Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to put light on the relationship between mine exploitation and forestry around Ani and Kosaka area of Akita Prefecture during Meiji and Taisho eras.
In order to operate a mine, a tremendous amount of materials such as firewood, charcoal and lumber were required in Meiji and Taisho ages. In Akita Prefecture every mine was endowed with abundant forest resources surrounding within 40 km.
Government-controlled mines with the forest attached to them had been transferred to private ownership, which caused the development of mining industry and the company forests. Then the mining companies began the forestry as a side business, lumbering and charcoal-making on a large scale. Heavy cutting and poisonous smoke brought desolation of forests around mines.
