Ikeshima or Ikejima ( ja, 池島), also sometimes listed as Ike Island, is an island in
Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Initially within the borders of Kamiura village, from 1955 until its merger with the city of
Nagasaki in 2005, it was part of
Sotome municipality.
Thousands of coal miners who lived on the island were formerly employed there, representing the vast majority of its population. The coal mines opened in 1959 and closed in 2001. The number of miners was reported to be 8,000,
or over 10,000 at its peak.
As of 2018, only 130 individuals, mostly retired miners or their relatives, remained on the island.
Etymology
The island is named after the former pond on the island, named Kagamigaike. The pond was destroyed in favour of turning it into a port.
"Ike" ( ja, 池) translates to pond, so a literal translation for Ikeshima would be "Pond Island".
Gallery
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References
External links
Exploration for Black Gold & The World Heritage "Church of the Sea"J-Trip Plan,
NHK, April 15, 2019 (video, 28 minutes)
Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture
Coal mines in Japan
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