Iwanuma Explained

Iwanuma
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:38.1043°N 140.8702°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Tōhoku
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Miyagi
Established Title:First official recorded
Established Date:842 AD
Established Title2:City settled
Established Date2:November 1, 1971
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Jyunichi Sato (from June 2022)
Area Total Km2:60.45
Population Total:43946
Population As Of:May 31, 2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:City Symbols
Blank1 Name Sec1:- Tree
Blank1 Info Sec1:Japanese Black Pine
Blank2 Name Sec1:- Flower
Blank2 Info Sec1:Azalea
Blank3 Name Sec1:- Bird
Blank3 Info Sec1:Seagull
Blank4 Name Sec1:- Insect
Blank5 Name Sec1:- Fish
Blank Name Sec2:Phone number
Blank Info Sec2:0223-22-1111
Blank1 Name Sec2:Address
Blank1 Info Sec2:1-6-20 Sakura, Iwanuma-shi, Miyagi-ken 989-2480

270px|thumb|right|Iwanuma City Hall

is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 43,946 in 18,062 households,[1] and a population density of 730 persons per km². The total area of the city is 60.45sqkm. Iwanuma is at the convergence of two ancient roads, the Tōkaidō and the Rikuzen-Hama Kaidō.

Geography

Iwanuma is in the east-center Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is also located at the mouth of the Abukuma River.

Neighboring municipalities

Miyagi Prefecture

Climate

Iwanuma has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwanuma is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1252 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iwanuma has recently plateued after a long period of growth.

History

The area of present-day Iwanuma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the Takekoma Inari Shrine claims to have been founded in 842 AD. Mention of “Iwanuma Castle” appears in early Muromachi period documents. The area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Iwanuma was established on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The village of Okuma merged with Iwanuma on January 11, 1947, followed by Sengan and Tamaura on April 1, 1955. Iwanuma was raised to city status on November 1, 1971.

The city was seriously affected by the tsunami associated with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake,[4] which resulted in 180 deaths.

Government

Iwanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Iwanuma contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Iwanuma has four public elementary school and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line/Jōban Line

Highway

Media

Local attractions

Sister city relations

Noted people from Iwanuma

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.city.iwanuma.miyagi.jp/shisei/gaiyo/jinko/index.html Iwanuma city official statistics
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/location/5475/ Iwanuma climate data
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-miyagi.php Iwanuma population statistics
  4. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/11/photo-gallery-devastation-after-earthquake-in-japan/a-massive-tsunami-hits-the-coastal-areas-of-iwanuma-miyagi-prefecture-northeastern-japan/ Massive tsunami hits Iwanuma
  5. Web site: Napa Valley Sister Cities - Napa Valley Online . www.napavalleyonline.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000411153757/http://www.napavalleyonline.com/directory/wssistercities.html . 2000-04-11.