Hamamatsu Information Book

The Japanese government promoted reclamation projects to overcome the shortage of foods, houses, and works in the aftermath of WWII. As six hundred people immigrated to Mikatahara, the association of the reclamation project was established in 1945.

 

The area was a wilderness at the time and people thought it was impossible to grow anything in its highly acidic soil. A person involved in the projects says, "it might have been more difficult than the reclamation in Manchuria since it is said although it was also a wild land, it could grow crops without fertilizers." Furthermore, even though the settlers had some farming skills, none of them had managed a farm before. They initially grow millets and potatoes and fertilized the soil with fallen leaves, weeds, and manures.

 

The development of the region steadily proceeded installing electricity, irrigation system, windbreak forests, and machines. Roads were also maintained during the project. The canal connecting to the Tenryu River was built in 1967. Celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the project, a monument called Kaitaku no Hi was created in 1978.

 

 

"Hamamatsu-shi-shi" (The History of Hamamatsu)