Arase Dam Removal and Villagers' Voices - January 2003

Arase Dam Removal and Villagers' Voices - January 2003

Various opinions are being exchanged among villagers over the removal of the prefectural-owned Arase Dam located in Sakamoto Village, Yatsushiro County, Kumamoto Prefecture. The governor of Kumamoto Prefecture has announced that the government's water rights will be renewed until March 31, 2003, when they expire, and that work to remove the dam will begin immediately thereafter. While this decision is expected to restore the environment and improve the water quality of the Kuma River, there are also concerns about the economic impact of dam removal.

In particular, residents of Sakamoto Village are earnestly voicing their concerns, saying that the deterioration of the natural environment has devastated their fishing industry. Since the dam construction, the ecosystem of the Kuma River has changed drastically, and the fish catch has continued to decline. For this reason, some villagers welcome the removal of the dam and hope that the river's restoration will revitalize the fishing industry and tourism.

On the other hand, the financial burden of dam removal is also considered a major issue. Since alternative means of flood control measures and power generation functions will be required after the removal, there is a strong opinion that prefectural and national government support will be essential. There are also concerns about the impact on the local economy, which has depended on the operation of the dam, and a regional development plan is being sought after its removal.

This issue has the potential to affect both inside and outside of Kumamoto Prefecture, and is the subject of nationwide debate, with comparisons being made to other dam removal cases.

Related Information
- According to a report by the Kumamoto Bar Association, at an opinion exchange meeting in August 2002, a number of people called for the removal of the dam, claiming that "the existing dam has a significant impact on the environmental degradation of the Yatsushiro Sea area" [Source: Kumamoto Bar Association].
- In September 2002, the Sakamoto Village Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the suspension of the dam and submitted it to the central government and Kumamoto Prefecture.
- Consultations with local residents and other concerned parties are being sought regarding regional development measures and environmental measures after the removal of the dam [Source: Kumamoto Bar Association].