神田の囲い堤防と耕地整理 Statue

Gazing upon the “Embankment and Land Improvement” statue, we’re transported back to a time when the people of the Shimizudani area wrestled with the unpredictable Yodo River. The statue, a silent sentinel in Shimizu Chuo Park, commemorates a significant chapter in Osaka’s history. It tells of the community’s struggle against flooding and their ingenious solution, the “mawari-dote”. The Shimizudani area, nestled between the Yodo and the old Kizu River, was vulnerable to flooding. Heavy rainfall would send torrents of water cascading down from the north. To protect their village, the people built embankments, or “dote,” on the east and west sides, forming a protective ring around the settlement. The western part of this encircled area was higher than the east. This created a challenge. During heavy rains, the eastern side would flood, while the west struggled to maintain sufficient water for agriculture. Between 1907 and 1910, a major land improvement project transformed the Shimizudani area. The project aimed to level the land within the embankments. This would enable two crops of rice to be grown annually. Imagine the back-breaking labor involved, as this was long before modern earth-moving machinery. The project was a testament to human perseverance and ingenuity. This endeavor resulted in the meticulous division of approximately 27.72 hectares of land. The land was divided into plots with one main section and a smaller, narrow section measuring roughly 73 meters by 2 meters. A drainage system was also implemented. This made farming much easier and contributed to the development of the Shimizudani area. Even today, the neatly arranged plots and roads reflect this careful planning. This statue embodies more than just land improvement. It represents the enduring spirit of the people of Shimizudani. It also stands as a tribute to their ancestors. They battled the elements to shape their land and ensure their livelihoods. As we stand here, before this unassuming statue, we can appreciate the foresight and determination of those who came before us.