Thursday, May 2, 2024
On Wednesday, May 1st, under the clear blue spring sky, the 2024 Hokuryu Land Improvement District Edaibetsu Dam Water Opening Ceremony (Chairman: Junichi Fukase) was held solemnly.
FY2024 Hokuryu Land Improvement District Etaibe Dam Water Opening Ceremony
Edaibetsu Dam stores meltwater or rainwater and supplies agricultural water to approximately 2,300 hectares of farmland within the town during the farming season (May to October). The dam was constructed over a period of 13 years, from 1953 (Showa 28) to 1967 (Showa 42), with the aim of providing an ample supply of water needed for rice cultivation and preventing damage to various facilities through flood control.
Etaibetsu Dam
Praying for a good harvest and safety
During the water-opening ceremony, the shrine, which had been closed off under heavy snow, is opened and offerings of rice, salt, sake, fish, vegetables, fruit, sweets, etc. are made in prayer for a bountiful harvest and safety in the coming year.
The ceremony was conducted in a solemn manner by the master of ceremonies, Shota Kagawa, section chief of the General Affairs Division of the Hokuryu Land Improvement District.
Offering of flutes, prayers, and sacred offerings
The chief priest of Fukagawa Daikoku Shrine (Kazumicho, Fukagawa City), Onishi Kota, played a votive flute and solemnly recited a prayer, followed by offerings of sacred branches by Hokuryu Land Improvement District Chairman Fukase Junichi, Mayor Sasaki Yasuhiro, and other attendees.
Offering of sacred branches
- Mr. Junichi Fukase, Chairman of the Hokuryu Land Improvement District
- Mayor of Hokuryu Town, Mr. Yasuhiro Sasaki
- Mr. Minoru Nagai, Representative Director of Kitasorachi Agricultural Cooperative Association, Hokuryu Town District
- Mr. Naoki Shiraoka, Deputy Chairman of the Hokuryu Land Improvement District
General Auditor Yoshitaka Iwakura
Toru Tanimoto, Chairman of the Management Committee
Director Akinori Fujii
Director Kazumi Hirabayashi
Director Katsuji Saito - Mr. Hidefumi Okabe, Chief Engineer of Etaibe Dam
Greetings from Junichi Fukase, Chairman of the Land Improvement District
“Thank you very much for attending today’s 2024 Land Improvement District Edaibetsu Dam Water Opening Ceremony. I would like to thank you for completing the ceremony without incident just now.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Mayor Sasaki, the Nagai district representative from the JA, and Mr. and Mrs. Terauchi from the town for taking the time to attend despite their busy schedules.
There has been a lot of snow in this area this year, but it seems that the snow has been melting earlier in recent years.
The early spring farming is progressing smoothly, and in a few days the water from the dam will be entering the rice fields, which will then be irrigated. We pray that this water will bring about a bountiful autumn harvest.
The Land Improvement District experienced many events last year. We don't know what will happen this year either. I would like to conclude my speech at today's water opening ceremony by praying for everyone's happiness and a year free of disasters and injuries.
"Thank you very much for coming today," said Chairman Fukase in his greeting.
2024, the Year of the Dragon, is a sacred year in which the Dragon God, the god of water, descends!
We offer our heartfelt prayers to the great dragon god, who watches over pure water and fertile land, for safety and bountiful harvests this year.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers to the great Etaibetsu Dam, which fills the fields of the entire town with pure melting snowwater...
Reference materials
Monument "Toyo Lake"
❂ Source: History of the Hokuryu Land Improvement District (published November 3, 2001)
- The inscription on the stone: "Toyo Lake":Calligraphy by former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Member of the House of Representatives, Kosaku Shinoda
- Stand:White granite,Monument:Black Granite
- inscription:Land Improvement District/Sakuzo Matsubara, Chairman
- Tributes:Mayor Shoichi Mori of Hokuryu Town
Inscription "Toyoko"
"The development of the Hokuryu area began in 1893 (Meiji 26), when Yoshiue Shoichiro and 20 others cut down the dense forest, which was dark even during the day, and devoted themselves to farming.
As a result of discussions in 1911, the Edaibetsu Water Supply Association was established, and water rights of 2,145 cubic meters per second were acquired with the goal of cultivating 1,000 hectares of rice paddy, and work began on rice paddy development.
In 1917, the Toko Association was approved, and the entire basin was transformed into a rich grain-producing region. However, the development of rice paddies far exceeded initial expectations, and the development of the hinterland led to a decrease in the amount of water flowing from the source, causing the area to suffer from extreme water shortages year after year.
The construction of this dam was planned as the only way to break this deadlock and further promote rice cultivation.Construction began in 1953, and it took 13 years and a huge amount of national funds to complete.
Of course, we must not forget that behind the completion of this major project was a mixture of the enthusiasm of local residents, the guidance and encouragement of pioneers, and the understanding of the authorities.
We are erecting this monument to express our gratitude to these people and to all the engineers who were directly involved in this difficult project.
September 8, 1967
Land Improvement District Chairman Sakuzo Matsubara”
eulogy
"The long-awaited dam is now complete. We can now see its grandeur. We will soon realize its infinite blessings. It is a symbol of eternal hope that regulates floods, irrigates the beautiful fields, and provides a rich resting place for the townspeople. We would like to praise it and call it 'Lake Toyo'.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those involved for their enthusiasm and efforts over the years, and we pledge to respond to the completion of this great achievement by working together in harmony and unity to do our best to develop our town.
September 8, 1967
Mayor of Hokuryu Town, Shoichi Mori
YouTube videos
Other photos
Hokuryu Land Improvement District and related articles
◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)
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