Land of Rivers | Jiro Kokuryo, Vice-President / Professor, Faculty of Policy Management
December 24, 2019
The year 2019, with its series of typhoons, became a year that made me think about the geography around the campus for the first time in a while. I was anxious about whether the Koide River, which runs right beside us, would flood. And indeed, there are many rivers around SFC with a history of flooding, including not only the Sagami River but also the Hikiji and Sakai Rivers. While I was concerned, the flooding of the Tama River near the Hiyoshi campus became a major issue within Keio University, overshadowing other local worries. However, my thoughts go out to the people in the regions that suffered greatly, including from the power outages in Chiba, and I was reminded of the importance of maintaining a humble attitude toward nature.
I want to reflect not only on being humble but also on the importance of being prepared. I believe we survived this year not by chance, but as a result of dedicated efforts. When I was dean of the faculty, I used to take various routes on my commute by car to learn about the area around the campus. In the process, I noticed that flood control measures, such as the development of retarding basins and river improvements, were being carried out in various places. In the past, that much rain would have flooded the area around the bus stop in front of the campus, but the fact that we were spared this time must be the result of such efforts. We must be grateful.
To broaden the topic a little, I also recall how strongly I felt, while exploring the surrounding area by car, how rivers have formed village boundaries and created local communities. The Sakai River marks the border between the old provinces of Musashi and Sagami, and the Koide River forms the border between Chigasaki and Samukawa Town. These are not just administrative borders; the scarcity of bridges to cross them physically divides the regions. It is also characteristic that in a land where rice cultivation is not necessarily widespread, rice paddies are located along the rivers. The very shape of life is formed by the rivers. This is a feeling that is hard to understand in Tokyo, where many small rivers have been culverted and hidden from view.
The blessings of water that rivers bring, the threats they pose, and the seasonal scenery evoked by things like the cluster amaryllis along the Koide River. I truly think Japan is a land of rivers.