One of Japan's two coal mines officially closed

One of Japan's two coal mines officially closed

IKESHIMA, Japan, Nov. 29 Kyodo - Coal miners come out of the pit after their last work at Ikeshima mine in Sotome, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Nov. 29, 2001. The mine was officially shut down as it could no longer compete with cheaper imports. The closure leaves Taiheiyo coal mine in Kushiro, Hokkaido, as Japan's last colliery.

1 of Japan's 2 remaining coal mines to close

1 of Japan's 2 remaining coal mines to close

NAGASAKI, Japan - Tsutomu Tashiro, president of Matsushima Coal Mining Co., operator of Ikeshima Mine in Nagasaki Prefecture, announced the company's plan to close the mine on Nov. 29 at a press conference in Fukuoka's Chuo Ward on Oct. 12. The mine, one of Japan's two remaining coal mines, began operations in 1959 and production peaked at 1.53 million tons in fiscal 1985.

One of Japan's two coal mines officially closed

One of Japan's two coal mines officially closed

IKESHIMA, Japan, Nov. 29 Kyodo - Coal miners come out of the pit after their last work at Ikeshima mine in Sotome, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Nov. 29, 2001. The mine was officially shut down as it could no longer compete with cheaper imports. The closure leaves Taiheiyo coal mine in Kushiro, Hokkaido, as Japan's last colliery.

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Photo taken Dec. 18, 2015 shows the now-closed Ikeshima coal mine in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Photo taken Dec. 12, 2015 shows tourists listening to explanations by a former coal miner (far R) at the now-closed Ikeshima coal mine in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Former coal mining island seeking to survive on tourism

Photo taken Dec. 18, 2015 shows a mine train running inside a pit at the now-closed Ikeshima coal mine in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

1 of Japan's 2 remaining coal mines to close

1 of Japan's 2 remaining coal mines to close

NAGASAKI, Japan - Tsutomu Tashiro, president of Matsushima Coal Mining Co., operator of Ikeshima Mine in Nagasaki Prefecture, announced the company's plan to close the mine on Nov. 29 at a press conference in Fukuoka's Chuo Ward on Oct. 12. The mine, one of Japan's two remaining coal mines, began operations in 1959 and production peaked at 1.53 million tons in fiscal 1985.