Ishigari River Field Trip- by Tunyu

Hi, this is Tunyu,

This time, we traveled to the Ishikari River in Hokkaido with Professor Ishiwatari to learn about the history of hydraulic engineering and river management on the Ishikari Plain.

We had the honor of discussing the history of detention ponds with the staff of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau. They explained how these ponds have shifted from agricultural field to flood protection pond and also providing important ecological services. We also learned about the cut-off channels and drainage canals that have shaped Hokkaido's unique river network and landscape.

We visited the Yubari Shuparo Dam, which is the second-largest dam in Japan by reservoir storage capacity. Under the guidance of the bureau staff, we learned about practical challenges such as usage change due to water quality and the economic impact of Yubari City's decline. I also had my first opportunity to explore the inside of a gravity dam. I even took a photo on the emergency staircase, where each step has an unusually large height difference, making the climb quite memorable.

When talking about Hokkaido's history, it is impossible to ignore its once-thriving coal mining region and the dramatic changes that followed the industry's decline. Yubari, once famous for producing some of Japan's finest melons, also became known for its severe financial crisis.

We also visited the Railway Museum, where we learned about the history of rail transportation in the region. The exhibits showed how many railway lines were eventually shut down as the local population and economy declined. At the same time, they highlighted the remarkable engineering achievements of earlier generations, who built railways capable of operating through Hokkaido's harsh winters and heavy snowfall. Seeing both the rise and decline of the railway network gave me a deeper appreciation of how closely infrastructure is connected to the prosperity of a community.

I feel fortunate to live in an era when we can learn from the successes and failures of previous generations and make better decisions for the future. At the same time, we enjoy excellent cuisine and a convenient modern lifestyle. Every opportunity to visit infrastructure built during Japan's economic bubble era broadens my perspective and deepens my understanding of how public infrastructure should be planned and managed.

Finally, I would like to thank Professor Kawasaki for giving me the opportunity, over the past two years, to visit places that I would never have had the chance to see as a foreigner. These experiences have encouraged me to think more deeply about how my own country can develop better river basin management strategies and infrastructure planning while considering their long-term social impacts.