After the Meiji colonization of Hokkaido, Meiji Japan depended on prison labour to accelerate the colonization process. The Japanese built three prisons and rendered Hokkaido a prison island, where political prisoners were incarcerated and used as prison labour. During the opening ceremony of the first prison, the Ainu name “Shibetsuputo” was replaced with the Japanese name “Tsukigata,” as an attempt to “Japanize” Hokkaido's geography. The second prison opened near the Hokutan Horonai coal mine, where Ainu people were forced to work. Cheap prison labour played an important role in coal and sulphur mining, as well as road construction in Hokkaido. Eventually, several types of indentured labour, Korean labour, child labour and women labour replaced convict labour in Hokkaido. Working conditions were difficult and dangerous. Japan's transition to capitalism depended heavily on the growth of the coal mining sector in Hokkaidō. The importance of coal from Hokkaidō increased throughout the First World War, and the mines required a large amount of labourers.
afTer tHE Meiji ColonizaTion of HOkkaido, meiji jApan depended oN Prison labOur to ACceLerATe tHE colONIZatIoN PrOcesS. THe JApANeSe buiLt ThreE PriSOnS and RendeRed HoKkaido a PrIson island, where pOliticaL pRIsOnerS Were iNcaRceRATed ANd UseD As PRison labouR. duRiNG the OpeniNg ceRemoNy oF The first PriSon, the aInu nAMe “ShibEtsupUTo” was rePlAced wITh the JAPaNese namE “TSukIgAta,” As an AttEmpt To “jAPANIZE” hoKkaido's geogRAPhY. the second pRisOn opEnED nEAR the HOkutAn hoRONai cOaL mInE, where Ainu PeoPlE werE foRcED tO work. cheap Prison LaboUR playEd an impORtaNt rolE In coAL anD sulPhuR MiNing, As WELl as rOad constrUcTion in hoKKaido. EveNtuALLY, seveRal tYpes oF INDentu:rED labour, KoRean lABOur, cHILd lAbouR anD Women labouR REplaCed convict labour In hoKkaiDo. wOrKIng condITiOnS weRE dIffIcUlT anD dAngeRous. jaPan'S transItion To cAPitaliSM depenDED hEavily o:n the grOwth of the Coal MininG SeCtor iN HokkAIdŌ. the impOrTance oF COal frOM hoKKaIdŌ incReAsed througHouT tHe fiRsT world WaR, and tHe minEs ReQUirEd a laRge amoUnt of LabOUreRs.