Hakusui Dam, Gravity dam in Taketa, Japan
Hakusui Dam is a gravity structure across the Ono River measuring 14 meters high and 86 meters long. The construction uses stone masonry techniques and was designed to store water while managing seasonal river flows.
Construction started in 1934 and finished in 1938 as part of Japan's infrastructure development during this era. The project coincided with widespread dam building across rural regions to support agricultural and industrial growth.
The dam reflects how communities adapted to new water technologies during Japan's modernization period. It shows the transition between traditional irrigation practices and engineered systems that served agricultural communities.
The structure sits in a rural area accessible by local roads passing through farmland and small communities. Visitors should be prepared for variable weather, particularly during rainy seasons when water levels in the reservoir rise significantly.
Engineer Yasuo Ono designed a 90-degree water diversion on the embankment to redirect the river's force. This unusual solution was necessary because the surrounding soil was unstable and vulnerable to erosion.
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