01 · 由来 The story
The story behind Takaoka
Takaoka ran from January to April 2025 on a slightly modified version of the Samui map. Episode 1 — taking an empty island to stable profitability — is the most-watched episode on the channel.
From the start the goal was a green city: renewables instead of fossil power and no landfill. Farming, the first offices and the first public transport line came quickly, followed by a railroad, a central station and an industrial train hub.
The middle of the series was a detective story. A new seaside district suffered a wave of deaths in brand-new houses; adding a water pump elsewhere ended it, pointing to water pollution. Next, smog over the beaches was blamed on the passenger harbour — until extending the harbour proved the industrial district was the real cause.
Along the way came coal mining with its own rail yard, a high-wealth low-density district, a new commercial skyline across the river and a mixed-use district.
The finale made the hard call: the whole industrial zone was relocated to the east of the island, and the old industrial land became shoreline homes, shops and a recreation area.
