As for the Japanese side, Masaru INOUE (known as the father of Japanese railways as well as an advocate of the nationalization of railways) became the head of mining and railways in 1871 and was involved in the construction.
日本側では1871年（明治4年）に井上勝（日本の鉄道の父。鉄道国有論者としても著名）が鉱山頭兼鉄道頭に就任し、建設に携わった。