Ikuno Silver Mine

Japanese: 生野銀山 - いくのぎんざん

A silver mine in Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture, which has existed since the 16th century. It was discovered in 807 and mined, but in 1542 Yamana Suketoyo started full-scale development and it became one of the major silver mines. Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi also placed importance on it as a direct domain, and Tokugawa Ieyasu also appointed a magistrate to manage it as a direct domain in 1598. It was at its peak during the Keicho and Genna eras, and it was the largest silver mine in the country in terms of silver production. Along with Iwami Ginzan, it was the largest source of raw material for silver coins. After the Meiji Restoration, the government invited foreign engineers to operate it as a government-run mine and worked to modernize mining and refining techniques. In 1889, it became the property of the Imperial Household Ministry. In 1896, it was sold to the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, and it was privately managed, but closed in March 1973.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

兵庫県朝来市にある 16世紀以来の銀山。大同2 (807) 年発見されて以来採掘されていたらしいが，天文 11 (1542) 年山名祐豊が本格的な開発に着手して以来，有数の銀山となった。織田信長，豊臣秀吉も直轄領として重視，徳川家康も慶長3 (1598) 年直轄地として代官を置き経営。慶長，元和の頃が最盛期で，産銀額も全国一で，石見銀山と並んで銀貨の原料の最大の供給源となった。明治維新後，官営として政府は外国人技師を招き，採掘，精錬などの技術の近代化に努めた。 1889年には宮内省御料となった。 1896年には三菱財閥に払い下げられ，以来民間経営に移ったが，1973年3月閉山した。

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