Key Facts
• During WWII, women replaced men in coal mines as ‘female miners.’
• Coal was a critical wartime resource; women handled excavation and transport.
• Yasuko Idegawa, 92, documented over 80 women’s stories since 1973.
• Her 1984 book, Mothers Who Gave Birth to Fire, was republished in 2021.
• ‘Listening to Voices from the Ground’ meetings began in Fukuoka in 2021.
• Meetings occur bi-monthly, led by Akari Kawamatsu, a 35-year-old researcher.
• Idegawa survived the 1944 Kokura air raid, shaping her preservation efforts.
• Post-war, coal mines declined due to energy policy shifts in the 1970s.
• A picture book adaptation of Idegawa’s work was published in 2025.
• The book, Mothers Who Gave Birth to Fire: Stories of Female Miners, costs ¥1,760.
Summary
During WWII, women stepped into coal mining roles as men went to war, contributing to Japan’s industrial efforts. Yasuko Idegawa, now 92, has dedicated her life to preserving their stories, documenting over 80 accounts since 1973. Her book, Mothers Who Gave Birth to Fire, highlights the resilience of these women and was republished in 2021. Bi-monthly meetings in Fukuoka, led by researcher Akari Kawamatsu, continue to share these histories, fostering intergenerational dialogue. A 2025 picture book adaptation aims to ensure these stories endure for future generations. As coal mines vanished post-1970s, Idegawa emphasizes the importance of remembering these women’s contributions to Japan’s modernization.
