Whispers of a bygone era echo here at \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1. Today, we explore a relic from Tokyo’s past. It is a place where water once flowed.
\u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1 is part of the old Rokugo irrigation canal network in Ota-ku Tokyo. The canal’s story is one of necessity and ingenuity.
Back then the Rokugo Irrigation Canal, also called Jidayubori, stretched 23 kilometers. It nourished around 1500 hectares of land. Almost fifty villages relied on this water. It was mainly used for agriculture.
Construction of the \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1 took 14 years. It began in 1597. After a century the canal fell into disrepair. In 1725, an official named Tanaka Kyuryo renovated it. This project ran parallel to the renovation of the Nigo irrigation canal.
The \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1’s influence grew after the repairs. The canal also served the Setagaya area.
However, by 1945, the \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1 ceased operations. Urban development led to its decline. Much of it was buried by the 1970s. It either vanished or became part of the rainwater drainage system. The lost sections earned it the nickname “Phantom Rokugo Canal”.
Today, remnants of the canal exist as roads and green paths. You can find the next generation husband Dyke Park. Also, you can see a waterway using seepage water between Nakahara Highway and Kamata.
The preservation efforts are important. In 1988, the \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1 received the “Handmade Hometown Award”. In 2021, the Rokugo water gate was selected as a Civil Engineering Society Selected Civil Engineering Heritage.
Stroll along the Rokugo Irrigation Promenade. Cherry blossoms line the path. They offer a beautiful sight. Imagine farmers tending their fields. They depended on the water flowing through \u516d\u90f7\u7528\u6c34\u306e\u8de1. This is a reminder of Tokyo’s agricultural roots.