It has been suggested that this article be merged into List of rivers of Japan. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024.
Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, designated as Class A

Rivers in Japan are classified according to criteria set by the River Act (河川法, Kasen Hō), which was introduced in 1967.[1][2] Rivers are classified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

River Act

Pre-1967 river administration

At the beginning of the Meiji era, river construction mainly consisted of low water construction such as securing water for boat transportation and irrigation, but after the middle of the Meiji era, boat transportation declined with the spread of railways, and on the other hand, development of river coasts exacerbated damage from floods. As the number of floods increased, a shift was made to high water construction to prevent flooding by building levees.[3]

The old system was enacted in 1891 following the proclamation of the Meiji Constitution. As Japan's first modern public property management system, a systematic legal system for river management was established. However, due to the background of its enactment, the old River Law had strong overtones of control by state power, and, reflecting the social situation at the time, placed more emphasis on flood control than water utilization.[3]

New River Act

Over the following 70 years, due to post-war social and economic development, the use of river water for hydroelectric power generation and industrial water increased rapidly[3] and because of inconsistencies that had arisen in the system implemented by the old River Act, the new River Act was enacted in 1962, with the following changes:

1997 amendment

The River Act was amended in 1997, changing its text to have a greater emphasis on conservation of natural environments, and the consultation and participation of local residents in forming water management plans.[4]

Impact

The 1967 River Act simplified the management of waterways in Japan by merging previously separate systems into one unified water management system.[3][5] Before this, the river management system in Japan was seen as heavy-handed and overly bureaucratic.[5] Especially post-1997 amendment, there is now greater community involvement when formulating plans regarding rivers and water management.[4]

Class A rivers

Class A river system (一級水系, Ikkyū suikei) is a designation applied to rivers systems deemed to be important to the economy of the nation as a whole, as well as those deemed important to the conservation of nature within Japan. There are currently 109 river systems with this designation.[6][7] If a river system is designated Class A, all the constituent rivers are also designated as such. Therefore, Class B rivers cannot coexist with Class A rivers in the same river system.[7] This designation is also called First Class.

Class A river (一級河川, Ikkyū kasen) is a designation which applies to important individual rivers. There are 13,994 rivers with this designation.[7]

Generally speaking, areas surrounding Class A rivers will suffer greater damage in the event of a flood.[7]

List of Class A river systems

The number of dams only includes existing and unestablished dams that meet the criteria (15 metres (49 ft) or more in bank height) of the River Law. The management entity is irrelevant. The number in parentheses is the number of dams on the main river, excluding tributaries. The number of dams does not always exceed the number of hydroelectric plants because plants with intake weirs less than 15 metres (49 ft) high are not considered dams. The acronym BOD refers to biochemical oxygen demand.

Note: Okinawa has no Class A rivers.

Hokkaidō Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Teshio 天塩川 256 5,590 Hokkaidō 94,000 160 134.52 0.7 14 (2) 3
Shokotsu 渚滑川 84 1,240 28,000 25 29.33 1.0 0 2
Yūbetsu 湧別川 87 1,480 36,000 17 32.45 1.7 1 (0) 3
Tokoro 常呂川 120 1,930 142,000 57 22.64 2.6 2 (1) 0
Abashiri 網走川 115 1,380 94,000 25 14.02 2.5 1 (0) 2
Rumoi 留萌川 44 270 28,000 13 11.84 1.5 3 (0) 0
Ishikari 石狩川 268 14,330 2,500,000 464 133.18 1.1 83 (1) 34
Shiribetsu 尻別川 126 1,640 38,000 40 68.41 0.4 3 (0) 7
Shiribeshi-Toshibetsu 後志利別川 80 720 16,000 29 23.69 0.5 2 (1) 8
Mu 鵡川 135 1,270 13,000 20 38.54 0.6 2 (0) 1
Saru 沙流川 104 1,350 13,000 28 48.24 0.6 4 (2) 4
Kushiro 釧路川 154 2,510 177,000 38 26.32 1.7 0 0
Tokachi 十勝川 156 9,010 340,000 209 85.36 1.7 14 (3) 16

Tōhoku Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Iwaki 岩木川 102 2,540 Aomori 482,400 97 76.07 1.6 21 (2) 5
Takase 高瀬川 64 867 80,372 23 50.10 0.9 3 (1) 0
Mabechi 馬淵川 142 2,050 Iwate, Aomori 188,000 30 47.62 1.1 6 (0) 5
Kitakami 北上川 249 10,150 Iwate, Miyagi 1,389,000 302 318.42 1.1 53 (1) 33
Naruse 鳴瀬川 89 1,130 Miyagi 190,000 61 26.49 1.3 13 (1) 3
Natori 名取川 55 939 1,125,589 30 17.32 1.1 9 (0) 7
Abukuma 阿武隈川 239 5,400 Miyagi, Fukushima 1,380,000 197 52.22 1.9 19 (2) 25
Yoneshiro 米代川 136 4,100 Akita, Iwate 280,000 89 100.91 1.3 21 (0) 22
Omono 雄物川 133 4,710 Akita 346,481 168 259.02 1.4 34 (0) 17
Koyoshi 子吉川 61 1,190 80,000 44 60.60 1.1 12 (1) 7
Mogami 最上川 229 7,040 Yamagata 999,300 429 369.26 1.0 41 (1) 26
Aka 赤川 70 857 109,294 44 65.68 1.0 5 (1) 10

Kantō Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Kuji 久慈川 124 1,490 Fukushima, Ibaraki 201,981 53 23.58 0.8 1 (0) 7
Naka 那珂川 150 3,270 Tochigi, Ibaraki 912,217 197 74.43 0.9 22 (2) 12
Tone 利根川 322 16,840 Gunma, Nagano, Tochigi, Saitama,

Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki

12,140,000 819 237.10 2.5 70 (4) 98
Ara 荒川 173 2,940 Saitama, Tokyo 9,300,000 127 27.77 4.4 13 (2) 11
Tama 多摩川 138 1,240 Yamanashi, Tokyo, Kanagawa 4,250,000 52 40.28 1.7 2 (2) 5
Tsurumi 鶴見川 43 235 Tokyo, Kanagawa 1,840,000 11 7.83 8.0 0 0
Sagami 相模川 113 1,680 Yamanashi, Kanagawa 1,200,000 104 － 2.0 10 (3) 20
Fuji 富士川 128 3,990 Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka 1,600,000 555 58.91 2.3 19 (0) 71

Hokuriku Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Ara 荒川 73 1,150 Yamagata, Niigata 40,000 61 115.00 0.6 5 (3) 6
Agano 阿賀野川 210 7,710 Fukushima, Gunma, Niigata 590,000 243 401.55 0.6 62 (8) 60
Shinano 信濃川 367 11,900 Nagano, Gunma, Niigata 2,950,000 880 503.15 1.0 90 (1) 122
Seki 関川 64 1,140 Nagano, Niigata 210,000 78 50.32 1.5 5 (1) 16
Hime 姫川 60 722 20,000 47 44.07 0.5 0 19
Kurobe 黒部川 85 682 Toyama 71,000 25 37.00 0.8 6 (5) 18
Jōganji 常願寺川 56 368 30,000 49 16.23 0.6 8 (1) 27
Jinzū 神通川 120 2,720 Gifu, Toyama 380,000 105 183.65 1.4 25 (7) 60
Shō 庄川 115 1,180 28,032 48 47.72 1.0 18 (9) 27
Oyabe 小矢部川 68 667 Ishikawa, Toyama 300,000 64 27.99 1.5 14 (2) 5
Tedori 手取川 72 809 Ishikawa 40,000 35 77.21 0.5 7 (2) 24
Kakehashi 梯川 42 271 110,000 13 18.02 1.0 1 (1) 0

Chūbu Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Kano 狩野川 46 852 Shizuoka 640,000 76 21.40 1.5 0 7
Abe 安倍川 51 567 170,000 36 41.44 0.8 0 2
Ōi 大井川 168 1,280 90,000 39 76.40 0.5 14 (7) 15
Kiku 菊川 28 158 70,000 25 2.21 1.8 2 (0) 0
Tenryū 天竜川 213 5,090 Nagano, Aichi, Shizuoka 720,000 332 239.67 0.5 17 (5) 51
Toyo 豊川 77 724 Aichi 210,000 27 28.23 0.6 9 (1) 3
Yahagi 矢作川 or 矢矧川 118 1,830 Nagano, Gifu, Aichi 690,000 94 43.99 1.0 25 (3) 25
Shōnai 庄内川 96 1,010 Gifu, Aichi 2,500,000 76 26.21 4.7 18 (0) 2
Kiso 木曽川 229 9,100 Nagano, Gifu, Shiga,

Aichi, Mie

1,700,000 391 291.05 0.7 64 (9) 77
Suzuka 鈴鹿川 38 323 Mie 110,000 46 11.23 1.4 0 0
Kumozu 雲出川 55 550 90,000 40 14.36 1.6 6 (0) 1
Kushida 櫛田川 85 461 40,000 68 20.55 0.7 4 (0) 5
Miya 宮川 91 920 140,000 55 45.70 0.5 5 (2) 6

Kinki Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Kuzuryū 九頭竜川 116 2,930 Gifu, Fukui 666,225 147 108.26 0.8 20 (3) 25
Kita 北川 30 211 Shiga, Fukui 21,389 12 11.68 0.6 1 (0) 1
Yura 由良川 146 1,880 Hyōgo, Kyōto 300,000 138 52.09 0.8 22 (3) 6
Yodo 淀川 75 8,240 Shiga, Kyōto, Ōsaka,

Mie, Nara, Hyōgo

11,650,000 965 267.51 1.9 66 (1) 34
Yamato 大和川 68 1,070 Nara, Ōsaka 2,150,000 178 23.94 3.3 11 (1) 0
Maruyama 円山川 68 1,300 Hyōgo 150,557 97 37.40 0.9 7 (0) 5
Kako 加古川 96 1,730 640,000 130 45.89 2.6 19 (0) 0
Ibo 揖保川 70 810 200,000 47 29.04 0.8 4 (0) 6
Kino 紀の川 136 1,750 Nara, Wakayama 689,000 181 58.77 2.1 9 (2) 6
Kumano 熊野川 183 2,360 Nara, Mie, Wakayama 84,000 103 163.54 1.3 11 (5) 30

Chūgoku Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Sendai 千代川 52 1,190 Tottori 200,000 87 61.68 0.8 6 (0) 17
Tenjin 天神川 32 490 65,500 32 24.03 1.2 8 (0) 8
Hino 日野川 77 870 60,800 56 33.55 1.1 12 (0) 14
Hii 斐伊川 153 2,070 Shimane, Tottori 435,000 227 40.26 1.4 24 (2) 13
Gōno 江の川 194 3,900 Hiroshima, Shimane 202,000 293 75.17 0.8 20 (2) 24
Takatsu 高津川 81 1,090 Shimane 38,600 92 51.88 0.7 4 (0) 5
Yoshii 吉井川 133 2,110 Okayama 294,000 215 61.16 2.0 30 (1) 18
Asahi 旭川 142 1,810 335,000 147 57.01 1.8 25 (3) 9
Takahashi 高梁川 111 2,670 Okayama, Hiroshima 273,000 121 61.81 2.5 29 (1) 19
Ashida 芦田川 86 860 269,000 82 12.73 4.0 18 (2) 3
Ōta 太田川 103 1,710 Hiroshima 980,000 73 78.81 0.9 11 (2) 24
Oze 小瀬川 59 340 Hiroshima, Yamaguchi 26,500 23 12.05 2.6 4 (2) 6
Saba 佐波川 56 460 Yamaguchi 31,100 32 18.69 0.7 4 (1) 1

Shikoku Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Yoshino 吉野川 194 3,750 Kōchi, Ehime, Tokushima, Kagawa 641,000 356 107.67 0.8 23 (4) 32
Naka 那賀川 125 874 Tokushima 59,000 75 62.88 0.7 4 (3) 5
Doki 土器川 33 140 Kagawa 35,000 11 1.83 3.9 2 (0) 0
Shigenobu 重信川 36 445 Ehime 233,000 75 2.24 5.0 8 (0) 1
Hiji 肱川 103 1,210 112,000 475 37.61 1.0 8 (2) 4
Monobe 物部川 71 508 Kōchi 40,000 35 30.78 0.7 4 (3) 6
Niyodo 仁淀川 124 1,560 Ehime, Kōchi 105,000 166 100.07 0.7 5 (3) 18
Shimanto 四万十川 196 2,270 100,000 319 121.02 0.6 5 (0) 6

Kyūshū Development Bureau

Name Japanese Main stream length (km) Basin area (km2) Basin management Basin area population Tributaries Average annual flow rate (m3/s) BOD (ppm) Dams Hydroelectric plants
Onga 遠賀川 61 1,026 Fukuoka 666,406 74 31.47 2.6 23 (0) 1
Yamakuni 山国川 56 540 Ōita, Fukuoka 36,801 39 20.81 0.9 1 (0) 1
Chikugo 筑後川 143 2,863 Kumamoto, Ōita, Fukuoka, Saga 1,090,777 235 95.09 1.6 29 (2) 22
Yabe 矢部川 61 647 Fukuoka 182,889 23 21.54 1.1 17 (2) 4
Matsuura River 松浦川 47 446 Fukuoka, Saga 97,818 80 12.46 2.4 22 (0) 3
Rokkaku 六角川 47 341 Saga 122,827 79 4.36 2.1 9 (1) 0
Kase 嘉瀬川 57 368 133,412 51 14.10 1.0 3 (2) 8
Honmyō 本明川 21 87 Nagasaki 54,583 18 2.11 1.8 2 (1) 0
Kikuchi 菊池川 71 996 Kumamoto 208,694 68 39.56 1.1 1 (0) 4
Shira 白川 74 480 131,375 16 25.39 2.5 3 (1) 4
Midori 緑川 76 1,100 517,189 59 36.17 2.4 4 (2) 11
Kuma 球磨川 115 1,880 137,375 82 119.92 1.4 11 (4) 20
Ōita 大分川 55 650 Ōita 252,808 48 22.33 1.4 7 (1) 14
Ōno 大野川 107 1,465 Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Ōita 206,818 138 61.36 0.6 14 (0) 10
Banjō 番匠川 38 464 56,527 52 12.17 1.1 5 (0) 0
Gokase 五ヶ瀬川 106 1,820 Miyazaki 127,638 102 60.94 1.1 8 (2) 22
Omaru 小丸川 75 474 Miyazaki 32,616 16 32.76 0.5 8 (4) 5
Ōyodo 大淀川 107 2,230 Kagoshima, Miyazaki 601,321 134 107.61 1.3 16 (2) 12
Sendai 川内川 137 1,600 Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima 195,944 129 91.09 0.7 4 (3) 5
Kimotsuki 肝属川 34 485 Kagoshima 115,578 36 31.69 4.5 2 (0) 3

Class B rivers

The Nanakita River, a Class B river in Miyagi Prefecture

Smaller or less important rivers are designated as Class B river systems (二級水系, Nikyū Seikei). They are nominated and managed by the local governments at the prefecture level, but reported to and concurred with by the central government.[1] There are 7,090 rivers with this designation.[7] Because all of their river systems are designated Class A, there are no Class B rivers in Saitama and Shiga prefectures.[7]

This designation is also called Second Class.

Mutatis mutandis rivers

14,314 rivers in Japan are designated as mutatis mutandis rivers (準用河川, Junyō kasen), meaning that they are not assigned Class A or B designation, and are under the control of the mayor of the encompassing municipality.[8] An example of this is the Kuno River, managed by the mayor of Odawara.[8]

Ordinary rivers

Rivers that are not designated Class A, Class B, or mutatis mutandis, are called ordinary rivers (普通河川, Futsū kasen), and the 1967 River Act does not apply to them.[8] These do not include public sewers or agricultural canals.[9] Management of these rivers is carried out by the local municipality.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "River Administration in Japan". Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  2. ^ "河川法" [River Law] (in Japanese). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "社会経済の変化を踏まえた今後の河川制度のあり方について". Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  4. ^ a b Sakamoto, Takaaki; Shinozaki, Yui; Sato, Hirokazu; Shirakawa, Naoki; Kayaba, Yuichi (2018-06-13). "IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE 1997 REVISED RIVER LAW ON CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES OF RIVERS". Advances in River Engineering. 24 – via J-STAGE.
  5. ^ a b "川づくりの来し方・行く末 ─ 河川法制定120周年に寄せて". Journal of Water and Environmental Issues. 2015-10-29. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  6. ^ "河川法第四条第一項の水系を指定する政令" [River Law Clause 4 Paragraph 1: River System Designation Ordinance] (in Japanese). e-Gov.go.jp. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "よくある質問とその回答". Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  8. ^ a b c "小田原市 | 1級河川、2級河川、準用河川、普通河川とは何ですか。". 小田原市 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  9. ^ "普通河川とは？｜株式Rise". 株式会社Rise (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  10. ^ "普通河川". www.thr.mlit.go.jp. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
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