the photographer and walk from there.

For the fishing account, see The beautiful Haiya Bridge—and the ajing beneath it. Architectural reference: Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s Ushibuka Bridge project.