Effects of the Exploitation of Mines on the Development of Neighboring Communities

Abstract

The Innai Silver Mine, located at Okachi-machi, Akita Prefecture, was discovered in 1606 and it had been one of the most important silver mines in Japan in the feudal age.The author studied the history of the development of the Innai Silver Mines, and its exploitation, and tried to analyse their effects on the development of neighboring communities.(1) This silver mine, which had been in the course of decline, came remarkably active after Furukawa Kogyo Co. began to run this mine. Its decline restarted since 1907, and it was closed in 1954 (see fig. 1).(2) There were several phenomena associated with the activity of the mine. Such were migration of inhabitants, appearance of silver towns, development of agriculture and forestry in the adjacent areas, growth of big land owners, etc.(3) Areas influenced by the above-mentioned phenomena were the Yokote Basin and its neighborhood, Yuri County in Akita Prefecture and Mogami County in Yamagata Prefecture. The most strongly influenced area was the upper reach of the Omonogawa River.(4) At present Innai, once the mining town, is changing into a forestry village.