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38-535: In 1951, the Kansai Electric Power Company was formed to provide electric power for the Kansai region of Japan. Shortly after their formation, the area suffered from drought , which caused power rationing. The drought, along with the rapid growth of post– World War II Japan, pushed the company to increase their generating capacity. After a series of geological and hydrological studies of

76-575: A lawsuit at the Otsu District Court, and asked a court order to prevent the restart of seven reactors operated by Kansai Electric Power Company, in the prefecture Fukui . On 27 February 2012 three Kansai cities, Kyoto , Osaka and Kobe , jointly asked Kansai Electric Power Co. to break its dependence on nuclear power. In a letter to KEPCO they also requested to disclose information on the demand and supply of electricity, and for lower and stable prices. The three cities were stockholders of

114-456: A report from the taxation authorities, regarding unreported income on "idle lands". This was followed by a report in 2011 that Kepco had sold scrap metal to a local company at below market value. In 2012 it was revealed that a member of the town assembly of Takahama, Fukui , Tomio Yamamoto, had received as president of the real estate company OHC Fukui, over 100 million yen for the rent of an unused factory over four years from 2006 to 2010 from

152-412: A subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) The factory was used for storage, but the rent was unusually high, almost double the market price. The money was apparently paid in return for promoting nuclear power. In September 2010 an opinion statement to reactivate the nuclear reactors was proposed by Akio Awano, the vice speaker of the town assembly. Yamamoto and two other town assembly members did sign

190-550: A total production capacity of 35,760 MW. On 9 August 2004, KEPCO reported that five of its employees were killed by a steam burst in the turbines housing building, at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture . The burst, according to KEPCO, was due to the neglect of mandated safety checks and there was no release of radioactivity. On 22 March 2006, in Ōi Nuclear Power Plant , at

228-533: A total sum of about 1.695 billion yen: During this meeting some 8 conditions were compiled, that needed to be fulfilled before a restart of the No.3 and No.4 reactors Oi Nuclear Power Plant: On 14 September 2013, the day before the no. 4 Oi reactor was scheduled to closed down for regular inspections, some 9000 demonstrators gathered at the Kameido Chuo Park and later marched close to JR Kinshicho Station and

266-423: Is 1,454 m (4,770 ft) above sea level while the reservoir's normal operating level is 1,448 m (4,751 ft) and low level is considered 1,338 m (4,390 ft). The dam's power station, Kurobe No. 4, is located underground and contains four generators which are powered by Pelton turbines for a total installed capacity of 335 MW and average annual generation of 1 billion kWh . The power station

304-467: Is 22 m (72 ft) wide, 33 m (108 ft) high and 117 m (384 ft) long. The penstock serving water to the power station is 10,909.6 m (35,793 ft) long and utilizes a maximum effective hydraulic head of 545.5 m (1,790 ft) while transferring a maximum of 72 m/s (2,500 cu ft/s) to the turbines. The plant's surge chamber is 145.6 m (478 ft) long and 5 m (16 ft) high. The Kurobe Dam

342-493: Is Japan's second-largest industrial area, and in normal times, its most nuclear-reliant. Before the Fukushima nuclear disaster , a band of 11 nuclear reactors – north of the major cities Osaka and Kyoto – supplied almost 50 percent of the region's power. As of January 2012, only one of those reactors was still running. In March 2012, the last reactor was taken off the powergrid. Kansai Electric Power Company has 164 plants with

380-492: Is Oyama Shrine. This peak is better known but it is not the highest point of the mountain (Onanjiyama). Located on Murodo Plateau from Murodō Station is a shopping area and onsen bath. The onsen on Tateyama is famously known for its use of sulfur spring water for the bath. There are also several hiking and walking paths that guide them through Hell's Valley (Jigokudani) and the other valleys. As with many volcanic areas in Japan of

418-522: Is flanked and supported by two "wing" dams which form the abutments ; the one on the left bank is 69 m (226 ft) long and the right is 56 m (184 ft). The dam withholds a reservoir with a capacity of 199,285,175 m (260,655,168 cu yd) of which 148,843,000 m (194,679,000 cu yd) is live (active or "useful") storage. The reservoir also has a catchment area of 188.5 km (72.8 sq mi) and surface area of 3.49 km (1.35 sq mi). The dam's spillway

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456-437: Is located on its crest and contains 10 11.5 m (38 ft) wide uncontrolled openings with a maximum discharge capacity of 906 m/s (32,000 cu ft/s). Three other openings exist in the dam's orifice which consist of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) diameter pipes, two of which can discharge a maximum of 88 m/s (3,100 cu ft/s) each and the third 44 m/s (1,600 cu ft/s). The dam's crest elevation

494-465: Is mainly set in a UN research facility located around the lake. Kansai Electric Power Company The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated ( Japanese : 関西電力株式会社 , Kansai Denryoku kabushiki gaisha , KEPCO) , also known as Kanden ( 関電 ) , is an electric utility with its operational area of Kansai region , Japan (including the Keihanshin megalopolis). The Kansai region

532-759: Is the most popular hydropower site in Japan and, between late June and mid-October, water is released from its spillway for onlookers. The surrounding Kurobe Gorge is popular as well and is accessible by the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route . Starting from Toyama Station, visitors can take a combination of trains, cable cars, buses, and walking to access the dam. The whole trip from Toyama Station takes roughly four hours to complete one-way, and costs around 10,000 yen($ 66.68 USD) in transportation fees. Various accommodations are available in Murodo area as well as near Tateyama Station, for those too tired to make

570-638: The Hida Mountains with many scenic sites as well as walking trails, including Japan's largest dam, Kurobe Dam . Some stations have hotels around them and are used as bases for mountain climbing or trekking . From the top of the mountain, it is possible to see Mount Fuji on a clear day. The route is composed of seven different transportation services using five different modes: funicular , bus , trolleybus , aerial tramway , and walking. Three transport lines go through tunnels to protect them from snow : one funicular railway and two bus lines. One of

608-569: The Kurobe River and Gorge, it was announced in late 1955 that the Kurobe Dam would be constructed. In July 1956, construction on the dam began. Problems quickly arose while transporting material to the construction site as only one small railway existed through the narrow gorge. Kansai decided to construct the 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) Kanden Tunnel under Mount Akazawa that could efficiently bring supplies from Ōmachi eastward towards

646-578: The Tokyo Skytree. They called for an end of Japan's dependency on nuclear power. The day after the Oi-reactor closed down, leaving Japan without any nuclear power for the third time in 40 years. Over the business year 2011-2012, which ends in March, Kansai Electric Power Co. was expected to suffer a loss of 250 billion yen or more, because of the growing fuel cost for thermal power generation. In

684-420: The awarding of contracts to businesses connected to Moriyama, including pay-outs to board members and the company's president. In response to these revelations, Kepco Chairman Makoto Yagi resigned in 2019, and Kepco president Shigeki Iwane resigned in 2020. Takashi Morimoto, executive vice president, became the new president. In August 2011 citizens of the prefecture Shiga , at the banks of Lake Biwa , started

722-429: The bus lines is the last trolleybus line in Japan, and the other was converted to all-electric buses in 2018. The bus lines are used because they do not exhaust fumes in the tunnels. During summer, shuttle buses between Toyama and Murodō are also available. The Tateyama Kurobe Kankō ( 立山黒部貫光 ) operates most lines in the route. Its official abbreviation is TKK . The word kankō (貫光) was coined by Muneyoshi Saeki,

760-469: The business year 2009 the net loss was 8.7 billion yen. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route ( 立山黒部アルペンルート , Tateyama Kurobe Arupen Rūto ) is a mountain sightseeing route between Tateyama , Toyama and Ōmachi, Nagano , Japan. Opened on June 1, 1971, it is 37 kilometres (23 miles) long, with a difference in elevation of as much as 1,975 metres (6,480 feet). The Alpine Route goes through Tateyama (Mt. Tate) in

798-567: The construction site. The tunnel's construction proved an arduous task as a large fracture zone in the rock was encountered which took seven months to repair. In September 1959, the first concrete for the dam was placed and by October next year, the reservoir had begun to fill. The Kurobe No. 4 power station was built completely underground to protect it from common avalanches in the gorge and also for nature conservation purposes. By January 1961, two of Kurobe No. 4's Pelton turbines had begun operation at an initial capacity of 154 MW. In August 1962,

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836-432: The development of Japan's first 275kV transmission system as well which allowed the transfer of electricity over greater distances. The Kurobe Dam is a 492 m (1,614 ft) long and 186 m (610 ft) high, variable-radius (dome) arch dam. The dam is 39.7 m (130 ft) wide at its base, 8.1 m (27 ft) wide at its crest and contains 1,582,845 m (2,070,283 cu yd) of concrete. The dam

874-509: The first president of the company. According to him, kan ( 貫 ) means "time-space", and kō ( 光 ) means "outer space", while kan (貫) also (normally) means "to penetrate", as in "to penetrate Tateyama Mountains" and kō (normally) means "light". The word is a homophone to kankō (観光; "sightseeing"), possibly intentionally. [REDACTED] ‹The template Manual is being considered for merging .›   The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route involves many sights. Located by Oyama peak

912-510: The former deputy mayor of Takahama now deceased, was the primary "fixer" between Kepco and businesses in Takahama. Beginning as early as 1987, Moriyama was a conduit for funneling cash and gifts to Kepco officials in exchange for kickbacks and contracts to real estate and construction-related firms. Moriyama received "consulting fees" for his help. The earliest indication of the corrupt relations between Kepco and local businesses appeared in

950-431: The major cities Osaka and Kyoto – supplied almost 50 percent of the region's power. But as of January 2012, only one of those reactors is still running. Meanwhile, power company employees are racing to reassure Japanese that plants are safe and necessary. In 2012, officials from Kansai Electric Power Co., "have gone door to door in towns that host its nuclear plants, conducting polls and answering questions". Eiji Moriyama,

988-638: The mountain is a slightly hidden walking path. Midagahara is accessible from Tateyama Station via the Tateyama Cable Car (7 minutes) followed by Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route bus (about 40 minutes) that goes in the direction of Murodō Station . Shōmyō Falls (the tallest waterfall in Japan) is visible across the valley while traveling along the main road from Tateyama Station to the Murodo Plateau. The section between Kurobe Dam and Ōgisawa

1026-403: The opening scene of the 1966 film Gamera vs. Barugon , in which Gamera attacks the facility’s hydroelectric plant to obtain energy in the form of fire. The dam itself then bursts after Gamera collides with it twice while flying away. The 2000 action thriller Whiteout was shot in and around Kurobe Dam, renamed Okutowa Dam in the film. The mecha anime television series Kuromukuro (2016)

1064-493: The plant: Osaka owned 9% of the shares, while Kobe had 3% and Kyoto 0.45%. Toru Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka, announced a proposal to minimize the dependence on nuclear power for the shareholders meeting in June 2012. On 18 March 2012 the city of Osaka decided as largest shareholder of Kansai Electric Power Co, that at the next shareholders-meeting in June 2012 it would demand a series of changes: In this action Osaka had secured

1102-459: The prefectures, it became clear that at the end of the fiscal year 2011 some 69 employees of Kansai Electric Power Company were former public servants. " Amakudari " is the Japanese name for this practice: hiring officials that formerly controlled and supervised the firm: among these people were: Besides this, it became known that Kansai Electric had done about 600 external financial donations, to

1140-506: The proposal before it was submitted to the assembly. In 2014, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry cited Kepco for restraint of trade (社宅) in the purchase of transmission line equipment. After review, 240 employees were found to have been involved in the price rigging, and the company dismissed four vice presidents and four executive officers. Overall, more than 380 cases were discovered where money and gifts had been exchanged for

1178-510: The same name, people cannot walk within the sulfur valley due to gas-related safety concerns. From April 15 to mid-June, there are snow walls named Yukino-ōtani, which tower anywhere from 15 to 20 meters high (roughly 50 to 65 feet). They flank the road leading to Murodo Station. There are many charter services from Taipei , Incheon and Thailand during the high season to reach Murodo at this time. From Murodo, visitors can also reach Kurobe Dam , which stands at 186 meters (610 feet), making it

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1216-399: The support of two other cities and shareholders: Kyoto and Kobe , but with their combined voting-rights of 12.5 percent they were not certain of the ultimate outcome, because for this two-thirds of the shareholders would be needed to agree.to revise the corporate charter. At a meeting held on 10 April 2012 by the "energy strategy council", formed by the city of Osaka and the governments of

1254-644: The tallest dam in Japan. From Murodō Station, visitors should take the Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus (10 minutes), followed by the Tateyama Ropeway (7 minutes), and finally the Kurobe Cable Car (5 minutes). From the last stop, a 15-minute walk will take visitors to the dam. Midagahara is a flat walking area filled with flowing plains interrupted by blue ponds. Near the bus stop that returns visitors to Bijodaira back down

1292-428: The third turbine was in operation and by June 1963, the dam was complete at a final cost of ¥ 51.3 billion ($ 142.5 million (1963)). In 1973, a fourth turbine was installed and became operational; bringing the power station's production capacity to 335 MW. The fourth turbine cost ¥ 1.4 billion yen ($ 5 million (1973)). The first two turbines were manufactured by Voith and the last two by Japan's Hitachi . The dam initiated

1330-409: The trip back down into Toyama City. The novel The Sun of Kurobe (黒部の太陽; Kurobe no Taiyō) dramatizes the construction of the dam. It was adapted into the 1968 film The Sands of Kurobe , which focuses on the perils that the construction of the dam and Kanden Tunnel entailed and other circumstances that took a high toll on human life. The television series Project X: Chôsensha tachi (2000-2005)

1368-415: The waste incineration facility area, where ash is packed in steel barrels, a fire broke out. Two workers were admitted to a hospital after inhaling smoke, but not in critical condition. No radiation leakage was monitored. The Kansai region is Japan's second-largest industrial area, and in normal times, its most nuclear-reliant. Before the Fukushima nuclear disaster , a band of 11 nuclear reactors – north of

1406-533: Was also based on the dam's construction. The final arc of the 2004 Tetsujin 28-go anime, which takes place in a fictionalized 1950s Japan, heavily involves the construction of the Kurobe Dam. The 1961 kaiju film Mothra includes an action sequence filmed at the dam before its completion. Mothra's attack causes the dam to break. Kurobe dam can be seen in the 1964 film Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster . Kurobe Dam features prominently in

1444-504: Was originally made for construction of the dam, while the section between Tateyama and Kurobeko was for tourists from the beginning. Today, the entire route serves exclusively as a scenic sightseeing journey through the Japanese Alps, popular with tourists. Most travelers complete the route in one direction, either east to west or vice versa. It can be done in a single day or at a more relaxed pace, with an overnight stay at one of

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