“Even in Shonai, Yuza is the only place which is blessed with such abundant spring water,” said Mr. Hitoshi Murai, from the NPO, Yuzachokai Tourist Association. “There are about 380 wells; naturally emerging ones, and ones with pumps just nearby Yuza station. Primary schools used to use spring water as drinking water and left it running 24 hours a day. My junior high school also used spring water for the pool. It was freezing cold and harsh!”
Yuza Spring Water Walk, a brochure that’s handed out, introduces spring water spots in Yuzamotomachi. All of the sites are still used as a daily source of water. A long time before water supply pipes had been installed, this town had benefitted from the abundant spring water. “Water pressure had to be stabilized for electric appliances, which spread after the war as water pipes were installed. At first, nobody needed this supply of water, since we were satisfied with our fine cold water, which we’d always had.” Electricity is definitely a modern convenience, but plumbed water, another modern convenience, wasn’t needed in Yuza. Interestingly, the reason for installing the water supply was because of electricity usage.
Wonder why this area has such abundant spring water? “It is definitely a gift from Mt. Chokaizan,” Mr. Murai answered promptly. Mt. Chokaizan, with an elevation of 2,236m, towers majestically, as if it is cradling Yuzamachi. It had an explosion of steam in 1974, and is known to be an active volcano. According to records, there were several explosions in the 1800’s, and the ground of the entire town contains a plentiful amount of lava. “The town is filled with lava tubes and blowholes. They absorb plenty of water like a sponge, and therefore became an aquifer deep in the ground which water oozes out from in various places.”
From the mountain to the villages, water, by the law of nature, runs down from a high place to a low one. Plumbed water is a lifeline, but also changed the course of nature by our utilization of electricity. The force of the mountain is carried down through the water and shared with the people. A life style in touch with nature still remains here in Yuza.
