August 29, 2017

2017 Gold Panning Championships sponsored by “The Yu-no-oku Museum of Gold Mining History”/Japan


I took up the topic of this museum before. This facility introduces the history and tools of gold mine to citizens. There is a large pool where more than 100 people can gold panning at the same time.

Here, the largest gold panning championships in Japan is held annually, and it was held for two days on 29 and 30 July 2017.

On the first day, the junior division, the proficient division and the unofficial division were held with 200 participants. On the second day, school competition with 8 schools of junior high school and high school were held, 136 people were played in school groups and 5 person team.

Panning technology of high school students has improved year by year, and the winner in this year was a female student. I think she can make a good result at the world gold panning championships.


<The 1st day>
1. Official Categories
   Standard plastic pan is used in this category.
  a. Juniors: 80 people, 6Kg
  b. Proficient(Men & Women): 120 people, 10Kg/10minutes
  c. Final: steal classic pan, 16Kg/15minutes
2. Unofficial Categories
   Unlimited kind of pan: 20 people, 7 Kg/10minutes


<The 2nd day>
1. School Competition: 8 schools, 136 people
   Standard plastic pan is used in this category.
   1 school 19 bucket
2. 5 person team
   Five different pans are used.


Gold panning in pool


Opening ceremony



Opening ceremony of school competition

Competition using 5 types of pan



The mascot of this museum(Each city in Japan has a mascot)


This year's winner is a female student