Sakuma Dam, Gravity dam in Tenryu Ward, Japan
The structure crosses the Tenryu River with a height of 155.5 meters (510 feet) and length of 293.5 meters (963 feet) between Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures. The resulting reservoir sits in a forested valley surrounded by gentle hills and rural landscape.
Construction began in 1952 under the Electric Power Development Company, using plans dating from 1921, and the dam was completed in 1956. The main contractor was Hazama Corporation, and the steep V-shaped valley walls aided the work. Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kojun attended the opening ceremony on 28 October 1957.
The reservoir, Lake Sakuma, is one of Japan's Dam Lake 100 and draws canoeists and campers from Hamamatsu. The dam's name comes from the former Sakuma village, now part of Hamamatsu's Tenryū-ku. Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kojun attended the opening ceremony on 28 October 1957, an event marked by a commemorative postage stamp.
Two power stations generate a combined 1.475 million kilowatts to supply the region. Water is also directed for agricultural and industrial needs in surrounding communities.
Construction required relocating 296 households, which triggered extensive negotiations. These compensation agreements created new standards for later infrastructure work across the country.
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