The Land Then & Now
The present Nishiyodogawa area was originally surrounded by rivers and islands, making it a productive natural environment with broad expanses of rice paddies and fields. This is the reason for many local place names combining -shima (“island”). Since the mid part of the near-modern period, the people here quickly opened up much new land to rice agriculture. As one can see from the map, many small rivers formed a network throughout this area. The area comprising the present Konohana Ward, Nishiyodogawa Ward, and Amagasaki City in neighboring Hyogo Prefecture was originally a mixture of these elements, but took on its present appearance after the creation of Shinyodo-gawa.
Map of the area in the Edo Period (1839)
In the year 1885
In the year 1909
Note: The photos are from a collection published by the Executive Committee on the 70th Anniversary of Nishiyodogawa’s Ward Status.
Local Place Names in the River Community
| Type of Name | Place Name |
|---|---|
| Islands | Dekijima, Utajima, Takejima, Nakajima, Nishijima, Himejima, Hyakushima, Mitejima |
| Rivers | Chibune, Hanagawa |
| Fields and paddies | Ono, Owada, Kashiwazato, Nozato, Himezat |
River Community
The Land then & Now(Here) | The Way It Was>> | Life Long Ago>>>>