Once a crucial landmark Nogata Water Distribution Tower now stands as a relic. It shows the urbanization of Tokyo. This tower whispers tales of a city’s thirst.
The Nogata Water Distribution Tower was built in 1929. It was designed to supply water to Nakano, Suginami, Toshima, Itabashi, Nerima and Kita wards. These areas saw a rapid population increase. This was especially true after the Taisho era. The Aratama Waterworks was built to address this urgent need. The water came from the Tamagawa River at Kinuta in Setagaya Ward.
Imagine the Nogata Water Distribution Tower in its prime. This cylindrical giant stands 34 meters tall. Its diameter spans 18 meters. It holds about 2000 tons of water. The Nogata Water Distribution Tower stores water. Gravity then lets it fall naturally. This creates water pressure for each household.
Originally the Aratama Waterworks Town and Village Association managed the tower. This association consisted of 13 municipalities. These were in Toyotama and Kita-Toshima counties. They sought to establish a reliable water supply system. Dr. Eiji Nakajima an expert in water supply consulted on the project. He surveyed and designed the water system.
The plan involved taking water from the Tama River. It would be filtered at a purification plant. Then the Nogata Distribution Tower and the Oyaguchi Distribution Tower would receive it. From there the water would supply each town and village.
Sadly Dr. Nakajima passed away in February 1925. Satoru Nishioeda stepped in. He took over as chief engineer. Construction began in December. It included the water source, water main burial and the water distribution tower. Work concluded in May 1930. In 1937 the Aratama Waterworks merged into the Tokyo Municipal Waterworks.
Interestingly the Oyaguchi water distribution tower was similar. Its construction started in 1925 and ended in 1931. The Nogata water distribution tower began in 1926 and finished in 1929. The Oyaguchi water tower was demolished in 2005.
By 1966 the Nogata Water Distribution Tower stopped distributing water. It then served as a disaster water tank until 2005. In 2010 it was registered as a national tangible cultural property. Now Nakano Ward manages it.
Consider the architectural shift after Eiji Nakajima’s passing. This change might explain why some sources question his sole authorship. Today the Nogata Water Distribution Tower stands. It is a testament to Tokyo’s growth. It reminds us of the engineering feats of the past. It symbolizes the city’s constant evolution.