Fudai Floodgate

The Fudai Floodgate is a coastal structure built from reinforced concrete with large metal gates that control water levels during storms and high tides. The system works by holding back seawater when waves rise above normal levels, protecting the low-lying village behind it.

The floodgate was built in 1984 to protect the village from storm surge and high tides. It proved its worth during the 2011 tsunami that followed a major earthquake, when it kept the worst flooding from reaching homes and farms.

The floodgate shows how the village values engineering and preparation as ways to live safely by the coast. It reflects a community commitment to staying in a place they love despite natural risks.

The structure is not open for interior visits but can be viewed from outside while walking along the coast. The best time to see it is during clear weather when you can fully see its size and construction.

The gate was designed after a 1933 earthquake and tsunami, showing how the village learned from history and planned far ahead. This patience and long-term thinking through generations is what ultimately saved the community during the 2011 disaster.