Survey on Common Reeds in Watarase-yusuichi – Raw Materials for Rozetsu of Hichiriki
The Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage is investigating the common reeds (Phragmites australis) used to make the rozetsu (reed) of hichiriki (Japanese traditional flute) as a part of a project to investigate the raw materials essential for intangible cultural properties. Accompanied by Ms. NAKAMURA Hitomi, a hichiriki player who also makes rozetsu by herself, we conducted a survey of common reed fields around Watarase-yusuichi (retarding basin) on June 16, 2025. Watarase-yusuichi, a Ramsar-designated wetland since July 2012, is one of the largest common reed fields in Japan, as 2,500 ha of the area is covered by various plants, around half of which comprises the common reed fields.
We started this investigation by visiting Kurita Trading Co., Ltd. We asked them to select thick common reeds suitable for the rozetsu of hichiriki and provide them to us as sample materials. We plan to request several rozetsu creators to use the samples to make rozetsu and assess the suitability of common reeds grown in Watarase-yusuichi for rozetsu.
The Council for Conservation and Utilization of Watarase-yusuichi was organized, consisting of local governments, representatives of local community associations, and related associations of four cities and two towns: Tochigi City, Oyama City, and Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture; Itakura Town, Gunma Prefecture; Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture; and Kazo City, Saitama Prefecture. With the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Environment as observers, the Council is seeking a future vision for Watarase-ryusuichi and submitting requests based on accumulated discussions on damage caused by animals and the means of water control, while conducting activities to raise awareness through the creation of a guidebook for learning about its environment.
Furthermore, as it is essential to burn common reeds every year to maintain the common reed bed in good condition, the related four cities and two towns, their related fire departments, the Joint Association of Watarase-yusuichi Utilization Unions, the Acclamation Promotion Foundation, and the River Management Office of Upper Tone River set up a Common Reed Burning Network, and conduct the burning of common reeds together.
While the demand for domestic common reeds is limited and the number of business operators utilizing common reeds and Amur silvergrass has decreased to five, the network of business operators, local governments, local community associations, and related associations, manages to maintain the common reed beds in Watarase-yusuichi, and makes continuous efforts to promote public awareness and wider understanding. We are continuing to investigate the characteristics of common reeds in Watarase-yusuichi, and to explore their usage, as some gagaku players believe that they are suitable for rozetsu of hichiriki.