Sharing Water Fairly in Ten Directions
The Sekita Circular Water Divider (関田円型分水工) is a circular irrigation divider of 1938 in Rokugo Higashine, Misato Town, Senboku District, Akita Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 3, 2024 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a reinforced-concrete structure with an area of 123 square metres; registration number 05-0259.
A Divider at the Head of the Fan
The Sekita Circular Water Divider is a reinforced-concrete divider 12 metres across, at the head of the Rokugo alluvial fan on the upper Maruko River, part of the Omono River system (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Water flows out through 180 holes in the inner cylinder and is split by partition boards in the outer cylinder among ten districts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it supports rice farming in Misato and is valuable as an early example of the circular divider, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the holes in the inner cylinder and the boards that divide the outer ring into ten (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is a working farm structure owned by the Semboku Plain Land Improvement District of Akita Prefecture (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1938 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How does it divide the water?
- Through 180 holes into an outer ring split ten ways.
- How big is it?
- 12 metres across.
- Why is it valuable?
- It is an early circular divider that still serves local rice farming.
- When was the Sekita Circular Water Divider registered?
- On December 3, 2024 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Sekita Circular Water Divider (関田円型分水工) |
|---|---|
| Location | 172-1 Rokugo Higashine, Misato Town, Senboku District, Akita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2024/12/03 (Reiwa 6) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Reinforced concrete, 123 m² |
| Owner | Semboku Plain Land Improvement District, Akita Prefecture |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Sekita Circular Water Divider (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015131
Last verified: 2026.10.21