Mukawa

The former name of a town (Mukawa-cho) located in the Iburi Subprefecture (now the Iburi General Subprefecture) in south-central Hokkaido. The area currently occupies the southern part of Mukawa-cho, Yufutsu District. The former Mukawa-cho was incorporated as a town in 1953 (Showa 28). In 2006 (Heisei 18), it merged with Hobetsu-cho, Yufutsu District, to form Mukawa-cho. The former town area occupies the lower reaches of the Mukawa River and faces the Pacific Ocean. The JR Hidaka Main Line and National Route 235 run along the coast. It borders the Hidaka Subprefecture and has a strong Hidaka flavor. Development began in 1882 (Meiji 15) by immigrants from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the Mukawa River basin was gradually converted into farmland. Favorable weather conditions - hot summers and little snowfall in winter - as well as well-developed irrigation facilities have made the mid- and lower reaches of the Mukawa River fertile rice fields, making it one of the leading rice-producing areas in the Iburi region. Dairy farms and racehorse breeding ranches can be found on the terraces and plateaus, and field crops such as spinach and flowers are grown as a result of rice production adjustments. There is a fishing port at the mouth of the Mukawa River, and the area is known for its autumn shishamo fishery. In peak season, the sight of blinds lined up in front of fishermen's houses to dry the shishamo is a spectacular sight, but due to declining resources, a hatching project is being carried out. The Mukawa River was once considered an important source of water for the Tomakomai Eastern Industrial District, but due to stagnation in development, the area is now supplied with Tomakomai Industrial Water.

[Narabe Osamu]

"History of Mukawa Town" (1968, Mukawa Town)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北海道中南部、胆振(いぶり)支庁（現、胆振総合振興局）管内にあった旧町名（鵡川町(ちょう)）。現在は勇払(ゆうふつ)郡むかわ町の南部を占める地域。旧鵡川町は1953年（昭和28）町制施行。2006年（平成18）、勇払郡穂別町(ほべつちょう)と合併してむかわ町となる。旧町域は鵡川の下流域を占め、太平洋に臨む。JR日高(ひだか)本線、国道235号が沿岸を走る。日高振興局管内に接し、日高地方の色彩が濃い。1882年（明治15）山口県の移民により開拓が始まり、鵡川流域はしだいに耕地化された。夏は暑く、冬は積雪が少ない恵まれた気象条件、灌漑(かんがい)施設の整備などから鵡川の中流・下流域は肥沃(ひよく)な水田となり、胆振地方有数の米どころとなっている。段丘や台地には酪農地や競走馬生産の牧場がみられ、米の生産調整によるホウレンソウや花卉(かき)などの畑作も行われる。鵡川河口に漁港があり、秋のシシャモ漁で知られる。最盛期に漁家の軒先にシシャモを乾燥する簾(すだれ)が並ぶさまは壮観であるが、資源減少のため孵化(ふか)事業が行われている。苫小牧東部工業地域(とまこまいとうぶこうぎょうちいき)の用水供給源として鵡川が重要視されたが、開発の停滞により同地域には苫小牧工業用水が供給されている。

［奈良部理］

『『鵡川町史』（1968・鵡川町）』

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