Mogami River
Template:Geobox The Mogami River (最上川, Mogami-gawa) is a river in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
Description & History
It is 224 km long and has a watershed of 7,040 km². It is regarded as one of the three most rapid rivers of Japan (along with the Fuji River and the Kuma River).
The river rises from southern Yamagata Prefecture and flows to the north, and turns west at Shinjō and flows into the Sea of Japan at Sakata. Water transportation once flourished on the river and carried local products such as safflowers and rice to the Kansai region.
Cultural references
The noted Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō traveled along the river and wrote a famous haiku:
- 五月雨をあつめて早し最上川
- Samidare o atsumete hayashi Mogami-gawa
- The Mogami River, gathering rain of May and even more rapid
Mogami-gawa is also the name of the anthem of Yamagata Prefecture written by Emperor Hirohito. The Japanese Navy had two different cruisers named Mogami.
