Miike coal mine


History

Mining began in the region during the Kyoho era, with the Miike mine under the control of the Tachibana clan.
The mine was nationalised in 1872 Chapter - 5 The Miike coal-mine explosion by the Meiji government. The Mitsui zaibatsu took control in 1899.
The mine closed in 1997, with devastating effects on the local economy.

Labour dispute

From 1960 to 1962 the mine was involved in a much-reported labor dispute led by Itsurō Sakisaka which divided the workers and involved violent strike-breaking actions.

Incidents

In 1963 an458 people were killed by the explosion or by carbon monoxide poisoning caused by an explosion. 839 others were injured by the blast or carbon monoxide poisoning. Many of the poisoned survivors suffered severe, permanent brain damage. Chapter - 5 The Miike coal-mine explosion
On January 18, 1984, an explosion at the mine claimed the lives of 83 workers.

Legacy

The Miike mine was the subject of a Japanese documentary, Echoes from the Miike Mine, directed by Hiroko Kumagai.