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Coal Mining Subcultures: A Brief Cultural History of Hokkaido and Comparative Perspectives with Other Regions

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Coal Mining Communities and Gentrification in Japan

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Abstract

While coal mining was brutish and nasty, it stimulated colourful coal mining-related culture amongst the miners as they made merry in their lull and rest time to distract themselves from the harsh work environment. The coal mines also produced some of the most prolific non-tangible cultures like folk songs where miners sang in solidarity and in times of hardship. Culture has been conserved and commodified in present-day Hokkaido. With the demise of the coal mining industry, Hokkaido’s former coal mining towns are transitioning to service sectors that offer economic activities like retailing, tourism, hospitality, and cultural experiences.

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Notes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore, Singapore

    Tai Wei Lim & Yiru Lim

  2. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Naoko Shimazaki

  3. Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshihisa Godo

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  1. Tai Wei Lim
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  2. Naoko Shimazaki
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  3. Yoshihisa Godo
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  4. Yiru Lim
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Lim, T.W., Shimazaki, N., Godo, Y., Lim, Y. (2019). Coal Mining Subcultures: A Brief Cultural History of Hokkaido and Comparative Perspectives with Other Regions. In: Coal Mining Communities and Gentrification in Japan. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7220-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7220-9_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-7219-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-7220-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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