skilled miner; coal-cutter
Refers to a miner who works at the coal face, cutting coal; contrasted with 後山 (あとやま), a less skilled miner who transports the coal.
See also: 後山
The skilled miner digs coal deep in the mine tunnel.
In the old coal mines, a skilled miner and a helper worked as a pair.
Standard kanji spelling for this mining term.
Alternate kanji form; less common than 先山.
Compound of 先 (さき, 'front, ahead') and 山 (やま, 'mine'), referring to the miner who works at the front of the coal face.