Civic Group Leads Efforts over 1942 Undersea Mine Disaster

A Japanese civic group is spearheading the effort to recover the remains of those who perished in the 1942 undersea coal mine disaster at Chosei mine in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The governments of Japan and South Korea have initiated DNA testing on the remains discovered at the site after the civic group requested such research.

Yoko Inoue, a 76-year-old representative of the group, stated that their efforts have reached the stage of DNA analysis. "We want the Japanese government to take the lead in searching for and recovering the remains now," she added.

The Chosei coal mine, which began operations in 1914, was flooded on February 3, 1942, during World War II, about 1 kilometer from its entrance. The accident claimed the lives of 183 people, including 136 from the Korean Peninsula. The entrance was sealed, leaving the bodies of the victims inside.

Established in 1991, the civic group has conducted underwater investigations, seeking government support for probes inside the mine, which they claim has been denied due to the inability to locate the remains. The group raised funds primarily online and collaborated with divers for their investigations.

In August 2025, divers successfully retrieved bones and a skull from underwater. The civic group then requested joint DNA analysis with South Korea. In January this year, leaders of the two countries agreed to cooperate in identifying the remains and advance related procedures in May. However, the group suspended its investigations following the death of a Taiwanese diver during a memorial ceremony in Ube in February. They decided not to resume investigations until the next memorial ceremony in late January 2027.

The group is currently planning to seal the shaft as part of a project to establish a peace park at the former coal mine site. Yoko Inoue emphasized the group's goal to preserve the site as a cultural property and a historical landmark.