元一覧表へ戻る2003NSIII 「自然の化学的基礎」 課題 I
「川と人間生活」 野川（東京都）
The past five years of my life in Fuchu have undergone much involvement with the Nogawa (No) River. In the midst of a world of transformation and advancement, the river has experienced various changes and continuities, making us aware of both its assets and crises. My observations over the course of time lead to the perception of various realities concerning the river, some of which perhaps come upon one as unfamiliar and less crucial, unless having experienced it firsthand.
While the Nogawa River stretches out over a much longer distance, the area which I particularly find familiar occupies only a small portion of it. Still, what I perceive from that fraction indicates an undeniable truth about its present conditions, further conveying human treatment of nature. Unlike some areas where tourists and families frequently visit, the section close to my house actually remains relatively untouched. Once in a while I find wild duck, as well as carp swimming close to the surface of the shallow water. Despite the little amount of water, long-term inhabitance by such animals suggests its considerable level of purity of. A fairly low level of pollution is witnessed, too, especially in comparison to places where the garbage assumes an overly dominant sense of existence over the original greenery. Occasionally, I also encounter the local people trimming the grass along the riverside, cooperating assiduously for the maintenance of the river. Although some rivers have come to face much harm and damage engendered by human society, I feel that the Nogawa River miraculously survives as a moderately unscathed part of nature, notably in part due to the support of the local people.
My first encounter with the Nogawa River took place during the spring, during one of my track practices in high school. Nearly all of the cherry blossom trees nearby had bloomed, and indications here and there signaled the arrival of spring. As it was my very first season in the club, I had no anticipation of the route my team would be taking that afternoon. As we came upon a turn on the road, however, I suddenly found myself facing a whole street of fully bloomed trees of pink, standing alongside a river with petals fluttering on the surface. I had not at all imagined such a tranquil place so close by. The feeling of relaxation that the river gave me soon became an irresistible force. Children playing, elderly couples walking their dogs, birds lingering and chirping, fish swimming,ﾉ after every visit I left with a fresh experience and memory of the scenery. Moreover, the variations brought by the four seasons impressed me each time. With the coming of each season ﾐ spring, summer, fall, and winter ﾐ the river transformed into an entirely new place accompanied by the beauties of nature. The spring brought the cherry blossoms, summer the great weather and the cold water, fall the leaves changing color, and winter the snow. The beauty of each was equally unforgettable, and I continued to quietly observe such changes and consistencies. The kinds of life I found there proved countless to me, and I was simply amazed at how much the river offered to our daily lives, as well as the benefits human beings have continued to take for granted.
Yet, at the same time I cannot help but notice the substantial damage done to the river, including pollution and the decreasing level of water. A few years ago, one of the committees I belonged to in high school organized and conducted a Nogawa clean-up, in which we set out to the Nogawa area to get rid of the trash left behind by visitors. Although our project contributed only to a slight reduction of garbage, such efforts by local people have taken place on larger scales and frequencies.
According to the local people, ruins from the Old Stone Age to the Jomon Period lie on either banks of the Nogawa River. Indeed, the original river held two to three meters in width, surrounded by paddy fields, thickets, and barley fields. As much as half a decade ago, around the postwar period, this area in many ways might have been peaceful, possibly more so than today. During the spring families gathered around the lotus flowers, while children fished in the river with buckets. In the summer the river substituted for a pool with its cool water from the springs. Autumn was a rather quiet time of the year, providing mushrooms in times of lack in food supplies. Even during the winter, the chilly river still did not freeze and continued to flow. Since ancient times, the river must have existed as a site bringing forth enrichment and abundance in life.
The Nogawa River stretches from Ogikubo to Koganei, Mitaka, Chofu, merging with other waters at Komae and Kitami, all the way to Setagaya where it flows into the Tama River as one. In the past heavy rain often triggered floods, creating nicknames such as ﾒBig River (Oogawa)ﾓ and ﾒViolent River (Abaregawa)ﾓ from the way it overflowed and broke its banks. The Nogawa River used to supply its water as drinking water to the people. Also acting as a spot for fishing eel and sweet fish, in some areas this river even assisted in cultivating wasabi fields. From around 1955, however, rapid development in housing led to damaged fields and deforestation, along with deterioration in the water storage systems, causing further floods from springs and rainwater. Typhoons also contributed to these damages done to the shelter and fields nearby. The cities involved soon got together to discuss this imperative issue, however, and formed an alliance promoting the reconstruction and improvement of the former Nogawa River. Although excess drainage and inflow of poisonous liquid temporarily drove the community away from arriving at a clear stream, these impediments in turn quickened the completion of a new, more secure Nogawa River, today a shared space for all people.
While the reconstruction raised the quality of water and reduced the likeliness of floods, development also brought about exhaustion in water supplies. Although I was not there to witness the vital changes with my own eyes, I strongly feel that the river has endured so much more than we presume. While countless rivers continue to be deserted by communities in sacrifice of advanced living standards, this river solidly remains cared and loved by those living around it. Limited damage at times proves inevitable, and aside from the obstacles faced today, I see the river fairly content with the amount of protection it receives from the considerate community. Yet, higher goals can always be achieved with determination and cooperation. Living in harmony with nature, I believe, is and always will be an ultimate fate of human beings, and sharing such an inseparable bond is what I wish for the future of Nogawa River and the surrounding community.
Bibliography
狛江市役所（2004）「野川」
<http://www.koganei.com/~chino/nogawa.nogawa.html> 2004.1.7
（2004）「野川が消える」
<http://www.city.komae.tokyo.jp/index.cfm.28,318,138,60,html> 2004.1.7