Misumi West Port

Misumi West Port is part of Japan's early shortlived - history of coal export infrastructure development, related to Miike Coal Mine. The Meiji government developed Misumi West Port, as one of its first three export-port projects, in 1887. Misumi West Port comprises a fusion of Japanese civil engineering with the design input of Dutch architect A. Rouwenhorst Mulder (1845-1901). Miike coal was exported from Misumi, but the port was located 44km from Miike and was economically inefficient. When Mitsui took over Miike mines from Meiji Government, Mitsui abandoned it in 1903.
Misumi West Port, which preceded Miike Port's development, has a long masonry quayside illustrating a blend of traditional Japanese and modern constructional techniques whilst it's reclaimed land area with channeled creeks and drainage system backing the wharfs is testimony to its Dutch engineering influence. The comparison between Misumi West Port and Miike Port shows the rapid evolution of port design and commercial industrial thinking in Japan in the Meiji period.