| Abashiri | |||||||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||||||
| Settlement Type: | City | ||||||
| Seal Type: | Emblem | ||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||||||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||||||
| Coordinates: | 44.0167°N 160°W | ||||||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||||||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||||||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||||||
| Subdivision Name1: | Hokkaido | ||||||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||||||
| Subdivision Name2: | Hokkaido (Okhotsk Subprefecture) | ||||||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||||||
| Extinct Title: | Now part of | ||||||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||||||
| Leader Name: | Yōichi Mizutani (since December 2010) | ||||||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||||||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||||||
| Area Total Km2: | 470.94 | ||||||
| Population Total: | 34,919 | ||||||
| Population As Of: | February, 2020 | ||||||
| Population Density Km2: | 85.6 | ||||||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||||||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||||||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||||||
| Blank Info Sec1: | Higashi Yon-chōme, Minami Roku-jō, Abashiri-shi, Hokkaidō 093-8555 | ||||||
| Blank Name Sec2: | Climate | ||||||
| Blank Info Sec2: | Dfb | ||||||
| Module: |
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is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
Abashiri is known as the site of the Abashiri Prison, a Meiji-era facility used for the incarceration of political prisoners. The old prison has been turned into a museum, but the city's new maximum-security prison is still in use.
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 40,333 and a density of 85.6 persons per km2 (222 persons per sq. mi.). The total area is 470.94km2.
There are various theories about the origin of the name 'Abashiri' and, because of that, the origin is unknown. All of those theories are based on the Kanji interpretation of the Ainu language.[1] These are the following theories.
The origin of the city's name is not known for certain, but it is agreed that it was derived from an Ainu word. A few among several of the candidates include apa-siri (leakage/ground) and ci-pa-sir ("the land we discovered").[2] [3]
Following the 1945 Soviet invasion of South Sakhalin,[4] [5] Abashiri saw the resettlement of several Nivkh and Orok families from Karafuto; among them was Chiyo Nakamura (1906–1969), a Nivkh shaman from Poronaisk (Japanese: 敷香町|Shisuka-machi).[6] [7] [8] By 2004, the Nivkh-Orok community in Abashiri had apparently vanished.[9]
Abashiri is located in the eastern part of Okhotsk Subprefecture, about 50 kilometers east of Kitami. There are no tall mountains, but there are many hills. The Abashiri River flows through the city and there are three lakes (Lake Abashiri, Lake Notoro and Lake Tōfutsu) in the city as well. These lakes and Mount Tento belong to Abashiri Quasi-National Park.
The climate is humid continental with warm summer (Köppen: Dfb) as much of Hokkaido, similar to the south coast of New England.[10] Despite its reputation for extreme cold, Abashiri is not actually the coldest major town in Japan, being less cold in the winter than Obihiro and warmer in summer than Nemuro or Kushiro. Abashiri receives less precipitation than any other city in Japan because its location on the drift ice-affected Sea of Okhotsk,[11] which, however, causes Abashiri to receive less sunshine than the northeast coast since winter snowfall is heavier and fog less confined to the summer months when the Oyashio Current is strongest. During the winter, when Lake Abashiri freezes over, fog becomes a common occurrence.[12] Also, the harbor closes when it ices over.
Per Japanese census data,[13] the population of Abashiri has declined in recent decades.
Because of its short 130-day growing season, the crops in the region, such as oats, potatoes, and beans, are required to be hardy. Hay is also grown for local cows, horses, and sheep.[12] The sea is an important part of the community as well as the economy, as fishing, oysters, and seaweed are important means of livelihood.[12]
Memanbetsu Airport is located in nearby Ōzora.
Abashiri is an important local port city and railway terminal (Abashiri Station).
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada - Each year many students participate in student exchange programs between the two cities.[14]
Hokkaido has a brewery called Abashiri which sells a range of beers,[15] [16] including Bilk, a blend of beer and milk.[17] Abashiri is also home to a flower garden with a wide range of flowers.[12]
In the winter, tourists visit the city to watch the drift ice.
Abashiri's mascot is . She is a plankton who the ability to gain flight with her cape. Her job is to protect everyone from criminal activities (such as terrorism and corruption), outbreak of warfare, natural disasters, health crisis (such as disease outbreaks) or anything that pose a risk to everyone's lives. She usually rests with her "nipopo" (totem pole) helmet and loves ingredients produced from the city. Her birthday is November 22.[18]