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Accepted Paper:
Reservoirs as commons: a low annual rainfall region in the Seto inland sea, Japan
Satoshi Murayama
(Kagawa University)
In Sanuki, a region in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, with low annual rainfall, there are approximately 14,000 reservoirs in a small area, 1,877 square kilometre. The reservoir culture, which has continued since ancient times, is disappearing except to be preserved and maintained as cultural heritage.
Paper long abstract:
This paper focuses on reservoirs in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. In Sanuki, a region in the Seto Inland Sea with low annual rainfall, there are approximately 14,000 reservoirs in a small area, 1,877 square kilometre. Countless small reservoirs have now been neglected and are disappearing along with the deterioration of farming villages. These abandoned reservoirs, which are no longer used for agricultural purposes, are also exposed to the risk of disasters caused by climate change. The reservoir culture, which has continued since ancient times, is disappearing except to be preserved and maintained as cultural heritage. The Mannoike Pond, said to have been constructed by Kukai, one of the most prominent Buddhist priests in Japan, and other huge man-made structures that could not have been achieved by ordinary human labour, have been created. It can be said that the motivation to build huge reservoirs was driven by drought and flood risks, especially drought risk. However, it is also important to note that there were many more small reservoirs managed by individuals than one might imagine. Although the results of paleoclimatological research are rewriting Japanese history, they remind us of the source of contemporary issues beyond the relationship between climate change and the historical event of the construction of giant reservoirs. More precise reservoir research limited to a region, especially focusing on labour politics and local economies, can provide an important subject for viable commons in the future.