GUNMA, Oct 16 (News On Japan) - A historic temple in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, known as the birthplace of the Tokugawa clan name, is at the center of a dispute with local authorities after a once-picturesque pond within its grounds dried up and turned into an overgrown thicket.
The conflict has sparked public criticism and highlighted deeper disagreements over responsibility for maintaining cultural heritage sites.
Chorakuji Temple, where the ancestors of the Tokugawa family first adopted their famous surname, was designated a national historic site 25 years ago. One of its central features, a lotus pond spanned by the Togetsu Bridge, once reflected the surrounding landscape on its calm surface. Today, however, the pond is dry and choked with tall grasses and weeds, leaving visitors shocked. "People say, ‘Is this really a pond?’ It used to hold water until around May," said head priest Ryoshu Takahashi.
According to Takahashi, the pond’s condition deteriorated after a stone embankment collapsed during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, causing water to leak out. A pump designed to draw groundwater also became clogged, and by June 2025, the pond had completely dried up. Despite repeated appeals to the Ota city government — which manages the temple grounds as a public park — the situation was left unaddressed for months.
"The problem is that city officials and the responsible department did nothing for three months," Takahashi said angrily. Guides who lead tours of the site also expressed frustration, calling the pond’s state "deeply disappointing" for visitors expecting to see a well-preserved national heritage location.
City officials insist that the temple, as the property owner, bears responsibility for dealing with the water leakage under the Cultural Property Protection Act. Takayoshi Takayama, a section chief in Ota’s Parks and Greenery Division, apologized for the delay, explaining that "restrictions under cultural property laws required time to navigate." He promised that the city would soon clear the overgrown vegetation, saying, "We believe managing trees and weeds is our responsibility and will move forward as quickly as possible."
Takahashi, however, remains unconvinced. "It’s unbelievable they need three months just to consider mowing grass," he said, adding that if public pressure from media coverage finally prompts action, it would at least be a welcome result. But the more serious issue — repairing the damaged structure that caused the pond to dry up — remains unresolved. The city maintains that restoration work should be undertaken by the temple as the owner, and has not committed to covering any costs.
"The temple grounds are used as a public park. It’s obvious the city should fund such repairs as part of park maintenance," Takahashi argued. With the two sides still at odds, it remains unclear whether water will ever return to the historic pond, raising broader questions about how Japan preserves its cultural heritage when responsibilities are contested.
Source: FNN
