Recent Trends in Hydro-geographical Studies in Japan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper are to show the recent trend of hydro-geographical studies in Japan dealing with the hydrological environment and the relationship between water and man, and to discuss problems for future study. At the regional level, the subjects studied are the water balance and the hydrological environment in Japan. Concerning water utilization, the following themes were discussed: water resources development and water problems during the period of rapid economic growth, establishment and development of a public supply system for industrial water, and changes in irrigation water use due to rapid urbanization. In the case of the basin scale, a number of studies on groundwater were conducted. The subjects studied are the unique systems of water use such as manbo, snow meltig system using groundwater, environmental problems due to water use, and groundwater management. Concerning the relationship between water and urbanization, many case studies were made on the following subjects: changes in water use, historical develooment of water transfer, abandonment of irrigation ponds, as well as the hydrological environment and water use in urbanized areas. Other interests are focused on such themes as floods and flood hazard, social problems related to dam construction, and problems specific to water on islands. There are many investigations relating to water and man in the different fields of geography. The geographical information available through this basic research, however, is not summarized comprehensively from the hydro-geographical viewpoint. For future study, it is very important to develop methods of expression for the hydrological environment and water use, to attempt to describe hydro-geography based on the concepts of the hydrologic cycle and water balance, and to publish a reliable manual on hydro-geography.