Ishikari coalfield

The Ishikari coal basin lies in the tertiary mountains of the mining region of Sorachi, east of the Ishikari Plain in central Hokkaido. These coal veins contain the largest quantity of coal of Japan. Because of its late discovery the historical role of the coalfield could not be compared with that of the Chikuho coalfield, but its economic importance since the Japanese industrial revolution is comparable with that of the southern Chikuhō coalfield.^[1]

The Discovery

It was explorer Matsuura Takeshirō (松 浦 武 四郎), who, during his journey through Hokkaido in 1857, first marked the coal seams on the banks of the Sorachi river near Akabira.^[2] In 1868, carpenter Kimura Kichitarō (木村 吉太郎) discovered coal in Horonai, Mikasa (三 笠).^[3] However, it took another six years before the local government took action, and the mining engineers Benjamin Smith Lyman and Takeaki Enomoto welded an investigation. Their findings were satisfactory, and the Meiji government decided to build in Horonai the first coalmine of the Ishikari coal basin.^[4] In 1889, the Meiji government sold off the mine and its railways to, Hori Motoi, who found the Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company (北海道炭礦鉄道会社 Hokkaidō Tankō Tetsudō Kaisha), abbreviated as Hokutan.^[5]

Alongside to the historic mine Horonai this basin is also home to the famous mining town of Yūbari (夕張市). Here in 1888, coal was discovered by engineer (坂市太郎) Ban Ichitarō (1854-1920), a follower of Benjamin Smith Lyman, on the upper reaches of the river Shihorokabetsu (士幌加別川). The following year, Hokutan opened its first colliery in Yūbari, the Yūbari Saitanjo (夕張採炭所).^[6]

Location of the Coalfield and its Collieries

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The coalmines of Hokkaidō^[7]

List of Coal Mines in Ishikari

Number	Mine[8]	Top Annual Production	Coordinates[9]	Associated Town	Owner	Start Date	Closing Date
1	Hokutan Horonai coal mine	1500.000	43°13′16″N 141°54′32″E / 43.221°N 141.909°E	Mikasa	Hokutan	1879	1989
2	Hokutan Ikushunbetsu coal mine	200.000	43°15′40″N 141°58′05″E / 43.261°N 141.968°E	Ikushunbetsu	Hokutan	1885	1957
3	Sorachi coal mine	1500.000	43°30′40″N 142°03′07″E / 43.511°N 142.052°E	Utashinai	Hokutan	1890	1995
4	Hokutan Yūbari coal mine	2000.000	43°03′50″N 141°59′06″E / 43.064°N 141.985°E	Yūbari	Hokutan	1890	1977
5	Hokutan Kamui coal mine	500.000		Utashinai	Hokutan	1891	1971
6	Sumitomo Kami Utashinai coal mine	300.000	43°31′26″N 142°03′07″E / 43.524°N 142.052°E	Utashinai	Sumitomo	1894	1988
7	Sumitomo Akabira coal mine	1900.000	43°32′53″N 142°03′22″E / 43.548°N 142.056°E	Akabira	Sumitomo	1895	1993
8	Mitsui Sunagawa coal mine	1600.000	43°28′01″N 142°00′47″E / 43.467°N 142.013°E	Kamisunagawa	Mitsui	1899	1987
9	Sumitomo Ponbetsu coal mine	1500.000	43°15′54″N 141°54′36″E / 43.265°N 141.910°E	Mikasa	Sumitomo	1902	1971
10	Sumitomo Yayoi coal mine		43°15′32″N 141°56′17″E / 43.259°N 141.938°E	Mikasa	Sumitomo	1905	1970
11	Sumitomo Utashinai coal mine	800.000		Utashinai	Sumitomo	1905	1971
12	Hokutan Mayachi coal mine	700.000	42°58′16″N 142°04′16″E / 42.971°N 142.071°E	Yūbari	Hokutan	1905	1987
13	Hokutan Manji coal mine	500.000	43°08′02″N 141°59′31″E / 43.134°N 141.992°E	Manji	Hokutan	1905	1976
14	Mitsubishi Ōyūbari coal mine	1000.000	43°05′49″N 142°05′42″E / 43.097°N 142.095°E	Yūbari	Mitsubishi	1906	1973
15	Mitsubishi Bibai coal mine	1600.000	43°20′02″N 141°58′08″E / 43.334°N 141.969°E	Bibai	Mitsubishi	1913	1972
16	Mitsubishi Ashibetsu coal mine	300.000		Ashibetsu	Mitsubishi	1914	1964
17	Hokutan Miruto coal mine			Miruto	Hokutan	1917	1969
18	Mitsui Bibai coal mine	1000.000	43°20′02″N 141°55′01″E / 43.334°N 141.917°E	Bibai	Mitsui	1918	1963
19	Moshiri coal mine			Akabira	Yūbetsu	1918	1969
20	Hokutan Kakuta coal mine			Kakuta	Hokutan	1927	1953
21	Meiji mining kami Ashibetsu coal mine	100.000		Ashibetsu	Meiji mining	1935	1963
22	Hokutan Heiwa coal mine	1000.000	43°01′01″N 141°59′28″E / 43.017°N 141.991°E	Yūbari	Hokutan	1937	1975
23	Toyosato coal mine			Akabira	Toyosato Mining Company	1937	1954
24	Hokutan Akama coal mine		43°33′11″N 142°02′53″E / 43.553°N 142.048°E	Akabira	Hokutan	1938	1973
25	Takane coal mine	200.000		Ashibetsu	Takane	1938	1967
26	Mitsui Ashibetsu coal mine	1700.000		Ashibetsu	Mitsui	1939	1992
27	Mitsui Oku Naie coal mine	460.000		Naie	Mitsui	1947	1966
28	Mitsubishi Minami Ōyūbari coal mine		43°01′44″N 142°05′24″E / 43.029°N 142.090°E	Yūbari	Mitsubishi	1966	1990
29	Hokutan Yūbari Shin coal mine		42°59′02″N 142°01′01″E / 42.984°N 142.017°E	Yūbari	Hokutan	1970	1981
30	Hokutan Shimisuzawa coal mine		43°00′14″N 142°01′16″E / 43.004°N 142.021°E	Yūbari	Hokutan
31	Yuya coal mine	200.000		Utashinai	Yuya	19**	1965

References

1. ↑ Glenn T. Trewartha, Japan a Physical, Cultural & Regional Geography, p.90.
2. ↑ Kodama Kiyoomi (児玉清臣), Sekitan no gijutsushi (石炭技術史), p.19.
3. ↑ Yoshioka Hirotaka　(吉岡宏高), Shoninsha no tame no tankõkōza (初任者のための炭鉱講座).
4. ↑ Kasuga Yutaka, Transfer and Development of Coal-Mine Technology in Hokkaido, pp. 11-20.
5. ↑ Laura E. Hein, Feuling Growth, p.32.; Richard J. Samuels, Rich Nation, Strong Army, p.74.
6. ↑ Satō Manami (佐藤真奈美), Hokkaidō Yūbarishi ni okeru chiikisaisei (北海道夕張市における地域再生), p.37.
7. ↑ Hokkaidō Shinbun Sorachi 'Yama' Shuzaihan (北海道新聞空知「炭鉱」取材班), Sorachi Tankōisan Sanpō (空知炭鉱遺産散歩), pp.34-199.; Hokkaido Government Sorachi Subprefectural Office (空知支庁), Sorachi Tankōisan to Kankō (空知炭鉱遺産と観光).
8. ↑ Hokkaidō Shinbun Sorachi 'Yama' Shuzaihan (北海道新聞空知「炭鉱」取材班), loco citato.
9. ↑ Hokkaido Government Sorachi Subprefectural Office (空知支庁), opere citato.