The Ishikari coal basin lies in the tertiary mountains of the mining region of Sorachi, east of the Ishikari Plain in central Hokkaido. These coal veins contain the largest quantity of coal of Japan. Because of its late discovery the historical role of the coalfield could not be compared with that of the Chikuho coalfield, but its economic importance since the Japanese industrial revolution is comparable with that of the southern Chikuhō coalfield.Glenn T. Trewartha, Japan a Physical, Cultural & Regional Geography, p.90.
Discovery It was explorer Matsuura Takeshirō (松浦 武四郎), who, during his journey through Hokkaido in 1857, first marked the coal seams on the banks of the Sorachi river near Akabira.Kodama Kiyoomi (児玉 清臣), Sekitan no gijutsushi (石炭技術史), p.19. In 1868, carpenter Kimura Kichitarō (木村 吉太郎) discovered coal in Horonai, Mikasa (三笠).Yoshioka Hirotaka (吉岡 宏高), Shoninsha no tame no tankõkōza (初任者のための炭鉱講座). However, it took another six years before the local government took action, and the mining engineers Benjamin Smith Lyman and Takeaki Enomoto welded an investigation. Their findings were satisfactory, and the Meiji government decided to build in Horonai the first coalmine of the Ishikari coal basin.Kasuga Yutaka, Transfer and Development of Coal-Mine Technology in Hokkaido, pp. 11-20. In 1889, the Meiji government sold off the mine and its railways to, Hori Motoi, who found the Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company (北海道炭礦鉄道会社 Hokkaidō Tankō Tetsudō Kaisha), abbreviated as Hokutan.Laura E. Hein, Feuling Growth, p.32.; Richard J. Samuels, Rich Nation, Strong Army, p.74.
Alongside to the historic mine Horonai this basin is also home to the famous mining town of Yūbari (夕張市). Here in 1888, coal was discovered by engineer Ban Ichitarō (坂 市太郎, 1854-1920), a follower of Benjamin Smith Lyman, on the upper reaches of the river Shihorokabetsu (士幌加別川). The following year, Hokutan opened its first colliery in Yūbari, the Yūbari Saitanjo (夕張採炭所).Satō Manami (佐藤 真奈美), Hokkaidō Yūbarishi ni okeru chiikisaisei (北海道夕張市における地域再生), p.37.
Location of the coalfield and its collieries
List of coal mines in Ishikari NumberMineHokkaidō Shinbun Sorachi 'Yama' Shuzaihan (北海道新聞空知「炭鉱」取材班), loco citato.Top Annual ProductionCoordinatesHokkaido Government Sorachi Subprefectural Office (空知支庁), opere citato.Associated TownOwnerStart DateClosing Date1Hokutan Horonai coal mine 1500.000MikasaHokutan187919892Hokutan Ikushunbetsu coal mine 200.000IkushunbetsuHokutan188519573Sorachi coal mine 1500.000UtashinaiHokutan189019954Hokutan Yūbari coal mine 2000.000YūbariHokutan189019775Hokutan Kamui coal mine 500.000UtashinaiHokutan189119716Sumitomo Kami Utashinai coal mine 300.000UtashinaiSumitomo189419887Sumitomo Akabira coal mine 1900.000AkabiraSumitomo189519938Mitsui Sunagawa coal mine 1600.000KamisunagawaMitsui189919879Sumitomo Ponbetsu coal mine 1500.000MikasaSumitomo1902197110Sumitomo Yayoi coal mine MikasaSumitomo1905197011Sumitomo Utashinai coal mine800.000UtashinaiSumitomo1905197112Hokutan Mayachi coal mine 700.000YūbariHokutan1905198713Hokutan Manji coal mine 500.000ManjiHokutan1905197614Mitsubishi Ōyūbari coal mine 1000.000YūbariMitsubishi1906197315Mitsubishi Bibai coal mine 1600.000BibaiMitsubishi1913197216Mitsubishi Ashibetsu coal mine 300.000AshibetsuMitsubishi1914196417Hokutan Miruto coal mine MirutoHokutan1917196918Mitsui Bibai coal mine 1000.000BibaiMitsui1918196319Moshiri coal mine AkabiraYūbetsu1918196920Hokutan Kakuta coal mine KakutaHokutan1927195321Meiji mining kami Ashibetsu coal mine 100.000AshibetsuMeiji mining1935196322Hokutan Heiwa coal mine 1000.000YūbariHokutan1937197523Toyosato coal mine AkabiraToyosato Mining Company1937195424Hokutan Akama coal mine AkabiraHokutan1938197325Takane coal mine 200.000AshibetsuTakane1938196726Mitsui Ashibetsu coal mine 1700.000AshibetsuMitsui1939199227Mitsui Oku Naie coal mine 460.000NaieMitsui1947196628Mitsubishi Minami Ōyūbari coal mine YūbariMitsubishi1966199029Hokutan Yūbari Shin coal mine YūbariHokutan1970198130Hokutan Shimisuzawa coal mine YūbariHokutan31Yuya coal mine 200.000UtashinaiYuya19**1965
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