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Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018 Vol.127 No.4

2018 Vol.127 No.4

“Omiwatari” on Lake Suwa and 574-year Record of Lake Freezing

Lake Suwa (area:12.8km2, average water depth:4.7m) is a small lake located in central Japan, which is known for its mysterious phenomenon called Omiwatari in the winter season. When the lake freezes, shrinkage and expansion of the ice due to diurnal temperature variations causes an ice-cracking phenomenon Omiwatari, which was said to resemble a bridge crossing the lake. The ancient village people might have believed it to be the track of a god visiting a goddess on the opposite shore.
　The dates of complete freezing and Omiwatari have been recorded by the Suwa shrine for the last 574 years since 1444. During a cold winter, Omiwatari would already have occurred by mid-December, whereas in a warm winter, it would be delayed until the end of February, or no Omiwatari would have occurred at all. In recent years, the occurrence frequency of Omiwatari phenomenon has been decreasing rapidly, probably due to global warming. In the most recent winter (2017–2018), we had very cold weather, and Omiwatari phenomenon occurred after the lake had almost completely frozen over. An Omiwatari viewing ceremony was held by “Yatsurugi” Shinto shrine priests on 5th February, and good harvests and a prosperous economy in this year were predicted by referring to the past documentary data for Omiwatari crossing routes.

(Photograph taken by Kiyoshi MIYASAKA on January 31, 2018;
Explanation: Takehiko MIKAMI)

Special Issue: Meteorological Disasters and Climate Variations in Historical Times

Overview of the Special Issue
　“Meteorological Disasters and Climate Variations in Historical Times”

Takehiko MIKAMI, Masumi ZAIKI,
Junpei HIRANO and Wataru MORISHIMA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 439.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.439

Introduction to the Special Issue
　“Meteorological Disasters and Climate Variations in Historical Times”

Takehiko MIKAMI, Masumi ZAIKI,
Junpei HIRANO and Wataru MORISHIMA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 443.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.443

Climate Characteristics in the South-eastern Kanto Region of Japan Derived
　from Mid to Late 19th Century Meteorological Records(Short Article)

Masumi ZAIKI, Takehiko MIKAMI, Junpei HIRANO,
Michael GROSSMAN, Hisayuki KUBOTA and Togo TSUKAHARA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 447.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.447

Reconstructing Typhoons Affecting Japan in 1877(Original Article)

Michael J. GROSSMAN, Masumi ZAIKI,
Takehiko MIKAMI and Cary MOCK

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 457.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.457

Comparison of Tropical Cyclones Haiyan and Talas with Tropical Cyclones
　Having Similar Tracks in the Past 120 Years(Original Article)

Hisayuki KUBOTA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 471.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.471

Father Louis Furet, Missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society:
　His Life and Scientific Observations on Okinawa(1855-1862) (Original Article)

Patrick BEILLEVAIRE

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 483.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.483

The Atmospheric Pressure Observations 1856-1858 by Father Louis Furet,
　at Naha, Japan(Short Article)

Gaston R. DEMARÉE, Pascal MAILIER, Patrick BEILLEVAIRE,
Takehiko MIKAMI, Masumi ZAIKI, Togo TSUKAHARA,
Yoshio TAGAMI and Junpei HIRANO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 503.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.503

Strong Wind Hazards and Their Variations in East Asia
　during the Little Ice Age(Original Article)

Yoshio TAGAMI, Gaston R. DEMARÉE, Pascal MAILIER,
Patrick BEILLEVAIRE, Takehiko MIKAMI, Masumi ZAIKI,
Togo TSUKAHARA and Junpei HIRANO

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 513.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.513

Analysis of Precipitation Data at Yokohama, Japan, from 1863 to 1869 Observed
　by J.C. Hepburn(Original Article)

Junpei HIRANO, Takehiko MIKAMI,
Masumi ZAIKI and Junji NISHINA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 531.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.531

Fluctuations of Global Solar Radiation in Japan during the First Half of the 19th Century
　as Estimated from Historical Weather Records(Original Article)

Mika ICHINO, Takehiko MIKAMI and Kooiti MASUDA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 543.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.543

A Study of Weather Records in Inpu-Nenpyo, an Official Historical Document
　from Tottori, Northwest Coast of Japan(Short Article)

Takashi TANIOKA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 553.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.553

Making the Database of Hirosaki Clan Agency Diary and Its Significance(Letter)

Yoshimi FUKUMA

Journal of Geography (Chigaku Zasshi), 2018, 127(4), 565.

DOI:10.5026/jgeography.127.565

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