"Odagawa Community Walking Event on June 23 (Sunday) - Let's walk along the well-maintained embankment while enjoying the nature of Odagawa for a safer living environment."

Since the heavy rain disaster in July 2018, various construction works have been carried out in Mabi towards recovery.

Among them, a large-scale project named "Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project" was completed in March 2024, and a beautifully maintained embankment road was established along the Oda River. I hear that the new embankment road is close to the lives of the people living in Mabi, and many residents enjoy walking there.

Since I live in the Kurashiki area, I haven't had many opportunities to go to the Oda River, but I learned about an event called "Oda River Interaction Walking", and I thought this would be a great chance to visit the Oda River.

I interviewed the person in charge to find out what kind of event "Oda River Interaction Walking" is.

What is "Oda River Interaction Walking"?

Oda River Interaction Walking is a walking event to be held in the Mabi area on June 23, 2024 (Sunday).

Starting from the newly opened Mabi Interaction Park, which will be completed at the end of June 2024 and will have an opening ceremony on July 3, participants will walk together along the newly developed embankment road of the Oda River. Mabi Interaction Park will serve as the venue for this year's "Mabi and Funao General Odori", which is held annually, so this walking event was planned to promote the Mabi and Funao General Odori.

The starting point, Mabi Interaction Park, is a park developed as a symbol of recovery from the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.

The park features a spacious area rich in nature and playground equipment that seems enjoyable for children, and it is expected to become a place of relaxation for local residents, as well as being utilized for community events such as festivals.

In addition, during disasters, space for approximately 400 vehicles for evacuation will be secured, and it will also be used as a heliport. This park can be utilized in both normal and disaster situations.

The embankment road along the Oda River, which will be the course, was developed after the heavy rain disaster in July 2018. Strengthening work on the embankment and relocation work at the confluence of the Takahashi River and Oda River were carried out, and the Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project was completed in March 2024.

The road width has been expanded from 5m to 7m, making it easier for evacuation during disasters and for emergency vehicles to pass. It is truly an embankment that protects the safety of life in the Mabi area.

This event allows participants to actually see and walk through the Mabi Interaction Park and the Oda River embankment road, which are expected to become rooted in the community in the future, and feel the recovery of the Mabi area.

There are 6km and 2.5km courses available, allowing participants to choose based on their physical condition. On the day of the event, participants will receive a map with trivia about the course, so it seems that they can enjoy walking while looking for unique attractions in the Mabi area.

Additionally, cold drinks will be provided at rest points along the course, allowing participants to walk with peace of mind while staying hydrated. Being able to take a break while enjoying the gentle river and lush scenery is something special about this event. After completing the walk, participants can also enjoy grilled chicken and ice cream made by local people.

Participation prizes will include baked goods.

Registration is open until June 14 (Friday). Please check below for the registration method.

I spoke with Makoto Sunami from the Industry Division of the Mabi Branch of Kurashiki City, who planned this event, to get more details.

Interview with the person in charge

Can you tell us what inspired the creation of this event?

Sunami (no honorifics)

The Oda River Interaction Walking was planned to promote the Mabi and Funao General Odori, which is held every year, and the soon-to-be-opened Mabi Interaction Park.

The Mabi and Funao General Odori has been held around the Mabi Branch, but this year (2024) it will be held at Mabi Interaction Park to commemorate the completion of the park. I hope that by seeing the venue, more people will attend the Mabi and Funao General Odori through this event.

Additionally, the embankment road along the Oda River has undergone strengthening work to ensure that residents can live safely after the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.

I hope that participants will enjoy walking while appreciating the nature and beautiful scenery of the Oda River, and that they will feel that the recovery of Mabi is steadily progressing.

Five years since the heavy rain disaster in July 2018, the current status of the Mabi Emergency Flood Control Project aiming for completion by the end of FY2023

Mabi Town, Kurashiki City, has reached the five-year mark since the heavy rain disaster in July 2018. Construction continues in various places in Mabi Town as of 2023, and the town's landscape continues to change. I also live in Mabi Town...

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There seem to be various events that could be held, but why did you choose a "walking event"?

Sunami

The walking event along the Oda River embankment road has actually been planned several times in the past.

Originally, several community development promotion councils in Mabi had been holding walking events, so I thought that walking events might be familiar and close to the residents of Mabi Town.

At the completion ceremony of the Oda River embankment strengthening work held in March 2022, a member of the community development promotion council had planned a walking event along the embankment road, but it was canceled due to rain.
After that, the Oda River Interaction Festival was planned as a substitute event for the Mabi and Funao General Odori, which could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also intended to set up a walking course then, but that was also canceled due to a typhoon.

And now, we have planned the Oda River Interaction Walking to showcase Mabi Interaction Park, which will be the venue for the Mabi and Funao General Odori. This is truly the third time's the charm.

I believe there are local residents who have never walked on the newly developed Oda River embankment road, so I hope they will take this opportunity to come and see it.

Are there any highlights unique to this event?

Sunami

To make it enjoyable while walking, I plan to create a map summarizing the highlights of the course.

It will include information that even locals might not know, such as trivia about the mountains visible in the distance.

Also, since this event also serves to promote the Mabi and Funao General Odori, I am thinking of playing the music of the General Odori at the end and dancing together. Many children in Mabi might know the General Odori, so I hope everyone can join in the dance.

The event is expected to end in the morning, but if there are any recommended spots to visit afterward, please let us know.

Sunami

For classic spots in Mabi, I recommend Makibi Park, Yata Otsuka Burial Mound, and Masashi Yokomizo's Sokaidaku.

Also, since it's a great opportunity, I hope people will extend their visit not only to Mabi but also to Funao Town and Yakage Town, the areas along the Oda River. Funao Town also has a winery.

What kind of people would you like to participate?

Sunami

First of all, I would like residents of Mabi to participate.
In particular, I hope those who live far from the Oda River will join this event. By seeing the developed embankment road and Mabi Interaction Park, I hope they will realize that this is a safe place to live.

Additionally, I would like those who helped as disaster volunteers during the heavy rain disaster in July 2018 to see the current state of Mabi. This event is designed to make them think, "Wow, it has recovered this much!" so I hope they will walk together with us.

Of course, people from outside Mabi Town are also very welcome. Those who want to support the future recovery of Mabi can contribute to the recovery by participating, so we look forward to your participation.

Finally, please give a message to the readers.

Sunami

This event was planned to promote the Mabi and Funao General Odori, but it is also an opportunity to learn about the unique attractions of Mabi, to touch the nature of the Oda River, and I hope to convey the charm of Mabi.

Since the heavy rain disaster, Mabi Town has been undergoing various developments and constructions to aim for a town where people can live safely. I hope you will see the revitalized town, so if you want to "support Mabi," please participate.

I also hope that for those living in Mabi Town, this will be an opportunity to rediscover the goodness of their hometown.

Conclusion

For this interview, I walked along the levee road of the Oda River ahead of time.

The greenery of the swaying grasslands and the shades of the distant mountains were beautiful no matter where I looked. Personally, I think it would be interesting to walk while taking photos. The map distributed on the day will also include highlights along the course, so please check it out.

Walking in the area, I can imagine the efforts of those who worked hard for recovery, and it brings a deep sense of emotion.

Let's participate in the Oda River Fureai Walking and see the steady progress of recovery in Mabi.

Oda River Fureai Walking Data

Name	Oda River Fureai Walking
Date	June 23, 2024 (Sunday) Start at 9:00 AM *Reception starts at 8:30 AM *Held rain or shine (canceled in case of severe weather)
Location	Mabi Fureai Park Sports Field (Start and Finish Point)
Participation Fee (including tax)	Free
Website	Kurashiki City Website

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