Abstract
During the Meiji Era, large-scale mines carried out the establishment of such sub-sidiary enterprises as power plants, lumbering, and ironworks and foundries, During the Taisho Era, industries allied to mining were developed but, for the most part, these were industries which promoted mining operations. Industries based on the utilization of mineral production were not developed. This was due to location, natural environment conditions, lack of capital and a spirit of enterprise in the local people, and poor representation from the local area among the leaders of the mining industry.
In recent years, allied industries have been developed based upon the exploitation of Kuroko (black ore). These industries, however, tend to be concentrated in the city of Odate and are subsidiaries of large companies headquarters elsewhere. Local companies operated by native enterprises are few in number.
