In 1899, a catastrophic landslide at the Sumitomo Besshi copper mine in Shikoku, Japan, resulted in the deaths of 512 miners. This disaster was one of the deadliest mining accidents in Japanese history and underscored the dangers associated with mining operations. The event prompted a reevaluation of safety measures and regulations within the mining industry, emphasizing the need for better protection for workers in hazardous environments.

The Sumitomo Besshi Mine Landslide of 1899 influenced Japanese industrial literature, with writers like Natsume Sōseki exploring the human experiences and societal implications of industrial disasters in their narratives.