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| Story of Mr. Masao Mimatsu, Owner of Mt. Showa Shinzan |
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Pictures of the landscape around Mt. Usuzan before and after Mt. Showa Shinzan was formed |
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In 1943, a wheat field in the area began to experience rapid uplifting as the result of a sudden earthquake and this seismic event eventually changed into volcanic activity. The area was later named Mt. Showa Shinzan. As Japan was at war, supplies of food, camera film, paper, clothing and other items were very scarce, and therefore scientists lacked the resources to attempt to study this geologic phenomenon. Mr. Masao Mimatsu, who served as the local postmaster of Sobetsu-cho at the time, watched the eruption very closely. Remembering the lesson he once learned that "Eruptions are the biggest opportunity for studying the interior of the Earth," he started to record all of the details of the volcanic activity on paper. He did his best to devote himself to the creative study of the volcanic dome that was being formed. Furthermore, in 1946 he bought up the land using all of his savings and became owner of the volcano. In 1948, his data was presented at the World Volcano Conference in Oslo, and his paper sketches were referred to as the "Mimatsu Diagram" and were highly praised by experts from around the world. In Japan as well, he was honored for his achievements and he received many awards including the First Hokkaido Cultural Award. In 1977, he was able to witness the third eruption of Mt. Usuzan in his lifetime, however he unfortunately died of illness on December 8 the same year at the age of 89, without seeing the end of the eruptive event. A memorial statue of Mr. Mimatsu was built at the foot of Mt. Usuzan reflecting his love for nature, and it is hoped that the statue will contribute to the protection of the mountain. |
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Mr. Mimatsu's statue which looks toward Mt. Showa Shinzan |
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Mimatsu Masao Memorial Hall 184-12 Aza Showa Shinzan, Sobetsu-cho, Usu-gun Tel: 0142-75-2365 Fax: 0142-75-2852 [on display] Mimatsu Diagram, sketches, audio library and others |