Arakawa River (Kantō)
{{Short description|River in Kantō, Japan}}
{{About|the river in Tokyo||Arakawa River (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Arakawa River
| native_name ={{native name|ja|荒川}}
| image = Tokyo_Skytree_from_Airplane_01.jpg
| image_size = 240px
| image_caption = A bend in the Arakawa River
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of mouth in Japan
| pushpin_map_alt =
| length = {{convert|173|km|abbr=on}}
| source1_location = Mount Kobushi (甲武信ヶ岳)
| source1_elevation = {{Convert|2475|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth_location = Tokyo Bay
| river_system = Arakawa
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Japan
| map = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=8 |frame-height=300 | stroke-width=4 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}|point = none|stroke-color=#0000FF }}
}}
The {{Nihongo|Arakawa River or Ara River|荒川|Arakawa|lead=yes|"kawa" (川) already means "river"}} is a {{convert|173|km|adj=on}} long river that flows through Saitama Prefecture and Tokyo.{{cite web|url=https://www.planet.com/gallery/arakawa-river/|title=Our Planet: Arakawa River|publisher=Planet Labs|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311185331/https://www.planet.com/gallery/arakawa-river/|archive-date=11 March 2016|url-status=dead}} Its average flow in 2002 was 30 m3/s.
It originates on Mount Kobushi in Saitama Prefecture, and empties into Tokyo Bay.{{cite web|url=http://www.potomacriver.org/2012/component/content/article/39-facts-faqs/facts-faqs/92-arakawa |title=(Arakawa - Potomac sister rivers) |date=27 January 2012 |publisher=Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin |access-date=27 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227155451/http://www.potomacriver.org/2012/component/content/article/39-facts-faqs/facts-faqs/92-arakawa |archive-date=December 27, 2013 }} It has a total catchment area of {{convert|2940|km2|abbr=on}}.
The river is one of Tokyo's major sources of tap water, and together with the Tone River, accounts for around 80% of Tokyo's water supply as of 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waterworks.metro.tokyo.jp/suigen/suigen_g.html|title=水系別貯水量の推移 {{!}} 水源・水質 {{!}} 東京都水道局|website=www.waterworks.metro.tokyo.jp|language=ja|access-date=2018-08-27}} The Okubo water purification plant takes water from the river.
History
Attempts to control flooding of the Arakawa River have been made since the area that is now Tokyo became the de facto capital of Japan during the Edo period. Following a major flood in 1910 that damaged a large part of central Tokyo, a {{convert|22|km|adj=on}} long drainage canal was constructed between 1911 and 1924. In 1996 an agreement was signed to make it a "sister river" of the Potomac River in the eastern United States. This means that officials and volunteers from both river areas collaborate with each other.{{Cite web|title=Potomac Basin Reporter|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5300/sc5339/000113/001000/001660/unrestricted/20060124e.htm|access-date=2020-11-25|website=msa.maryland.gov}}
In popular culture
This river is also depicted in many anime such as Toaru Kagaku no Railgun and Arakawa Under the Bridge, which is set on the riverbank.
The Arakawa plays a small but significant background role in the game Yakuza 4. Main character Masayoshi Tanimura spends the game trying to discover who murdered his father, Taigi, whose body was dumped in the Arakawa after he was killed.
See also
- Sumida River
- Arakawa Under the Bridge, is an anime set under a bridge on the river.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Arakawa River (Saitama and Tokyo)}}
{{Rivers of Japan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|36|08|10|N|139|22|06|E|type:river_source:dewiki|display=title}}
Category:Rivers of Saitama Prefecture
{{Saitama-geo-stub}}
{{Japan-river-stub}}