Photos

This is the chikuho district in Northern Kyushu which was the center at the time of the height of prosperity of coal industry. This is the local city developed according to coal industry. As deposits of coal, it is national leading, and was proud of about 100,000 population in the golden age. After Meiji Era, the demand of coal increased rapidly and the fuel of a steam engine, the materials of iron manufacture, etc. became a driving force which promotes modernization of Japan as independent energy. Between 1900-1964 is the golden age of coal mining. However, the role was gradually finished as an energy source by arrival of the oil age. Now, two chimneys and shaft turret are left behind together with the coal mine residence of those days or the museum as a monument in the site of a coal commemoration park.
This place is located on a hill adjacent to the railway station, which may be overlooking views of the city.
In the life at the time of my child, coal having been used as an energy source of the stove for heating of the school, the material which heat the bath of a house and a steam locomotive, etc. still remains as my memory.

(p.s.)
Currently, the local trains running in this region: workshop

(p.s.2)
Power supply composition comparison of Japan(2008)
Coal: 26.8%
Oil: 13.0%
LNG: 26.3%
Atomic power: 24.0%
Water power: 7.1%
etc,. : 2.8%