One conflict that is caused by the discovery of the bottomless hole is the argument between the concessionaire and the villagers about filling the hole with nuclear waste. The villagers are concerned that waste will leak out and contaminate the village itself, putting their lives at risk. However, the concessionaire assures them that this will not be the case, despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence to validate his claims.

Ultimately, the villagers are persuaded to allow the nuclear-waste-dumping scheme to go ahead not by the concessionaire's promises of safety but his concession that the villagers will be given a share of the profits that result from the scheme. This conflict is indicative of human short-sightedness: their propensity to value short-term profits over long-term safety and the health of the planet. It is also analogous to nuclear waste disposal in the real world, which Hoshi has publicly stated his personal reservations about.