The Sado Gold Mine and Japan’s ‘History War’ Versus the memory of Korean Forced Laborers

Johnsen, Nikolai

Abstract

Japan has nominated the Sado Gold Mine for UNESECO World Heritage inscription despite South Korean opposition due to Japan’s refusal to recognize the role of wartime Korean forced labor at this location. Japan’s previous industrial World Heritage inscription is criticized for similar denials of forced labor history. In this way, the Japanese government has embarked on a “history war” against Korea and the memories of the wartime victims of forced labor. In addition to providing victim testimony, historical sources and local and Korean research reveals that Mitsubishi forced Korean laborers to work in deadly conditions in the Sado mines. Korean forced laborers were taken to Sado Island where they faced racial discrimination and abuse. This article explains why Japan chose to worsen relations with Korea by nominating the Sado mines for World Heritage inscription while concealing the use of forced Korean labor and examines evidence of forced labor at the site.

Citation

Johnsen, N. (2022). The Sado Gold Mine and Japan’s ‘History War’ Versus the memory of Korean Forced Laborers. Japan focus, 20(1), Article 5686

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Mar 8, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 8, 2022
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-4660
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 5686
• Keywords: Japan World Heritage, UNESCO, Korean forced labor, Sado gold mine, colonialism, 佐渡金山
• Publisher URL: https://apjjf.org/2022/5/Johnsen.html