炭鉱(たんこう)

炭鉱(たんこう) refers to coal mines and the coal mining industry.

Common expressions

• 炭鉱(たんこう)労働者(ろうどうしゃ): coal miner
• 炭鉱(たんこう)夫(ふ): coal miner (older term)
• 炭鉱(たんこう)の町(まち): coal mining town
• 閉山(へいざん): mine closure

Etymology

Japan had many coal mines, especially in Kyushu and Hokkaido, but most closed by the 1960s-70s as oil became the primary energy source.

Related words

• 鉱山(こうざん): mine (general)
• 石炭(せきたん): coal
• 採掘(さいくつ): mining, excavation