Abstract
The writer has discussed the social and economic characteristics of the flood damage by the Kanogawa Typhoon in the Kanogawa basin.
There is much difference in this basin between the upper course and the lower one. The upper course with several tributaries runs through the steep slope mountainous area. The mountain land yields forest products and the land on the narrow botton of the valley is cultivated as farm land, especially a kind of horseradish (Eutrema wasabi) cultivated in the moutain stream is of the best quality in Japan, . Most people in the upper course occupied partly in farming and partly in forest production. There were many landslides in the forest mountain, and the farm land was carried away by the flood.
The lower course of the Kano river flows on alluvial plain, and the upper part of the lower course suffered most from the flood. In this area the degree of agricultural land use is very high. The postwar land reform program not only brought about social and economic stability to rural area, but also contributed to the raising of agricultural productivity in the area. There are many settlements, some people living there are being engaged in some occupation other than agriculture. In this area, many houses, bridges and banks were carried away by the flood and a portion of the farm land was covered by flooded materials.
An early planned repair of damage is necessary; however, through this damage, what we must keep in mind is that, although the principle of reconsteuction has already been adopted, it is necessary not only to repair the damage, but also to take permanent measures to prevent disasters in order that such damage will not be repeated by peoples organized co-operation.
