How Have the Remains and Memories of Coal Mines Been Discovered in Post-Developmentalism Community Engagements?

From the Local Activities in a Former Coal Field

Abstract

By considering the community engagements in a former coal field, this paper examines how the remains and memories of coal mines have been found in postdevelopmental coal fields and what significance they may have for regional revitalization.

Old buildings, ruins, townscapes, and landscapes that were once neglected are now recognized as “heritage sites” with important historical and cultural value for the region and society. Under these circumstances, the remains and memories of the coal industry in Japanese society before and after World War Ⅱ have been attracting attention in recent years as industrial heritage. In each former coal field, the remains and memories of the coal mines are being explored. Specifically, this paper considers the activities of the “Ohmachi Brick Museum.”

Ohmachi Town, Kishima District, Saga Prefecture, where the “Ohmachi Brick Museum” is located, was once a leading coal field. The closure of the coal mine had serious economic and social impacts, and for many years the history and memory of the coal mine have been overlooked by the local community. However, in recent years, efforts to utilize the remains of coal mines left in the area have been initiated by “Ohmachi Brick Museum.” These activities reveal the cultural and social processes in which the industrial remains left in a region are given value through the various interactions and dialogues of the people who live there. The efforts to preserve and utilize the remains of the coal mine also serve as a starting point for reconsidering the state of the region and developing community engagements centered on residents.