Rice riots at Coal Pits (Yama) #12 (Soldiers Suppressing Rioters)
July 1965

Yama no Kome-sodo #12 (Chin-atu ni Deta Guntai)
[Rice Riots at Coal Pits (Yama) #12 (Soldiers Suppressing Rioters)]
38.0 x 53.8 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

Text at the Top Right
At night on August 27, hundreds of pit workers (at Yahata Ironworks Futase Branch Central Coal Pit) invaded their mine store, robbed it of everything, and caused chaos. Thirty policemen including the police chief Harada and the chief inspector Sada as well as a platoon led by Lieutenant Sakuma from the military camp in Nogata Town were sent to quell the riot on August 28. When the reckless miners saw the military and the police, they scuttled away in all directions like flies and little spiders.

Additional Notes
In the late Taisho era (1912-1926), the third chimney for the powerhouse of Central Coal Pit was built. The pit was opened according to the 50-year plan of their company in 1910.

Text at the Bottom Right
On August 28, a coal miner named K (his initial) was unwillingly brought out from his house and made to join the rioters. In the afternoon, the military opened fire and raised a war cry in a bayonet charge. It scared him out of his life, and his knees gave way. When he was trying to crawl out of the site, a soldier bayoneted his thigh from behind. He died from severe bleeding on the way to the hospital. A total of three people died in the riots; two at Mineji Coal Pit and one at Central Coal Pit.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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