Kamiizumi [village] - Kamiizumi

Japanese: 神泉[村] - かみいずみ

A village in Kodama County, on the northwestern edge of Saitama Prefecture, bordering Gunma Prefecture. Population 1,314 (1995). It occupies the Chichibu Mountains on the south bank of the Kanna River. In ancient times, Akuhara Pasture was established here, and the area was known for producing quality horses. Most of the area is covered by forests, and konjac yam and shiitake mushrooms are cultivated on the sloping fields between the mountains. In 1969, Shimokubo Dam was completed, and Kanna Lake appeared. As a result, half of the former Yano Village was submerged, causing a rapid decline in population, and the current population is the lowest among the cities, towns, and villages in the prefecture. It is designated a depopulated area. With the development of a road network, tourism has been developed around Kanna Lake and Sanbashiki Gorge (name), known for its beautiful gorge and the production of ornamental Sanbashi stones, and tourist vineyards have also been established in recent years.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

埼玉県北西端，群馬県と接する児玉郡の村。人口1314(1995)。神流川南岸の秩父山地を占める。古代には阿久原牧がおかれ，良馬の産地として知られた。山林が大部分を占め，山間の傾斜畑でコンニャクイモの栽培を中心にシイタケの栽培も行われる。1969年に下久保ダムが完成し，神流湖が出現した。このため旧矢納村の半分が水没して，人口が急減，現在の人口は県下市町村中最少である。過疎地域に指定されている。道路網の整備により，観賞用の三波石を産出し峡谷美で知られる三波石峡(名)や神流湖を中心に観光開発が図られ，近年は観光ブドウ園もつくられている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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