Hachirōgata Lake

Hachirōgata lake was historically the second-largest body of water in the country — with a circumference of around 80 kilometres. Situated on the Oga Peninsula in Akita prefecture, the lake and its surrounding areas had long faced challenges, including rice shortages due to cold-weather damage and frequent flooding. In the aftermath of World War II, the Japanese government initiated a large-scale reclamation project to transform the lake into usable farmland, aiming to boost food production and alleviate flooding. This ambitious plan called for the draining of the shallow lake — a task that required sophisticated engineering methods.

In 1954, the Japanese government invited Pieter Jansen and Adriaan Volker to assist with the project. Their plan, which was built upon earlier Japanese proposals, began in 1957 and was completed in 1977. The result was the conversion of 80% of the lake’s area into new agricultural land, while the remaining portion was designated as retention basins and curtain drains to manage water levels. The reclamation not only created valuable farmland but also led to the development of a new ecosystem. As surrounding plants began to invade the area, the region saw an increase in biodiversity, particularly among local bird species.

MUSIC BY CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA ( FIELD 33 )

This record is based on environmental sounds recorded around Hachirōgata lake, thereby expressing the current infrastructure of this reclaimed land in a sonic manner. Recordings were taken around the East and West drainage channels, the latitude and longitude intersection monument, Ogata bridge and the Ogata grassland wildlife conservation area and observation station.