A Curved Stone Dam from the Yoshino River Works
Otanigawa Dam (大谷川堰堤) is a stone dam said to have been planned by Johannis de Rijke of around 1889 in Wakimachi Kitanosho, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 14, 2002 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a stone dam 60 metres long and 3.3 metres high, enlarged in the early Showa period; registration number 36-0031.
A Large Stone Dam on a Gentle Curve
The Otanigawa Dam stands on the lower reaches of the Otani River, which joins the Yoshino River from the left bank (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Said to have been planned by the Dutch engineer Johannis de Rijke, it is a large stone dam 60 metres long, laid out on a gentle curve.
It is one of the representative remains of the Home Ministry's Yoshino River improvement works, and while it still prevents sediment runoff and stabilises the riverbed, it is used as part of a park (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes it as one of the representative remains of the Home Ministry's Yoshino River works, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look at the 60-metre stone dam laid out on its gentle curve (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Tokushima Prefecture and used as part of a park (Agency for Cultural Affairs), but no official information on the park was found.
Q&A
- When was the dam built?
- Around 1889, enlarged in the early Showa period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who planned it?
- Johannis de Rijke, by tradition.
- How big is it?
- 60 metres long and 3.3 metres high.
- How is it used today?
- It still controls sediment and forms part of a park.
- When was Otanigawa Dam registered?
- On February 14, 2002 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Otanigawa Dam (大谷川堰堤) |
|---|---|
| Location | 91-3 Shibatoko, Wakimachi Kitanosho, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2002/02/14 (Heisei 14) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone dam, 60 m long, 3.3 m high |
| Owner | Tokushima Prefecture |
| Public Access | Used as a park facility; no official visitor information |
References
- Otanigawa Dam (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00002683
Last verified: 2026.10.23