After Chiba was chosen as the site for a major Kawasaki Steel factory in 1950 , the prefectural government started a very large land reclamation program . They filled in the water areas to make large , new waterfront properties for factories , warehouses , and docks . After Chiba was chosen as the site for a major Kawasaki Steel factory in 1950 , the prefectural government embarked on a large-scale land reclamation program that dredged up large plots of waterfront property for factories , warehouses , and docks .