The Mainichi newpaper article says that locals “hailed the UNESCO advisory panel’s recommendation on May 4 for listing the ‘Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution’ as a World Heritage site.” The Manda Coal Mine in Arao is one of the sites that has been designated.
Mainichi article: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150505p2a00m0na003000c.html
Information in English about Manda Coal Mine http://arao-kankou.jp/english/manda_coalmine/
