Honmyogawa River

Japanese: 本明川 - ほんみょうがわ

A river in eastern Nagasaki Prefecture. It originates from Mt. Gokabaru (1,058m) of the Taradake volcano, flows through Isahaya city and empties into the Ariake Sea. Its length is about 21km, and its total drainage area is 87km2. The area around its mouth is a rice paddy area created by reclamation. On July 25, 1957, the river flooded due to torrential rains, and the muddy waters swept away the rice paddies and houses along the riverbank, taking many lives in Isahaya city. There is also a record of a major flood during the Genroku period (1688-1704), and 500 arhat statues are carved into the rock walls along the valley at Daio-ji Temple in the upstream Tomikawa River to commemorate the victims.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

長崎県東部の川。多良岳火山の五家原（ごかばる）岳(1058m)に源を発し，諫早市街地を貫流して有明海に注ぐ。流路延長は約21km，全流域面積87km2。河口付近は干拓による水田地帯である。1957年7月25日，集中豪雨によりはんらんし，濁流は河岸の水田や家屋を押し流して諫早市街で多くの人命を奪った。元禄年間(1688‐1704)にも大水害の記録があり，上流の富川にある大雄寺の渓谷に沿った岩壁には犠牲者の霊を弔う五百羅漢が刻まれている。

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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