茨田堤の碑

“Ishibashi-no-Seki,” a weathered monument whispers tales of ancient engineering marvels along the Neyagawa River. The Ishibashi-no-Seki, or Mamuta-no-Tsutsumi monument, stands as a testament to Japan’s first river embankment, the Mamuta-no-Tsutsumi. Located along the Neyagawa River embankment in Neyagawa City, this monument marks a significant feat of ancient engineering. A nearby sign proclaims, “Approximately 21.9 kilometers to Osaka Bay.” This seemingly simple stone holds the key to a story of perseverance and sacrifice dating back to the reign of Emperor Nintoku in the 4th century. The Nihon Shoki, Japan’s second oldest book of classical history, records the construction of the Mamuta-no-Tsutsumi embankment to control the flooding Neyagawa River. The project proved immensely challenging. Legend has it that two individuals, Kowakubi and Koromoko, were chosen as human sacrifices to appease the river gods and ensure the embankment’s completion. Kowakubi accepted his fate with sorrowful resignation, becoming a pillar in the embankment’s structure. Koromoko, however, cleverly threw his pair of “hitan” (shoes) into the river instead, appealing to the gods’ understanding. A sudden whirlwind swept the shoes downstream. Koromoko was spared, his quick thinking saving his life and contributing to the project’s success. The embankment, known as Mamuta-no-Tsutsumi, was completed, and the area where it divided the river became known as Ishibashi, or “Stone Bridge.” This name later transformed into Taima, reflecting the broken embankment or “Taema.” The monument itself was erected in 1974 to commemorate the centennial of the Neyagawa River improvement project. The inscription “Mamuta-no-Tsutsumi” faces the river, a lasting tribute to an ancient marvel and the sacrifices made to tame the Neyagawa.