Underground Ponies
1958 - 1963

Konaiba
[Underground Ponies]
21.2 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

Ponies working in slopes near the surface were taken out of the slopes every day, but those working near pit bottoms were not taken out to the surface until they worked for about one week straight. The ponies which exited the pits after a long time would prance in glee when exposed to the wind on the surface at the pit mouths.

Song Lyrics
Koma mo ichido wa namida o nagasu.
Amari tatakuna, batei-san.

I hear even a pony sheds a tear at least once in its lifetime.
Don't whip so hard, Mr. Stableman.

Underground ponies were used for haulage not only in the Meiji era (1868-1912) but also in the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989) at small-scale coal pits. A pony towed five or six loaded mine cars.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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