Home ofKagawa Canal

Visiting the headwaters area of the Yoshino RiverA drop of water originating from the center of the Shikoku Mountain Range.
It eventually becomes a stream and then a river. This river with a torrent of water is known as the Yoshino River.
The Yoshino River runs through the Asan Mountains, creating steep canyons, to bring water to Kagawa Prefecture.
What the river brings is not just natural blessings.
The Yoshino River is supported by the people who have made sacrifices to secure water resources and by the people who have strived toprotect the green mountains that nurture life.
Reihoku Region in Kochi Prefecture (towns of Ino, Okawa, Tosa, Motoyama and Otoyo) is the headwater basin where the Sameura Dam—the water jar of Shikoku—is located.
The Ikeda Dam is located in Ikeda and Yamashiro in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture. Water is diverted at the Ikeda Dam to the Kagawa
Canal.
The residents of Kagawa Prefecture should not forget that the Kagawa Canal is protected by the efforts and goodwill of the people who livein these areas.

[Special Exhibition]
Kagawa Yousui Commemorative Park (Special Exhibit Room, first floor, Water Museum)Opening hours: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Admission freeYoshino River—Home of the Kagawa Canal

Destiny ofShikoku Saburo

The Yoshino River in Shikoku—nicknamed Shikoku Saburo—alongwith the Tone River or Bando Taro in Honshu and the Chikugo Riveror Tsukushi Jiro are called the three major rivers in Japan. It is said
that they have been given these nicknames because they are rivers
representing these areas and are well known as torrent rivers.

The Yoshino River, in particular, has the largest amount of water at
the time of flooding and is called the river with the most torrent
stream in Japan. The Yoshino River’s upstream is one of the major
rainy areas in Japan and most of its watersheds are steep
mountainous areas, which cause rainwater to flood into the river. In addition,
the route of typhoons almost coincides with the flow of the Yoshino River.
Typhoons, which cause much rain in the upstream, move and allow rain to fallin the branch river basins as well, result in the river flooding. In this way theYoshino River is destined to be a “raging river.”Sameura Dam

Tora no Mizu (Flood in the Year of the Tiger), theWorst Flood in History in which approximately 30,000
People Drowned to Death

To the Headwaters of theYoshino RiverThe Yoshino River, one of the major rivers in Japan, hasan abundance of water, whose watershed spreads over thefour prefectures in Shikoku. The Yoshino River originates
far off in Mt. Kamegamori (with a height of 1,897 m) at
the border of Ehime and Kochi Prefectures. The Yoshino
River—whose trunk river length is 194 km—has a basin
area of 3,750 km2. It is the mother river of Shikoku that
supports our lives, industry and culture.

Forests in the Headwater
Basin Serve as

The family register of deaths thatrecorded the damage of the Tora noMizu (owned by the Zoshuin Temple)

A Green Water Jar

The Yoshino River originates in a forest. Forests serve tosupply high quality water in a reliable manner. Forests areoften said to be a green water jar because many gaps inforest soil absorb and store much water like a sponge. Inforests, trees spread their roots in the ground, and theseroots expand or decay, which causes many gaps in theground. These tunnel-like narrow and long gaps, which
stretch deeply and widely under the ground, store muchwater. Therefore, it is necessary to improve forests in theupstream to enhance the capacity of forests to retain waterand to secure a reliable water supply during droughts.

In 1866—the year of the tiger according to the Chinese zodiac calendar—a
big flood occurred in August. It is recorded that around 28,000 people
drowned to death within the domain. According to another document (shownin the photo), 37,020 people died. In any case, it was an unprecedented
disaster.

Traces of the flood left inthe Zoshuin Temple

Stone monument and mile post at
the side of the main temple gate
(Kokufu, Tokushima Prefecture)

Mother River
Yoshino RiverHeadwaters

Inquiries:
Kagawa Foundation for Water and Green
Kagawa Yousui Commemorative Park
2355 Saitanaka, Saita-cho, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture 769-0402
Phone: 0875-67-3760 FAX: 0875-67-3757
http://www.mizupark.com/
e-mail info@mizupark.com

Yoshino River

There are many historical floodrelated assets left in thefloodplain areas along theYoshino River. They are assets
developed by the residents toprotect their houses from being
flooded or washed away. Inparticular, Awa indigo, whichwere grown in rich soil broughtby flooding of the Yoshino River,supported the economy ofTokushima from the Edo period
to the middle of the Meiji period.
There are many wonderful scenic
spots along the Yoshino River,where people can enjoy thenatural beauty in all seasons.
Oboke and Koboke, the beautiful
valleys located upstream of theriver, are praised for their beauty.
Exploring the Yoshino River
enables you to feel the great
benefits of the river.