My miner obsession!
Japanese tourist ignores traditional attractions... to study history of pits in Fife
MOST tourists coming to Scotland are attracted by the thought of visiting Edinburgh Castle or catching a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster.
However, one Japanese visitor returns every summer to the same bed and breakfast in Fife so he can indulge his life’s passion – for coal mining heritage.
Professor Kazuhiro Kato has flown half-way round the world every year for the past 13 years to study the harsh reality of a life down the pits for colliery workers in 17th century.
The professor of economic history at Kagoshima International University has stayed every time at the same bed and breakfast in Markinch.
And he has not only learned English, he’s also become expert in an ancient Scots dialect spoken by the miners he is researching.
The pilgrimage allows him to spend two or three weeks happily trawling Fife Council’s vast historical archive stored at Bankhead in Glenrothes.
Professor Kato, 62, has studied British mining history for the past 30 years, with his focus for the last decade being Scotland and in particular Fife’s rich mining heritage.
He hopes to analyse every one of the thousands of historic documents and manuscripts relating to pits owned by the Rothes estate across the county.
Originally with only a scant understanding of the English language, Professor Kato has since become fluent in the old Scots dialect, teaching himself during many hours poring over thousands of documents dating back hundreds of years.
He said: ‘As a professor of economic history I am particularly interested by the labour relationships between colliery worker and pit owner.
‘Once I had found the Rothes papers I had to read every single document.
‘I’m fascinated by the volumes of coal which some workers, which I call “the big men”, could produce in a single day.
‘Some men would produce four or possibly five loads a day at approximately 146kg (322lb) per load. However, others, with the help of family members, would produce as many as nine loads, an astonishing amount in a day.’
Because of his regular visits, Professor Kato has struck up good relationship with the council’s archive team.
‘It’s always nice to welcome Professor Kato back,’ said archivist Andrew Dowsey.
‘He can now even help us with a thing or two, especially when it comes to old Scottish dialect.
‘And he always brings a box of cake delicacies as a gift from Japan too.’
Professor Kato has published his many findings back in Japan where he has a ready audience among academics and graduates, and admits he has no plans to end his studies or his trips to Fife any time soon.
The professor said: ‘I won’t rest until I’ve seen every last document within the Rothes papers. It’s my life.’