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Introduction:
Kosaka is a small town surrounded by hills with a population of just under 7000 people and an area of 178 square kilometres. It is situated inland in the northeastern part of Akita Prefecture and bordered by Aomori and Iwate Prefectures. It is half an hour by car south of Lake Towada, which is part of the Hachimantai-Towada National Park. Kosaka flourished as a mining town during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and was one of the first places in Japan to have electricity and running water.
History:
On August 15, 1891, Kobayashi Yosaku discovered in Kosaka the ore which would someday become world famous as Kuroko. Kobayashi consulted with the local Nambu clan who then took the mine's operations into their own hands.
The clan appointed Oshima Takato to develop the mine, but because of civil
war surrounding the Meiji Restoration development was put on hold. After
the war ended, the Meiji government nationalized Kosaka's mine and development
resumed.
However, technology appropriate for processing Kosaka's Kuroko ore remained
elusive. During the mine's early years, both the national government and
several private organizations struggled to keep it's facilities producing.
Around the turn of the century however, flash smelting revolutionized the
Japanese mining industry and Kosaka welcomed an era of prosperity. Extraction
levels increased and by 1905 Kosaka's mine production levels were leading
the nation.
The success of the mine brought many benefits to the town. Kosaka's residents
were among the first in northern Japan to enjoy electricity in their homes,
telephone and telegraph service, sewers, a modern hospital and a private
railroad. There was a time when this small town was the second largest
in Akita prefecture. To this day, buildings like the Korakukan and Mine
Office Building proclaim Kosaka's proud history.
Unfortunately for Kosaka, developments in world trade led to the decline of the Japanese mining industry in the 1970's. Kosaka's last mine closed in 1990. Kosaka Smelting and Refinery Co. Ltd. is adapting to the times by using smelting and refining technology to recycle metals. In 2004, it also opened Green Fill Kosaka, the largest privately owned landfill in Japan, atop an old mine site. In addition, Kosaka is the proud host of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training programs in mining technology.
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Town Seal
The 6 pointed star is a stylized version of the chinese character for "ko."The
character for "saka" is in the center. The ring around the star
represents antlers, or "kazuno," the name of region of Akita
Kosaka is in.
Town Flower:
Acacia
The hills surrounding Kosaka were once barren and gray due to pollution
from mining activities. In 1910, the town began to replant it's surroundings
with the robust Acacia Tree. Now acacia honey is a popular local product
and an Acacia Festival is held each June to celebrate the blooming acacia
flowers.
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