大和川/ Yamato river

久しぶりに実家に帰ったついでに、近くの大和川の堤防を散歩してみた。水質は１級河川では全国で最低レベルだが、それでも最近は随分ときれいになったらしい。子供の頃は、あまりきれいではないその川で、よく小鮒釣りをしたものだが、今は水質が改善されて鮒がいなくなったのか、小鮒を釣る子供がいなくなったのか、休日にもかかわらずどこか寂しげ。江戸時代の河川流路付け替えで、大阪の街を洪水から守った代わりに、流れ出す土砂が港を埋めて、自由貿易都市であった堺の没落の原因の一つになったことでも有名。

I enjoyed walking on bank of Yamato river flowing near my home town, Osaka, it was first time more than ten years. Quality of water of the river is one of the most polluted among the first grade rivers; national managed river in Japan. It seems quality of water become much better recently, however I could not find any children enjoyed fishing. When I was child I enjoyed small crucian carp fishing in such dirty liver. I am not sure few crucian carp in the river or few children enjoying fishing, anyway, scene of no children in the river even in holiday made me a little bit sad and feel lonesomeness. The river is also famous for destroying a free trade city Sakai by carrying massive sand to fill up port with artificial flow-way change in Edo era, by which saving Osaka city from continuous flooding.