Fishery of shijimi shells (Corbicula japonica) was a thriving industry, but it decreased as the lake became less brackish.
Bordering the east shore of Lake Ogawara, the town had an agriculture-based economy based on production of rice, tobacco, carrots as well as lake fish, including smelt, icefish and shijimi.
The economy of Tōhoku is heavily dependent on an agriculture, based primarily on production of nagaimo, daikon and carrots as well as lake fish, including smelt, icefish and shijimi.