Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat: A Stream Rich in a Rare Catfish
The Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat (中村川ネコギギ生息地) is a stretch of about 1.1 kilometres of the middle reaches of the Nakamura River in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, designated a national Natural Monument in 2011.
The Nakamura River is a tributary of the Kumozu River system. According to Matsusaka City, the designated area runs about 1.1 kilometres from Ureshino Aigano-cho to Ureshino Yasage-cho and covers 22,050.72 square metres. It was designated on 21 September 2011, and Matsusaka City has been its managing body since 30 January 2013.
Why It Is Protected
The nekogigi, a small catfish, is a rare freshwater fish already protected nationwide as a Natural Monument. The Agency for Cultural Affairs explains that it lives at high density in the middle Nakamura River, where its habitat remains in good condition, making this an important site for its protection.
Matsusaka City notes that a 2009 survey by the Mie Prefectural Board of Education confirmed the high density. The stretch has many rocks where the fish can hide and has seen little river engineering, so it remains well suited to them.
What to Look For
At the Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat, what you see is less the fish than the river that sustains it. Rocks large and small line the bed and banks of a stream little touched by engineering, the kind of place where this nocturnal catfish shelters by day.
Catching the nekogigi, a Natural Monument, or moving stones in the river is not allowed. Enjoy the stream from the bank.
Visiting
The designated area is the Nakamura River between Ureshino Aigano-cho and Ureshino Yasage-cho in Matsusaka. There are no visitor facilities, hours or fees.
Do not enter the water or collect wildlife, and keep off nearby farmland and private property. Enquiries go to Matsusaka City's culture section.
Q&A
- Where is the Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat?
- In the middle reaches of the Nakamura River in Matsusaka, Mie, over about 1.1 kilometres from Ureshino Aigano-cho to Ureshino Yasage-cho.
- When was the Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat designated?
- On 21 September 2011.
- Why was the Nakamura River chosen?
- The nekogigi lives there at high density, among plentiful rocks in a stream with little river engineering.
- Can I catch nekogigi at the Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat?
- No. The fish is a national Natural Monument and may not be caught.
- How large is the Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat?
- About 1.1 kilometres long, covering 22,050.72 square metres.
Basic Information
| Name | Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat |
|---|---|
| Location | Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture (Ureshino Aigano-cho to Ureshino Yasage-cho) |
| Designation | Natural Monument |
| Year Designated | Designated 2011/09/21 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 site (22,050.72 m²) |
| Dimensions | About 1.1 km long |
| Owner | Managed by Matsusaka City |
| Public Access | River; no visitor facilities; collecting prohibited |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/411/00003729
- Cultural Heritage Online: Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/173374
- Matsusaka City: Nakamura River Nekogigi Habitat (Japanese)
- https://www.city.matsusaka.mie.jp/site/culture-info/nekogigi-nakamuragawa.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27