Jikkasegi Irrigation System was originally constructed by heaping up earth. Jikkasegi has gone through several renovations, resulting in a modern canal with concrete lining.
Before excavation of Jikkasegi Irrigation System, the Azumino area did not have many cultivable lands because of the high infiltrate of the soil, which could not retain water on the surface. Farmers were forced to endure poverty, even though the soil in the floodplain of the Azusa-gawa River was fertile, and had the potential to become a successful agricultural productive area.
The Azusa-gawa River, which ran through the neighboring area, not only had a large amount of subsoil water, but also easily became a raging torrent because of its unstable course of flow. Since farmers had difficulty getting a regular water supply, they used to complain about their poverty caused by the water shortages.
Since rice production was the most important on the economy at the time, and the rice yields were directly connected to income, farmers were more eager to start producing rice and secure irrigation water than we can imagine.
A village head member, Magoichiro Todoroki, who was concerned about the poverty stricken farmers, persuaded the head members of neighboring villages and obtained permission from the Matsumoto-han (then provincial government) to get irrigation water from the Narai-gawa River, which was beyond the Azusa-gawa River, although nobody thought it was possible.
During the Edo Period, excavation of irrigation canals was generally done by order of the local Lord to increase the income of han (then local government). Jikkasegi, however, was devised and excavated by the local farmers.
There were numerous technical challenges during excavation, including improving soil quality, drawing water crossing the raging Azusa-gawa River, designing a slow-gradient canal to provide water to a larger number of paddy fields, and crossing 36 existing canals on different levels.
It is amazing and beyond our common sense that the local farmers overcame all challenges and finished construction of the 15km-canal in three months, with their passion and construction technology.
Thanks to Jikkasegi, agricultural production in the Azumino area improved dramatically, which led to a greater income for the then provincial government. Jikkasegi is not only important in historical worth and agricultural productivity, but its impressive appearance flowing in the lush countryside is indispensable in creating the Azumino area’s beautiful landscape.
The local residents are united in continuing to carry out maintenance and management of the canal, as well as preserving its surrounding landscape. Jikkasegi is a precious property of the region.