A Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete Bridge of 1939, Registered in 1999
Chojataki Bridge (長者滝橋, Chojatakibashi) stands at Minami-taki-no-ue, Genbi-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, entered on the national register of tangible cultural properties on 18 November 1999. The quantity is one structure and the owner is Ichinoseki City.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the form as a concrete twin-arch bridge with attached reinforced concrete approach girders, 61 metres long and 3.9 metres wide, and gives the date as early Showa, 1939.
The commentary opens: a concrete bridge with bamboo reinforcement, thrown across the Iwai River. That bamboo was used as the reinforcing material is set down in the official record.
Bamboo in Place of Steel
Reinforced concrete strengthens concrete, weak in tension, with steel bars. Bamboo-reinforced concrete substitutes bamboo for the steel.
Bamboo is strong in tension and easy to obtain, so it served as a substitute when steel was hard to come by. It rots, however, and cannot be expected to last as steel does.
The Agency's wording is with bamboo reinforcement, not built of bamboo alone: a concrete bridge into which bamboo was set.
At 61 metres long and 3.9 metres wide, it is too narrow for two vehicles to pass, a scale that answers to the roads of its time.
Two Central Arches and Two Side Spans Each Way
The Agency sets out how the bridge is made up: a central twin-arch section of 18-metre spans, with two side spans on either side.
Two arches of 18 metres at the centre, then two spans to the left and two to the right: six spans in all.
The arches are of the filled type, with the space between arch and roadway built up solid rather than left open. The Agency calls the effect weighty and dignified.
The approach girders are of reinforced concrete and are recorded as attached. Arch section and approach are built differently.
Abutments and Piers Set into Bedrock
The heart of the Agency's assessment is not the bridge alone but its relation to the ground.
Beyond the weighty, dignified effect of the filled arches, the abutments and piers being set into the bedrock creates a scene that merges with the gorge.
Abutments carry the ends of a bridge and piers support it between. Here they sit directly on rock: not founded on made-up ground but placed on the exposed stone itself.
The Genbikei gorge of the Iwai River, where the bridge stands, is itself covered by a separate national framework. The registration of the bridge and the treatment of the gorge belong to different systems. When the Agency speaks of merging with the scene, it means that relation.
The assessment is made of the bridge together with the ground around it, which is what marks this entry.
Visiting
Chojataki Bridge is a working bridge. It can be crossed, and its exterior can be seen from outside.
The filled arches and the piers set into bedrock cannot be seen from the deck. Seeing them means standing where the bridge can be looked up at from the gorge.
The gorge can be out of reach in high water or under snow. Check the weather and conditions on the ground before setting out.
The bridge is at Minami-taki-no-ue, Genbi-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. Check the city's information for exact directions.
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Q&A
- When was the bridge built and registered?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs gives the date as early Showa, 1939. It was entered on the national register of tangible cultural properties on 18 November 1999, as one structure, with Ichinoseki City as owner.
- What is bamboo-reinforced concrete?
- Concrete in which bamboo takes the place of steel as reinforcement. Bamboo is strong in tension and easy to obtain, so it served as a substitute when steel was hard to come by. The Agency records this bridge as a concrete bridge with bamboo reinforcement.
- How is the bridge made up?
- The Agency records a central twin-arch section of 18-metre spans with two side spans on either side, six spans in all. The bridge is 61 metres long and 3.9 metres wide.
- Why was it registered?
- The Agency records that beyond the weighty, dignified effect of the filled arches, the abutments and piers being set into the bedrock creates a scene that merges with the Genbikei gorge. The assessment is made of the bridge together with the ground around it.
- Can it be visited?
- It is a working bridge, so it can be crossed and its exterior seen from outside. The filled arches and the piers set into bedrock cannot be seen from the deck; that means standing where the bridge can be looked up at from the gorge. High water or snow can put the gorge out of reach.
Basic Information
| Name | Chojataki Bridge (長者滝橋, Chojatakibashi) |
|---|---|
| Location | Minami-taki-no-ue, Genbi-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) |
| Year Designated | 1999 (18 November), registered |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Concrete twin-arch bridge with attached reinforced concrete approach girders, 61 metres long and 3.9 metres wide. A concrete bridge with bamboo reinforcement, comprising a central twin-arch section of 18-metre spans with 2 side spans on either side. Built 1939 |
| Owner | Ichinoseki City |
| Public Access | A working bridge. It can be crossed, and its exterior seen from outside |
References
- Cultural Heritage Online: Chojataki Bridge
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/192399
- Ichinoseki City official site
- https://www.city.ichinoseki.iwate.jp/
- Ichinoseki tourism association
- https://www.ichitabi.jp/
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: the registration system for tangible cultural properties
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/
Last verified: 2026.09.04