The changing landscapes of
the traditional Japanese countryside
The characteristic f e of the landscape of the
Japanese countryside is the traditional paddy system, whose technology was
introduced to Japan from Chiba and the Korean P a about 2,000 years ago. The
system consists of a holding pond that collects water from the surrounding mountains
and a network of ditches to t t the water to and from
the paddies. The water level is controlled with simple w en gates installed ati ls along the ditches. These irrigation
ditches make up a beautiful and ecologically diverse landscape. They are t m
with life such as fish, small shrimps and f es,
the last of which makes a summer night scene even city people love. However,
shortage of natural water has led to electrical p ping direct from water sources and
the traditional i tion system has been a ed. In addition, because the
m ce is too
difficult for elderly farmers, the wooden ditches are being r ed by concrete channels,
which are e t but a ly and e ly
devalue the countryside landscape. Many kinds of life there are now seriously e ed. The silver lining is the efforts
to p e
or r e the traditional paddy system in some
areas.
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