Abstract
While coal mining was brutish and nasty, it stimulated colourful coal mining-related culture amongst the miners as they made merry in their lull and rest time to distract themselves from the harsh work environment. The coal mines also produced some of the most prolific non-tangible cultures like folk songs where miners sang in solidarity and in times of hardship. Culture has been conserved and commodified in present-day Hokkaido. With the demise of the coal mining industry, Hokkaido’s former coal mining towns are transitioning to service sectors that offer economic activities like retailing, tourism, hospitality, and cultural experiences.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Minenobu east umbrella dance” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215be2220093652
- 2.
Akarenga, “Hokkaido’s History, Culture and Nature” in Akarenga portal site of Hokkaido’s History and Culture [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.akarenga-h.jp/en/hokkaido/kaitaku/k-04/
- 3.
Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, “Coal Mining Industry in the Hokkaido” dated June 1912 in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports Miscellaneous Series No. 682 (UK: His Majesty’s Stationery Office), 1912, available at https://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00168/PDF.pdf, p. 3.
- 4.
Akarenga, “Hokkaido’s History, Culture and Nature” in Akarenga portal site of Hokkaido’s History and Culture [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.akarenga-h.jp/en/hokkaido/kaitaku/k-04/
- 5.
Akarenga, “Hokkaido’s History, Culture and Nature” in Akarenga portal site of Hokkaido’s History and Culture [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.akarenga-h.jp/en/hokkaido/kaitaku/k-04/
- 6.
Akarenga, “Hokkaido’s History, Culture and Nature” in Akarenga portal site of Hokkaido’s History and Culture [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.akarenga-h.jp/en/hokkaido/kaitaku/k-04/
- 7.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Drum which does not fly in Bibai-shi” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215be2220093653
- 8.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “The 47th Akabira fire Festival” in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association Nihon Kankou website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/detail/01218ba2210113521
- 9.
Knotter, Ad, “Migration and ethnicity in coal field history (worldwide)” dated January 2013 in the Hypotheses.org website (Maastricht University), 2013, p. 1.
- 10.
Hoffman Michael, “How Hokkaido, born to be wild, was tamed” dated 2 March 2003 in Japan Times [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2003/03/02/general/the-great-north/#.W_9Np9szaUk
- 11.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Torimeshi of Nakamura” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215fa2260096383
- 12.
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Bibai Yakitori” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215fa2260097461
- 13.
Hendy, Richard, “Yubari, Japan: a city learns how to die” dated 15 August 2014 in The Guardian [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/aug/15/yubari-japan-city-learns-die-lost-population-detroit
- 14.
Hendy, Richard, “Yubari, Japan: a city learns how to die” dated 15 August 2014 in The Guardian [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/aug/15/yubari-japan-city-learns-die-lost-population-detroit
- 15.
Mikasa City, “The City of Mikasa: a great place where you can enjoy!!” in Mikasa City website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.city.mikasa.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00001591.html
- 16.
Hattori, Ryutaro, “Traditional Folk Songs of Japan Selected and arranged by Ryutaro Hattori from his own collection Part Two: West Japan” dated 1961 (NYC: Folkways Records), 1961, unpaginated [also available online at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW04534.pdf]
- 17.
Hattori, Ryutaro, “Traditional Folk Songs of Japan Selected and arranged by Ryutaro Hattori from his own collection Part Two: West Japan” dated 1961 (NYC: Folkways Records), 1961, unpaginated [also available online at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW04534.pdf]
- 18.
Hattori, Ryutaro, “Traditional Folk Songs of Japan Selected and arranged by Ryutaro Hattori from his own collection Part Two: West Japan” dated 1961 (NYC: Folkways Records), 1961, unpaginated [also available online at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW04534.pdf]
- 19.
Allen, Matthew, “Undermining the occupation: women coalminers in 1940s Japan” dated 2010 in University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Arts Papers (Archive) Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 7 (2) [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.hk/&httpsredir=1&article=2088&context=artspapers, p. 5.
- 20.
Allen, Matthew, “Undermining the occupation: women coalminers in 1940s Japan” dated 2010 in University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Arts Papers (Archive) Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 7 (2) [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.hk/&httpsredir=1&article=2088&context=artspapers, p. 5.
- 21.
Mizutamari, Mayumi, “Lab.letters” dated 2018 in the Graduate School of Letters/Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University [downloaded on 1 Dec 2018], available at https://www.let.hokudai.ac.jp/en/staff/3-6-06/
- 22.
Mizutamari, Mayumi, “Lab.letters” dated 2018 in the Graduate School of Letters/Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University [downloaded on 1 Dec 2018], available at https://www.let.hokudai.ac.jp/en/staff/3-6-06/
- 23.
Allen, Matthew, “Undermining the occupation: women coalminers in 1940s Japan” dated 2010 in University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Arts Papers (Archive) Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 7 (2) [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.hk/&httpsredir=1&article=2088&context=artspapers, pp. 6–7.
- 24.
Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, “Coal Mining Industry in the Hokkaido” dated June 1912 in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports Miscellaneous Series No. 682 (UK: His Majesty’s Stationery Office), 1912, available at https://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00168/PDF.pdf, p. 22.
- 25.
Mikasa City, “The City of Mikasa: a great place where you can enjoy!!” in Mikasa City website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.city.mikasa.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00001591.html
- 26.
Hendrik, Arents Tom Jos, “Regeneration in Former Coal-Mining Regions: Yubari and the Campine Compared” in Hosei University website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.hosei-web.jp/chiiki/taikai/170315/t_03.pdf, unpaginated.
- 27.
Hendrik, Arents Tom Jos, “Regeneration in Former Coal-Mining Regions: Yubari and the Campine Compared” in Hosei University website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.hosei-web.jp/chiiki/taikai/170315/t_03.pdf, unpaginated.
- 28.
Japan Hoppers Editorial Department, “‘Heart Carving Class’ in Bibai, a town influenced by coal mining and sculpture” dated 27 September 2017 in the Japan Hoppers website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/features/leisure/418/
- 29.
Japan Hoppers Editorial Department, “‘Heart Carving Class’ in Bibai, a town influenced by coal mining and sculpture” dated 27 September 2017 in the Japan Hoppers website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/features/leisure/418/
- 30.
Japan Hoppers Editorial Department, “‘Heart Carving Class’ in Bibai, a town influenced by coal mining and sculpture” dated 27 September 2017 in the Japan Hoppers website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/features/leisure/418/
Bibliography
Akarenga, “Hokkaido’s History, Culture and Nature” in Akarenga portal site of Hokkaido’s History and Culture [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.akarenga-h.jp/en/hokkaido/kaitaku/k-04/
Allen, Matthew, “Undermining the occupation: women coalminers in 1940s Japan” dated 2010 in University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Arts Papers (Archive) Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, 7 (2) [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com.hk/&httpsredir=1&article=2088&context=artspapers, pp. 1–14.
Foreign Office and the Board of Trade, “Coal Mining Industry in the Hokkaido” dated June 1912 in the Diplomatic and Consular Reports Miscellaneous Series No. 682 (UK: His Majesty’s Stationery Office), 1912, available at https://digital.soas.ac.uk/content/LO/AC/00/00/66/00168/PDF.pdf
Hattori, Ryutaro, “Traditional Folk Songs of Japan Selected and arranged by Ryutaro Hattori from his own collection Part Two: West Japan” dated 1961 (NYC: Folkways Records), 1961, unpaginated [also available online at https://folkways-media.si.edu/liner_notes/folkways/FW04534.pdf]
Hendrik, Arents Tom Jos, “Regeneration in Former Coal-Mining Regions: Yubari and the Campine Compared” in Hosei University website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.hosei-web.jp/chiiki/taikai/170315/t_03.pdf, unpaginated
Hendy, Richard, “Yubari, Japan: a city learns how to die” dated 15 August 2014 in The Guardian [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/aug/15/yubari-japan-city-learns-die-lost-population-detroit
Hoffman Michael, “How Hokkaido, born to be wild, was tamed” dated 2 March 2003 in Japan Times [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2003/03/02/general/the-great-north/#.W_9Np9szaUk
Japan Hoppers Editorial Department, “‘Heart Carving Class’ in Bibai, a town influenced by coal mining and sculpture” dated 27 September 2017 in the Japan Hoppers website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/features/leisure/418/
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “The 47th Akabira fire Festival” in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association Nihon Kankou website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/detail/01218ba2210113521
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Bibai Yakitori” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215fa2260097461
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Drum which does not fly in Bibai-shi” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215be2220093653
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Minenobu east umbrella dance” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215be2220093652
Japan Travel and Tourism Association, “Torimeshi of Nakamura” dated 2014 in the Japan Travel and Tourism Association (Nihon Kankou) website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/hokkaido/012157/detail/01215fa2260096383
Knotter, Ad, “Migration and ethnicity in coal field history (worldwide)” dated January 2013 in the Hypotheses.org website (Maastricht University), 2013, pp. 1–9.
Mikasa City, “The City of Mikasa: a great place where you can enjoy!!” in Mikasa City website [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at http://www.city.mikasa.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00001591.html
Mizutamari, Mayumi, “Lab.letters” dated 2018 in the Graduate School of Letters/Faculty of Letters, Hokkaido University [downloaded on 1 Dec 2018], available at https://www.let.hokudai.ac.jp/en/staff/3-6-06/
Spike Japan, “Yubari: From the culture of coal to the cult of caramel” in Spike Japan [downloaded on 1 Jan 2018], available at https://spikejapan.wordpress.com/spike-hokkaido-2/yubari-from-the-culture-of-coal-to-the-cult-of-caramel/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lim, T.W., Shimazaki, N., Godo, Y., Lim, Y. (2019). Coal Mining Subcultures: A Brief Cultural History of Hokkaido and Comparative Perspectives with Other Regions. In: Coal Mining Communities and Gentrification in Japan. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7220-9_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7220-9_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-7219-3
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-7220-9
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)