Coal was discovered at Mirokuzawa in Iwaki City in 1856, leading to the development of the Joban Coalfield, which grew to become the largest of its kind on Honshu.
Following the Meiji era, the region saw further expansion with the establishment of operations. However, during the 1950s, the primary energy source shifted from coal to oil.
Faced with financial difficulties and issues such as an increase in hot spring water flooding the mine, the Joban Coal Mine operations were gradually shut down between the 1960s and the early 1970s.
