Collective Memories of Coalmining in Japan and Wales 2010 at Waseda

Joint Symposium with Waseda Sociological Society

Current Situation in Former Coalfields:
Joban, Sorachi and Wales

In Japan, the coal industry which supported the postwar rehabilitation ended up its role with closures of Taiheiyo Coal Mine and Nagasaki-Ikeshima Coal Mine in 1996. The coal industry needed labor force and most of the coalfields attained the development as coal towns. Now, we hear that most former coalfields are distressed with the decrease of population, high unemployment rate and unstable lives. Besides, the history of the coal industry is often told in a negative image with the memories of forced labor and accidents. On the other hand, it seems that the movements to regenerate communities based on the collective memories of coalmining began to occur in Japan while the value of modern industrial heritage is reconsidered recently.

Although the coal industry already came to end, it is socially significant to dig up the peculiarities of the industry and problems that coalfields experiencing. In this symposium, we would like to examine the history and the present situation of former coalfields from the viewpoints of researchers in deferent regions. Prof. Chris Williams, who has been researching the coal industry and the labor movements in Wales from a historical standpoint, Prof. Naoko Shimazaki (Waseda University), who has been conducting follow-up surveys on retired employees of closed mines in Joban colliery, and Prof. Hirotaka Yoshioka, who has been promoting community development based on coalmine heritage, will give presentation so that we will be able to think about the common heritage and problems left by the coal industry in the regions, bearing in mind the diversity depending on the regions and the companies of former coalfields.

• Date: 10th July 2010（Sat）　13:30-16:30
• Place: Waseda Univ. Toyama Campus Lecture Theatre 451（Building 34）
• Preparatory Meeting for Symposium:
  On the day 11:00〜　Waseda Univ. Okuma Building Kusunoki-tei
• Interpreter: Akiko Shibagaki　
  **Interpreting mode varies as below**
  Chris Williams Presentation:
               English→Japanese consecutive interpreting
  Other Presentations:
               Japanese→English whispering Interpreting
  During Discussion:
               English→Japanese simultaneous but Japanese
               →English consecutive

Chair:     Hideo Nakazawa（Chuo University）
Presenters:
     Chris Williams（Swansea University）
         The Rise and Fall of Coal in Comparative Perspective:
         Thoughts on South Wales and Japan
     Naoko Shimazaki（Waseda University）
         Community and Workers in the Face of Coal Industry Decline
     Hirotaka Yoshioka（Sapporo International University）
         Community Regeneration and the Role of Collective Memory
         in Sorachi

Discussant:     Hisashi Nakamura（University of Tokyo）and Shinya Suto（Waseda University）

Workshop1（Open for Public）

"Knowledge is Power: Social Education and Regeneration in Japan and South Wales"

• Date: 11th July2010（Sun）　10:00-12:00
• Place: Waseda University Toyama Campus Building 39, 5th Floor 5th Meeting Room
• Interpreter: Akiko Shibagaki
      Jane Elliott Presentation:
           English→Japanese consecutive interpreting
      Other Presentations:
           Japanese→English simultaneous Interpreting
      During Discussion:
           English→Japanese simultaneous but Japanese
          →English consecutive

Sunday 11th July

10:00 Opening, Naoko Shimazaki (Waseda University)

10:10 Professor Jane Elliott (Swansea University)
     Adult and community education in Wales in a new political context

*Professor Colin Trotman (Swansea University),　paper submission only, no presentation→Japanese translation will be available as a part of the handout booklet

10:40　Takahiro Tominaga（JSPS fellow）
     How could we regenerate the memories of housewives in Miike? : Toward the study of education for the adult originated from learners' life experiences

11:10 Panel discussion:
     'Social education and regeneration in South Wales and Japan'

• Keiko Hirakawa (Meiji University)
• Elisabeth Bennett (Swansea University)
• Sian Williams (Swansea University)
• Makoto Nishikido (Hosei University)

1200: Closing comments (leader: Naoko Shimazaki)

Workshop2: Planning Meeting for years to come（Closed to JAFCOF and Wales Members）

Afternoon 11th