Japan-Wales Sorachi Symposium 2009

Theme of the Symposium

Collective Memories of Coal Mining in Japan and Wales: The Roles of Archives and Social Education towards Community Regeneration

Rationale

As symbolized in the bankruptcy of Yubari city, former coalfields in Sorachi are in a predicament with the regional policy shift by the central government. But the symptoms of new community development began to be seen. In 'Energetic Sorachi! Plan for Regeneration of Coalfields Regions' drawn up this year by Sorachi subprefecture, Hokkaido, they regret their past way of pursuing 'new things' and 'the current of the times,' leaving behind their collective memories, and, on the contrary, the course of action that they have to find a way to local regeneration is shown, contemplating the history of coalfields. Also, they indicate the significance of regaining the pride by encouraging each other with domestic and international counterparts who shares the universal language of'coal mining. Based on this rationale, the symposium this time was set to begin the relationship with South Wales region in the U.K. and to learn how they have put values on 'archives and collective memories' and 'social education.' The scholars from Japan who study the former coalfields in Joban and Kyushu will give presentations, too, and we will search for strategy beyond the borders.

Swansea University, from which we invited 4 presenters this time, is located at the center of South Wales coalfield, rescued the materials which are scattered and almost lost when coal mines were closed one after another in the 1970's, and have constructed an internationally known archive (the system to preserve documents, photos and so on systematically), SWCC (South Wales Coalfield Collection), and a library for lifelong learning called Miner's Library. South Wales has such many similarities to the former coalfields in Hokkaido as the mountainous and isolated geography and the story of having lost the basic industry of coalmining in which most of the men worked under national policy during the 1970's and 80's. But in spite of such a predicament, they have been creating a model of regeneration through lifelong learning and the preservation of industrial heritage. We believe that learning and discussing this experience will help not only the development of learning and Sorachi alone, but also give suggestions to all people who aim for true local regeneration.

Date: Friday, 7th August and Saturday, 8th August, 2009
Venue: Iwamizawa Community Plaza (8th) and Arte Piazza Bibai (7th)

Hosted by: JAFCOF (JApan research group on Former COalFields) + NPO body "Hokkaido Coalmine-Heritage Association" + Archival Institute for Life Course Studies, Waseda University

  • Supported by: City of Iwamizawa, Sorachi Subprefectural Office in Hokkaido, Sapporo Gakuin University, Swansea University, Hokkaido Industrial Archaeology Society, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, British Academy, Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
  • With interpreters/ open for public/ no admission fee

Programme

The first day on 7th August, Bibai

  • 13:00-14:00
    Contexts of Japan's coalfields: The decline of coal industry, labour movements and mining municipalities
                                                    Hideo Nakazawa, Chuo University
  • 14:00-16:00
    Mining Community, Life and Memories in Northern Kyushu: Stories from two coalfields
    (1) A Study of Life at Hashima Colliery
    Hiroto Inoue, Waseda University
    (2) The Village of Miners Living in Company Housing at Miike Coalfield, in Fukuoka
    Maki Nishimuta, Kwansei Gakuin University
    (3) Regeneration of Memory of Coalmining Island: A Case Study of Hashima Colliery
    Shisei Kimura, JSPS Research Fellow
  • 16:00-17:00 Discussions
  • Greetings from the Mayor of Bibai, Michio Sakurai, at some timing on the day.
  • Followed by business meeting by the members of the two-countries joint project (at the meeting room in Maple Lodge Iwamizawa)

The second day on 8th August, Iwamizawa

Chair: Hideo Nakazawa

  • Greetings from the Mayor of Iwamizawa, Koichi Watanabe, at some timing on the day.
  • 10:05-11:30
    Keynote Speech: The Rise and Fall of Coal in Comparative Perspective: Thoughts on South Wales and Hokkaido
                                                    Chris Williams, Swansea University
  • 11:30-12:30
    The South Wales Coalfield Collection: past, present and future
                     Elisabeth Bennett and Sian Williams, Swansea University
  • 12:30-13:30
    Lunch Break
  • 13:30-14:30
    Community Regeneration and Adult Education in Wales: women's experiences
                                                    Jane Elliott, Swansea University
  • 14:30-15:30
    Community Regeneration in Joban and the Role of Ex-miners Career Archive
                                                   Naoko Shimazaki, Waseda University
                                                   Kei'ichi Sawaguchi, Taisho University
  • 15:30-16:00
    Coffee Break
  • 16:00-17:00
    Community Regeneration and the Role of Collective Memory in Sorachi
                            Hirotaka Yoshioka, Sapporo International University
  • 17:00-18:00
    Discussions
  • Followed by a Sake Party at Japanese style Ryotei, Suigetsu, near the Venue.