Kaifu - Kaifu

The former name of a town (Kaifu-cho) in Kaifu County, southern Tokushima Prefecture. The area currently occupies the central-southern part of Kaiyo-cho. The former Kaifu-cho was formed in 1955 (Showa 30) when the towns of Tomo-oku and Kawanishi merged. In 2006 (Heisei 18), it merged with the towns of Kainan and Shishikui to become Kaiyo-cho. It is the terminus of the JR Mugi Line, and the Asa Kaigan Railway extends further through the area. National highways 55 (Tosahama Kaido) and 193 pass through the area. The center of the region is Okuura, at the mouth of the Kaifu River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean, and is a commercial town and a lumber yard for timber floated down from the upper reaches of the Kaifu River. The fishing village of Tomoura was home to Kaifu Castle (Tomo Castle), one of the nine Awa castles that controlled the border with Tosa, and the Tokushima Domain's district office was located there even after it was abandoned in 1638 (Kan'ei 15). The Kawanishi district, which occupies the lowlands downstream of the Kaifu River and the basin of its tributary, the Haha River, is a purely rural area with greenhouse gardening and abundant strawberries. The Kaifu River basin is known as a production area of ​​Kaifu swords, and it is said that there were 50 swordsmiths there from the Muromachi period to the Sengoku period. The giant eel habitat in the Haha River is a nationally designated natural monument. The area near the mouth of the Haha River is also a habitat for fireflies, and a firefly festival is held there in June.

[Takagi Hideki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

徳島県南部、海部郡にあった旧町名（海部町(ちょう)）。現在は海陽町(かいようちょう)の中南部を占める地域。旧海部町は、1955年（昭和30）鞆奥(ともおく)町と川西村が合併して成立。2006年（平成18）海南、宍喰(ししくい)の2町と合併、海陽町となった。JR牟岐(むぎ)線の終点であり、さらに阿佐海岸鉄道が延びる。国道55号（土佐浜街道）、193号が通じる。地域の中心は太平洋に注ぐ海部川河口の奥浦で商業町であり、また海部川上流から流す木材の貯木場となっている。漁村の鞆浦には阿波(あわ)九城の一つで、土佐境の押さえであった海部城（鞆城）があり、1638年（寛永15）廃城後も徳島藩郡代役所が置かれた。海部川下流低地と支流母川の流域を占める川西地区は純農村で、施設園芸がみられイチゴを多く産する。海部川流域は海部刀の産地として知られ、室町時代から戦国時代には刀工50人がいたという。母川のオオウナギ生息地は国指定天然記念物。また、母川の河口付近はホタルの生息地になっていて、6月にはホタル祭りが開かれる。

［高木秀樹］

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