■Brief history of Tamagawa Josui Canal■
When Edo period started, the population of Edo started to increase rapidly and water shortage became a serious problem. The third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu decided to construct Tamagawa Josui to supply water from the Tama river. The construction started on 4th April, 1653.
It took 248days to complete the project. On 15th November, 1653, the first water from the Tama river went down the canal from Hamura to Yotsuya Okido. There is only ninety-two meters height difference between the two places and the Josui stretches forty three kilometers. (According to ”Josuiki, a traditional literature.")
Its large scale is often compared to Roman Aqueduct. Not only did the Josui provide enough water to the center of Edo/Tokyo at the beginning of modern period, divisions of water supplied sufficient water for a daily use and irrigation to the farmers in Musashino plateau.
In 1965, one third of the Canal stopped providing water. Still the Tamagawa Josui is a precious historical heritage of construction technology. Tamagawa Josui and the thickets along the Josui are an important element of the natural environment. Its value remains as precious as ever.
To conserve, preserve, and recover the Josui, the Tokyo government has designated it as a preservation area for its historical and environmental value in 1999. Also in 2003, it has been designated as one of the national cultural assets (historical remains).
When Edo period started, the population of Edo started to increase rapidly and water shortage became a serious problem. The third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu decided to construct Tamagawa Josui to supply water from the Tama river. The construction started on 4th April, 1653.
It took 248days to complete the project. On 15th November, 1653, the first water from the Tama river went down the canal from Hamura to Yotsuya Okido. There is only ninety-two meters height difference between the two places and the Josui stretches forty three kilometers. (According to ”Josuiki, a traditional literature.")
Its large scale is often compared to Roman Aqueduct. Not only did the Josui provide enough water to the center of Edo/Tokyo at the beginning of modern period, divisions of water supplied sufficient water for a daily use and irrigation to the farmers in Musashino plateau.
In 1965, one third of the Canal stopped providing water. Still the Tamagawa Josui is a precious historical heritage of construction technology. Tamagawa Josui and the thickets along the Josui are an important element of the natural environment. Its value remains as precious as ever.
To conserve, preserve, and recover the Josui, the Tokyo government has designated it as a preservation area for its historical and environmental value in 1999. Also in 2003, it has been designated as one of the national cultural assets (historical remains).
■Tamagawa Brothers■
Tamagawa brothers (Tamagawa Shoemon and Tamagawa Seiemon) were spotlighted by the novel “Tamagawa brothers” written by Sonoko Sugimoto. The novel was published by Asahi Sinsya in 1974 and Tamagawa brothers became widely known across the country.
In the Edo period, they constructed the Tamagawa Josui canal to supply clean water to Edo (present Tokyo). However, their origins are yet unknown as the detailed record is missing.
Since the rapidly growing population in Edo has led to a water shortage, Ietsuna Tokugawa (the fourth Shogun) decided to build the Tamagawa Josui canal. He ordered its construction to Matsudaira Nobutsuna (one of the members of the shogun's council of elders) and Ina Tadaharu (representative of Kanto region). Matsudaira Nobutsuna was appointed as a grand magistrate to build the canal, while Ina Tadaharu as a waterworks magistrate who was responsible for constructing it on site.
Tamagawa brothers were chosen to build the canal and thus a historical water supply project began on 4th April 1653.
The brothers succeeded to make a canal of about 43 km long, starting from the Hamura intake weir by the Tama river and ending in Yotsuya Ohkido. The canal was completed on 20th June 1654 according to a Shogunate government diary. But, “Jyousui ki” (a record of the Tamagawa Josui canal) says it’s on 15th November 1653.
On the way of digging the canal, in Takaido (located in the present Suginami ward), the brothers ran out of the funds that were given by the Tokugawa Shogunate. But, they had to build the rest of the canal (about 1/3 of the entire canal) by all means to supply clear water to Edo. What they did was to spend their own money.
The Tokugawa Shogunate appreciated the brother’s great efforts and allowed them to use the surname “Tamagawa”, gave them 200 Koku (the unit of the amount of rice), and appointed them officers to maintain the Tamagawa Josui canal.
You can see the bronze stature of the brothers in the Hamurasekishita park in Hamura city where the canal starts. It was constructed in 1958 to praise their great achievement.
But, we know very little about the brothers. Some say that they could learn advanced civil engineering works started in Kansai region (centrally located in Japan) from their father who moved from the Kansai region to Edo. The others say that they were farmers living in an area along the Tama river, so they knew well the geographical characteristics of the Musashino plateau where the canal was built. Well, the brothers are still in mystery.
Tamagawa brothers (Tamagawa Shoemon and Tamagawa Seiemon) were spotlighted by the novel “Tamagawa brothers” written by Sonoko Sugimoto. The novel was published by Asahi Sinsya in 1974 and Tamagawa brothers became widely known across the country.
In the Edo period, they constructed the Tamagawa Josui canal to supply clean water to Edo (present Tokyo). However, their origins are yet unknown as the detailed record is missing.
Since the rapidly growing population in Edo has led to a water shortage, Ietsuna Tokugawa (the fourth Shogun) decided to build the Tamagawa Josui canal. He ordered its construction to Matsudaira Nobutsuna (one of the members of the shogun's council of elders) and Ina Tadaharu (representative of Kanto region). Matsudaira Nobutsuna was appointed as a grand magistrate to build the canal, while Ina Tadaharu as a waterworks magistrate who was responsible for constructing it on site.
Tamagawa brothers were chosen to build the canal and thus a historical water supply project began on 4th April 1653.
The brothers succeeded to make a canal of about 43 km long, starting from the Hamura intake weir by the Tama river and ending in Yotsuya Ohkido. The canal was completed on 20th June 1654 according to a Shogunate government diary. But, “Jyousui ki” (a record of the Tamagawa Josui canal) says it’s on 15th November 1653.
On the way of digging the canal, in Takaido (located in the present Suginami ward), the brothers ran out of the funds that were given by the Tokugawa Shogunate. But, they had to build the rest of the canal (about 1/3 of the entire canal) by all means to supply clear water to Edo. What they did was to spend their own money.
The Tokugawa Shogunate appreciated the brother’s great efforts and allowed them to use the surname “Tamagawa”, gave them 200 Koku (the unit of the amount of rice), and appointed them officers to maintain the Tamagawa Josui canal.
You can see the bronze stature of the brothers in the Hamurasekishita park in Hamura city where the canal starts. It was constructed in 1958 to praise their great achievement.
But, we know very little about the brothers. Some say that they could learn advanced civil engineering works started in Kansai region (centrally located in Japan) from their father who moved from the Kansai region to Edo. The others say that they were farmers living in an area along the Tama river, so they knew well the geographical characteristics of the Musashino plateau where the canal was built. Well, the brothers are still in mystery.
■East of Takanodai Area■
④ Kyuemonbashi
This is an old bridge, whose name noted in 'Josui-ki,' a record of the canals in Edo period, was written in 1791.
It was a brick arch bridge built in 1932 and largely renovated in the All
Tamagawa Josui Canal project in 1988. Its brick pier was still remained. The name 'Kyuemon-bashi' was said to come from the village headman, Kyuemon, but he is not identified.
According to the Josui-ki, there used to be a notice at the north of this bridge.
It said that the following acts were prohibited such as fishing, washing, mowing the grass on both sides of the canal for 3 ken(about 5.5 meters).
Whoever violated would become a criminal by the name of the magistrate.
This notice board, surrounded by a fence made of diagonally crossed bamboo sticks, disappeared in March 1836.
The maintenance of both of the notice and the fence was assigned to the village where it stood.
In the document of Ogawa family stated the detailed story on Kyuemon-bashi.
According to the documents of Ogawa and Nonaka family, there used to be a waterwheel on the Shinbori Yosui which run on the north of Kyuemon-bashi.
The details such as the site and the date of the installation are unknown.
This is an old bridge, whose name noted in 'Josui-ki,' a record of the canals in Edo period, was written in 1791.
It was a brick arch bridge built in 1932 and largely renovated in the All
Tamagawa Josui Canal project in 1988. Its brick pier was still remained. The name 'Kyuemon-bashi' was said to come from the village headman, Kyuemon, but he is not identified.
According to the Josui-ki, there used to be a notice at the north of this bridge.
It said that the following acts were prohibited such as fishing, washing, mowing the grass on both sides of the canal for 3 ken(about 5.5 meters).
Whoever violated would become a criminal by the name of the magistrate.
This notice board, surrounded by a fence made of diagonally crossed bamboo sticks, disappeared in March 1836.
The maintenance of both of the notice and the fence was assigned to the village where it stood.
In the document of Ogawa family stated the detailed story on Kyuemon-bashi.
According to the documents of Ogawa and Nonaka family, there used to be a waterwheel on the Shinbori Yosui which run on the north of Kyuemon-bashi.
The details such as the site and the date of the installation are unknown.
⑤ Two Years' Ship Traffic
There was a period when ships were used in the canal.
But it lasted only two years because the quality of water was damaged by ships.
It took about nine hours to go down from Hamura to Yotsuya Okido, and two or three days to go back.
To go upward, two workers pulled a ship with ropes.
The size of a ship was about 10 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width, which you can load a lot of goods, two tons, as heavy as 15 horses.
There was a stopping place near Kyuzaemonbashi, where the ship loaded and unloaded goods and passengers.
The place was restored, so you can’t see it anymore, but some poles are still buried there.
There was a period when ships were used in the canal.
But it lasted only two years because the quality of water was damaged by ships.
It took about nine hours to go down from Hamura to Yotsuya Okido, and two or three days to go back.
To go upward, two workers pulled a ship with ropes.
The size of a ship was about 10 meters in length and 1.5 meters in width, which you can load a lot of goods, two tons, as heavy as 15 horses.
There was a stopping place near Kyuzaemonbashi, where the ship loaded and unloaded goods and passengers.
The place was restored, so you can’t see it anymore, but some poles are still buried there.
⑦ Deadly Nerve Gas VX Found
Do you believe that the dangerous VX nerve agent that could kill us was once buried along the bank of the Tamagawa Jousi canal?
It was Yasuo Hayashi , one of Aum Shinrikyo’s members who buried bottles contained VX nerve agent. He was arrested and confessed this fact in 1996.
The bottle was under a tree at the bank on the Tsuda college side.
Why at this place? It’s because his parents’ home was near from there and he knew this area.
We remember the heinous sarin attacks made by Aum Shinrikyo. Sarin was used to kill people in the Tokyo subway, and 12 people died and more than 5,000 people were injured. Since the chemical substance was used, those injured people must be still suffering from after effects.
The VX nerve agent is far more toxic than sarin.
What would happen if he didn’t tell the truth and the buried bottles were broken at the bank of the canal.
Do you believe that the dangerous VX nerve agent that could kill us was once buried along the bank of the Tamagawa Jousi canal?
It was Yasuo Hayashi , one of Aum Shinrikyo’s members who buried bottles contained VX nerve agent. He was arrested and confessed this fact in 1996.
The bottle was under a tree at the bank on the Tsuda college side.
Why at this place? It’s because his parents’ home was near from there and he knew this area.
We remember the heinous sarin attacks made by Aum Shinrikyo. Sarin was used to kill people in the Tokyo subway, and 12 people died and more than 5,000 people were injured. Since the chemical substance was used, those injured people must be still suffering from after effects.
The VX nerve agent is far more toxic than sarin.
What would happen if he didn’t tell the truth and the buried bottles were broken at the bank of the canal.
⑧ Water-resistant Sheets
Once Tamagawa Josui didn't have water running for about twenty years, and the canal started to break down. So the people living near the canal appealed to the Tokyo government to run water again.
In 1986, they discharged water for a trial and found out there was a part that water was soaked into the ground in Tudamachi.
They paved the bottom with clay.
Also they spread water-resistant sheets in the bottom from around Takanodai station to Kamakurabashi. On August 7th, the canal had the first water after the long suspension.
Once Tamagawa Josui didn't have water running for about twenty years, and the canal started to break down. So the people living near the canal appealed to the Tokyo government to run water again.
In 1986, they discharged water for a trial and found out there was a part that water was soaked into the ground in Tudamachi.
They paved the bottom with clay.
Also they spread water-resistant sheets in the bottom from around Takanodai station to Kamakurabashi. On August 7th, the canal had the first water after the long suspension.
⑨ Entrance to Underground Musashino Railway
In this small building, there is a hole to the underground Musashino Railway.
Under here, JR Musashino Line crosses Tamagawa Josui underground. The hole in this building is the way to the tunnel of Musashino Railway.
Water seeping to the Musashino railway tunnel is pumped up to the ground and drained through the pipe to Shinbori Yosui. Nowadays, the water seeping to the tunnel is very little, and we rarely see the water drained to Shinbori Yosui.
In this small building, there is a hole to the underground Musashino Railway.
Under here, JR Musashino Line crosses Tamagawa Josui underground. The hole in this building is the way to the tunnel of Musashino Railway.
Water seeping to the Musashino railway tunnel is pumped up to the ground and drained through the pipe to Shinbori Yosui. Nowadays, the water seeping to the tunnel is very little, and we rarely see the water drained to Shinbori Yosui.
⑩ Kamakura Bridge
This bridge was built in 1977 for pedestrians and it was named Kamakura Bridge. It is said that the name might come from old Kamakura Highway which was running near here in Kamakura period. There is also a road called Kamakura Kaido on the north side of this bridge.
There were three main highways from Kamakura to far regions in around 13 century. At that time Shogun’s head quarter was at Kamakura in present Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. Those highways were very convenient for armies to move quickly between the capital and distant parts of the country. It’s exciting to imagine that samurai were walking around here in ancient times.
We also can learn from historical records that once there was a bridge called Fuchu Bridge near this Bridge, but there is no trace of it now.
This bridge was built in 1977 for pedestrians and it was named Kamakura Bridge. It is said that the name might come from old Kamakura Highway which was running near here in Kamakura period. There is also a road called Kamakura Kaido on the north side of this bridge.
There were three main highways from Kamakura to far regions in around 13 century. At that time Shogun’s head quarter was at Kamakura in present Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo. Those highways were very convenient for armies to move quickly between the capital and distant parts of the country. It’s exciting to imagine that samurai were walking around here in ancient times.
We also can learn from historical records that once there was a bridge called Fuchu Bridge near this Bridge, but there is no trace of it now.