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Home < Introducing "Masao Akagi, the Father of Erosion Control"
- A great pioneer in erosion control -
Masao Akagi ( 1887-1972 ) was deeply impressed by the address given by Principal Inazo Nitobe at the entrance ceremony of the First Higher School (old system) * , and dedicated his life to "erosion control," walking a path of "erosion control" for over 60 years.
He advocated the saying, "To govern a country, one must control its waters; to control its waters, one must control its mountains," modernizing Japan's erosion control technology and being the first to demonstrate to the people, the administration, and the rulers what erosion control truly entails.
* The First Higher School (old system) was the predecessor of the current College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo.
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Born in 1887 in Nakasuji Village, Hyogo Prefecture (present-day Toyooka City). Graduated from Toyooka Junior High School in 1906. Graduated from the First Higher School in 1911. Graduated from the Department of Forestry, Tokyo Imperial University in 1914. Worked on erosion control projects on the slopes of Mt. Tanakami in Shiga Prefecture at the Civil Engineering Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Worked on erosion control projects on the Yoshino River in Tokushima Prefecture in 1915. Took a leave of absence on May 27, 1923, to study at the University of Agricultural Sciences Vienna. Returned to Japan on April 10, 1925, and resumed his position at the Civil Engineering Bureau of the Ministry of Home Affairs, overseeing erosion control projects nationwide. Served concurrently as the first director of the Tateyama Erosion Control Office and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto Imperial University in 1926. Also served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Nihon University in 1929. January: Awarded a Doctor of Agriculture degree from Kyoto Imperial University; established the National Flood Control and Erosion Control Association. November 7, 1936: Appointed as a Second-Class Senior Official and Imperial Appointee; created the overall plan for erosion control works. 1938: Became the first head of the Third Technical Section, which was solely responsible for erosion control. 1939: Published the book "Stream and Erosion Control Engineering"; recommended Nobumasa Sueji as the first president of the Erosion Control Association. 1940: The Erosion Control Association became a corporate body; the Third Technical Section was abolished. March 1942: Became a First-Class Senior Official and retired from the Ministry of Home Affairs. 1946: Appointed as a member of the House of Peers by Imperial Appointment. 1947: Elected to the House of Councillors in the first election. 1948: Appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Construction; November 12: Gave a lecture to His Majesty the Emperor on "Erosion Control Works and Flood Control." March 1951: Mr. Laudermilk visits Japan and holds numerous discussions. 1955: Construction of the Sabo Kaikan begins; appointed Chairman of the House of Councillors Construction Committee. 1956: Loses the House of Councillors election in the national constituency and retires. 1957: Sabo Kaikan is completed. 1960: Receives the Blue Ribbon Medal for his contributions to construction projects. June 1971: Awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Toyooka City; November 3: Awarded the Order of Cultural Merit and the Order of Culture. September 24, 1972: Dies; posthumously granted the Junior Third Rank and awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class. He rests at Hokoku-ji Temple in Kamakura as "Chisuiin-dono Sekigan Masao Daikoji".
Masao Akagi Chronology
Akagi Masao
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