The meaning of 'Kagawa Yosui' and the park for the conservation of Kagawa's scarce water resources

摘要

Kagawa Prefecture, within the Seto Region arid weather system, has no major rivers and lacks natural water resources; as such the Prefecture is subject to periodic water shortages. Years ago, people built reservoirs for water storage and began to efficiently recycle river water as it made its way downstream. As water was used and discarded, it flowed downhill and accumulated in reservoirs to be recycled. Strict water conserving customs such as the "Mizu-Buni," or water using rights, allowed for a system where small amounts of water could be utilized to the fullest. Kagawa Prefecture, with 14,600 ponds of various sizes and shapes, ranked first in the nation for number of reservoirs per square kilometer, yet there is a limit to how much water can beused for development within the Prefecture as agriculture continues to expand. That which has enabled Kagawa Prefecture to overcome its water difficulties is called the "Kagawa Yosui," which was made possible via the understanding and cooperation from the other prefectures on Shikoku, and is a result of the Yoshinogawa Comprehensive Development Project that originates at the Sameura Dam.