The source of life - water that flows (mountainside hamlet's channel)

Typically the dwellings and businesses around the valleys in this part of Fukui prefecture, and possibly across all the islands, would be sited away from the prime flat spaces suited to rice paddy production. And while more and more land now is being filled in and packed down to support buildings instead of rice seedlings, there are still many people living along the skirt of the mountain or hillside, as in this hamlet.

The bright light of early November before mid-day makes the steady flow of water from the mountain come alive in this short clip. Before privately metered water and sewerage lines, everybody relied on water channels for the rain and snow run-off, as well as what the mountain produced itself. It could be used from washing or boiling or cleaning, as well as growing plants or supplying livestock, for example.