There was a gas accident in a coal mine on Gunkanjima, a theatrical film stage on Sunday…The difficult conditions of entering an underwater tunnel with a temperature of 35 degrees and humidity of 95% and not being able to come out for 8 hours. 1956, a coal mine on Gunkanjima suffered typhoon damage and killed three people There was a gas accident

* This article is based on FuraidoGunkanjima comes back to life in colorThis is a re-edited version of a portion of ” (Eastern Shinsho Q).

Coal miners rode underground in mine carts to the work site (Courtesy of Gunkanjima Digital Museum,Gunkanjima comes back to life in color“leg)

High-quality coal from Gunkanjima contributed to Japan’s industrial development

Coal mining in Japan reached its peak from the Meiji period to the Showa period, when modern industry developed rapidly. It was in the latter half of the Meiji era that the development of the Hashima Coal Mine took a major turn. Riding the wave of Japan’s industrialization, it developed at a great pace with the expansion of coal mining equipment, and continued to support the demand for coal even into the Showa period.

Hokkaido and Kyushu were the main production areas for coal in Japan, and Kyushu had particularly large reserves. In particular, the waters west of Hashima Island were known as the “Black Diamond Islands” because high-quality coal could be mined. As of 1934, Hashima’s coal output was about 220,000 tons. The Takashima Coal Mine, also rich in resources, produced about 250,000 tons in the same year. At this time, the Hashima Coal Mine was still lagging behind the Takashima Coal Mine.

When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, the Japanese government, trying to strengthen its military, launched a “Five-Year Plan to Increase Coal Production and Supply and Demand,” and production increased not only at Hashima and Takashima coal. mines, but also at coal mines throughout Japan The amount is increasing significantly. In 1941 (Showa 16), when production was ramping up, Hashima produced its highest annual output of about 410,000 tons. In the end, he passed 370,000 yen at the Takashima Coal Mine.

His business background greatly influenced Hashima’s subsequent development. After the Pacific War, Japan’s main source of energy was a shift from coal to oil. However, high-quality coal is essential for the iron manufacturing process, which is essential for the modernization of all areas including industry. By meeting the demand for steel, Gunkanjima would continue to maintain its status as a major coal-producing area even after the special demand due to the war was lost.

Hashima coal is also dangerous because it contains a lot of gas and is prone to accidental combustion.

Hashima had quality coal and coal seams.

Coal is usually classified by the level of carbonation, and the coal with the most advanced carbonation is called anthracite. The level of carbonation is lower than anthracite coal, but it is a bituminous coal with a strong heating power, and especially high-quality bituminous coal is coking coal. This coal cake has a very high thermal power when burned, and is also used as a raw material for coke, which is needed in the manufacture of iron and steel, and is the most valuable of the coal Hashima coal had a particularly low ash and sulfur content, and was considered the best grade in Japan.

On the other hand, since the impurity content was low, the pulverization rate (ratio of particles becoming fine) coal was high, and there was a strong tendency for spontaneous combustion. There was also a risk of coal mines going out of gas (gas flowing out by breaking through the bedrock) due to the large amount of gas flowing out.