Friday, May 2, 2025
At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1st, with the spring sun shining brightly and a refreshing breeze blowing through, the 2025 Hokuryu Land Improvement District (Chairman Fukase Junichi) held a solemn ceremony to open the Keidaibetsu Dam.
Etaibetsu Dam
Edaibetsu Dam stores meltwater or rainwater and supplies agricultural water to approximately 2,300 hectares of farmland in 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.
Water flow type
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.
General MC: Shota Kagawa, Chief of the General Affairs Division, Hokuryu Land Improvement District
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.
Fukagawa Daikoku Shrine, Chief Priest Onishi Kota
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
- Hokuryu Land Improvement DistrictChairman Junichi Fukase
- Mayor of HokuryuMr. Yasuhiro Sasaki
- Kitasorachi Agricultural CooperativeMr. Minoru Nagai, Representative Director of the Hokuryu District
- Hokuryu Land Improvement DistrictNaoki Shiraoka, Deputy Chairman
- General Auditor Yoshitaka Iwakura
- Toru Tanimoto, Chairman of the Management Committee
- Director Akinori Fujii
- Director Kazumi Hirabayashi
- Director Katsuji Saito
- Auditor Atsushi Goto
- Etaibetsu DamChief Supervising Engineer Hidefumi Okabe
- Manager: Hiroto Fujii
Greetings from Junichi Fukase, Chairman of the Land Improvement District
“Thank you very much for attending today’s 2025 Land Improvement District Edaibetsu Dam Water Opening Ceremony. I would also like to thank you for completing the ceremony without any problems.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Mayor Sasaki, JA District Representative Director Nagai, and Mr. and Mrs. Terauchi from the town for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the ceremony.
As you can probably tell by this time of year, there has been a lot of snow this year, and it hasn't melted as much as we expected, so I think spring work is progressing less than expected.
We don't know what the weather will be like as we head into summer, but if it's a bountiful autumn, I believe everyone's efforts will be rewarded. There have been a series of accidents over the past two years, but I hope this year will be accident-free.
"I would like to conclude my speech at today's water-opening ceremony by praying for everyone's good health and happiness, and for a year free of disasters and injuries," said Chairman Fukase in his opening remarks.
The year of the snake, 2025, is a mysterious year symbolizing change.
We pray to the Snake God, who is said to be the god of water and fertility and has sacred powers, for a bountiful harvest and safe water management this year.
Closing the shrine after the ceremony
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers, we offer this message to the great Edaibetsu Dam, which, bathed in the sun's rays and filled with the refreshing spring breeze, pours pure meltwater into the fields of the entire town...
Survey boat for the dam lake
Reference materials
Monument "Toyo Lake"
- Source: "History of 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 a rich grain-producing region was created throughout the river basin.
However, rice paddy development has far exceeded initial expectations, and development in the hinterlands has led to a decrease in the source water flow, 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, Chairman of the Land Improvement District, Sakuzo Matsuhara
eulogy
The long-awaited dam is finally here. Its grandeur is now apparent. Its boundless blessings will soon be known.
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 as "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
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◇ Photography, editing, and website management: Noboru Terauchi Writer: Ikuko Terauchi
