Obira mine

This mine was located in the Ogatacho area of ​​Bungo-Ono City, Oita Prefecture. It is located at the foot of Mt. Sobo, about 700 meters above sea level. It is said to have been discovered in 1547 (Tenbun 16). The Oka Domain opened the tin mine in 1647 (Shoho 4), and it was most prosperous during the Kanpo era (1741-1744). The Bungo Kokushi states, "In the past, silver, copper, tin and lead were produced in large quantities. They can be found in abandoned mines here and there. Now only a small amount of tin is produced. It is of the finest quality." It was developed by Kurauchi Mining in 1903 (Meiji 36), and Mitsubishi Mining in 1935 (Showa 10). The mine was closed in 1944 due to the Tin Mining Development Order. It was reopened in 1950 (Showa 25) during the Korean War, but was closed in 1954. Currently, the Obira Youth Travel Village at the foot of Mt. Sobo is located at the site of the elementary school that closed when the mountain was closed, and serves as a base for climbing Mt. Sobo and exploring its nature.

[Shunichi Kaneko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大分県豊後大野市(ぶんごおおのし)緒方(おがた)町地区にあった鉱山。祖母山麓(そぼさんろく)、標高約700メートルにあり、1547年（天文16）の発見といわれ、岡藩では1647年（正保4）錫(すず)山を開き、寛保(かんぽう)年間（1741～1744）にもっともにぎわった。『豊後国志(ぶんごこくし)』には「往時多く銀銅錫鉛を産す。廃坑処々(しょしょ)に之(これ)有り。今僅(わず)かに錫を出す。最も精良也(なり)」とある。1903年（明治36）蔵内(くらうち)鉱業、1935年（昭和10）三菱(みつびし)鉱業により開発。1944年錫鉱業整備令で休山。朝鮮戦争時の1950年（昭和25）再開したが、1954年休山した。現在、休山に伴う閉校の小学校跡に祖母山麓尾平青少年旅行村があり、祖母山登山、自然探勝の基地となっている。

［兼子俊一］

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