The works of Sakubei Yamamoto
Transport (inside the mine)

Coal Basket with Bamboo Skids
October 1967

Battera
[Coal Basket with Bamboo Skids]
37.8 x 53.8 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

Text at the Bottom Right
This basket resembled a long basket (nagajoke in dialect) used at farmer's houses. However, two pieces of cut bamboo were fitted on its long bottom as skids (surase). It was used in unevenly inclined haulage ways near faults, which had such soft bottoms that it was difficult to tow coal sleds on them. It could not carry more than 100 kg of coal.

Letters at the Bottom Right
(Yama Saku): abbreviation of Yamamoto Sakubei

Text at the Top Left
This painting shows the cancer of the coal pit (yama) a kuichigai, which means "fault." The fault radiated from top to bottom and became thicker at the bottom. The fault plane ran inclining across the coal bed. Miners (yamabito) called a small-scale fault a gakkuri or a domagure. The roof of a slope became softer and spring water increased in quantity near a fault. Large-scale faults had to be cut through and the work was very troublesome. The faults which were found underground varied in number, depending on the pit.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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