This is why rain and floods will not be able to flood Tokyo
There is a hut like any other on the corner of a soccer field overlooking the banks of the Edogawa River. Going down 116 steps from there on the stairs, a vast area of underground space with a length of 177 meters, a width of 78 meters, and a height of 18 meters appeared. It is lined with 59 concrete columns in a regular manner, each weighing 500 tons. From this solemn climate springs the pressure-regulating tank of the Metropolitan Underground Drainage Canal which has ardent admirers worldwide, and is called the “Underground Temple”. It was built in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. Known as the “Kiss of Special Effects” by being repeatedly used as a shooting location for popular special effects TV drama series “Kamen Rider” and more, it is often used as a shooting location for fashion magazines, popular artists' music videos, movies, and more.
There is a museum called “Ryukyu-kan” to explore the underground of the Shōwa sewage station, which was built with a pressure-adjusting tank. The museum is so popular that after viewing the exhibit and an explanation of the facility, inspection tours of which you can enter the pressure tank can hardly be booked. In addition to its work on regular days only (test visits are currently being held once a month on Saturdays), and despite its sudden closure during inspection and maintenance times, and operating times for facilities, the number of visitors has exceeded 400,000 since its opening. In it, taking photographs is allowed, and both children and special effects enthusiasts can enjoy taking souvenir photos, carrying the weapons and characters used by their heroes.
Mr. Yabei Takayuki of the Edogawa River Office, Kantō Regional Development Authority, Ministry of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism tells us the following:
“The number of people interested in the metropolitan area underground drainage canal facilities increased by putting the issue of seeing the pressure control tank. When they participate in the inspection trips and the visitors watch the “Ryo Kyōkan” exhibition and the informative videos, they not only gain an understanding of the facilities' activities and achievements, but also increase their awareness of avoiding disasters through their knowledge of the severity of floods. From this point of view, cooperation is done positively with media coverage and photography.”
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