Iwami Ginzan commemorates 500 years with card collection campaign

The Iwami Ginzan Discovery 500 Years Shimane Prefecture Commemorative Project Executive Committee has announced the ‘Iwami Ginzan Card Collection – Residents of the Ginzan Emaki’ campaign. The initiative commemorates the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Iwami Ginzan silver mine and the 20th anniversary of its registration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Running from September 19, 2026, to December 12, 2027, the campaign features 15 unique collectible cards. These cards depict various people and animals featured in the ‘Iwami Ginzan Emaki’, an Edo-period scroll illustrating the mining operations and daily life at the site.

Participants can collect the cards by visiting specific locations, including commemorative exhibitions in Tokyo, Izumo, and Oda, as well as various related facilities and events throughout Shimane Prefecture. To obtain a card, visitors must meet certain conditions, such as viewing an exhibition or following the official social media account for the mascot, Makimaki. To complete the full set of 15, visitors must travel to all designated distribution sites.