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The Amakusa coalfield consists of a group of coal mines on the main island of
Amakusa, Kumamoto
is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
As of March 31, 2017, Amakusa has an estimated population of 83,082 and a population density of 120 persons per km2. The total area is . Amakusa has the distinction of being the fastest depopu ...
, Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
.
History
The northern Amakusa coalfield has been discovered under the Kyoho era (between 1716 and 1736), while Oniki, the southern part of the coalfield was discovered under the Tenpo era (between 1830 and 1843). The exploitation started in the northern part under theMeiji era
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...
. In 1897, a railroad was constructed for the transport of coal between northern mines and Tomioka Bay now Reihoku, Kumamoto
is a town located in Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
, the town has an estimated population of 7,462 and a density
Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol mo ...
by Dainippon Rentan Company. Between 1900 and 1912, a monthly production of 4000 tons was recorded. In other areas, horse-drawn vehicles
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load. They were once common worldwide, but they have m ...
were employed. However, Amakusa coal mine was characterized by relatively thin layers of coal (30 cm - 100 cm) and the mining condition was relatively difficult. So, only small-sized or medium-sized enterprises took part in the ventures. On the contrary, the characteristics of coal were good, such as anthracite
Anthracite, also known as hard coal, and black coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy density of all types of coal and is the hig ...
, and the Japanese Imperial Navy bought Amakusa coal mine in great quantities.
The Change of the Government Policy
Around 1950, the Japanese government changed its policy and started importing cheap coal from foreign countries, and many Japanese coal mines had to be discontinued. Amakusa coal mines were no exception. One of the southern Amakusa mines, Okini coal mine discontinued in 1975. Since there were no big enterprises, it is believed that more than 5,000,000 tons of coal remains there.Names of Amakusa Coal Mines around 1955
*Northern mines **Sakasegawa, Ootake, Shiki, Reishu, Takenosako, Komatsu, Wakunobori, Kuratsuki, Ryoumatsu *Central mines **Imatomi, Asahimuen *Southern mines **Oniki, Gongen-yama, Sunatsuki, Horinosako, Nanten, NakanouraYearly Amounts Produced
Akakusa Kensetsugyoukyoukai 978:690/ref>References
*Amakusachiku Kensetugyoukyoukai, ''History of Constructions in Amakusa'' 1978, Amakusachiku Kensetsugyoukyoukai.Footnotes