Nanao, Ishikawa Explained

Nanao
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:37.0431°N 136.9674°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Ishikawa Prefecture
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name: (since November 2020)
Area Total Km2:318.32
Population Total:49,660
Population As Of:March 31, 2022
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:Phone number
Blank Info Sec1:0767-53-1111
Blank1 Name Sec1:Address
Blank1 Info Sec1:1-25 Sodegaemachi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa-ken 926-8611
Blank Name Sec2:Climate
Blank Info Sec2:Cfa
Module:
Embedded:yes

is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 49,660 people in 21,809 households.[1] The total area of the city was 318.32sqkm. Nanao is the fifth largest city by population in Ishikawa, behind Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu, and Kaga.

Geography

Nanao occupies the southeastern coast of Noto Peninsula and is bordered by the Sea of Japan on the east and north, and Toyama Prefecture to the south. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Noto Hantō Quasi-National Park. The name "Nanao" (七尾) literally means "Seven Tails" and is said to be named for the seven mountain ridges (or "tails") surrounding Nanao that are visible when viewed from Joyama (七尾城山), site of the city's historical castle ruins. These ridges are called Kikuo (菊尾, "Chrysanthemum Tail"), Kameo (亀尾, "Turtle Tail"), Matsuo (松尾, "Pine Tail"), Torano'o (虎尾, "Tiger Tail"), Takeo (竹尾, "Bamboo Tail"), Umeo (梅尾, "Plum Tail"), and Tatsuo (龍尾, "Dragon Tail").

Neighbouring municipalities

Climate

Nanao has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nanao is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2392 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Nanao has declined over the past 40 years.

History

The area around Nanao was part of ancient Noto Province and contained the Nara period provincial capital and provincial temple. During the Sengoku Period (1467–1568), Nanao Castle was a major stronghold of the Hatakeyama clan, and was contested by the Uesugi clan and Maeda clan. The area became part Kaga Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, with the exception of the Tsuruhama area, which was retained by the shogunate directly as tenryō territory.

Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Kashima District, Ishikawa. The town of Nanao was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on July 20, 1939.

On October 1, 2004, Nanao expanded by annexing the neighbouring municipalities of Nakajima, Notojima and Tatsuruhama (all from Kashima District).

On March 25, 2007, the 2007 Noto earthquake caused some property damage in Nanao, but no fatalities.

Government

Nanao has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

Economy

Nanao is a regional commercial centre and a seaport on the Sea of Japan. Manufacturing, especially of bricks and cement, lumber processing, tourism, and agriculture are all major contributors of the local economy.[4]

Education

Nanao has 13 public elementary schools and four middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high school operated by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

West Japan Railway Company - Nanao Line

Noto Railway - Nanao Line

Seaports

Local attractions

In popular culture

The manga series Kimi wa Hōkago Insomnia and its live-action and anime adaptations take place in Nanao.[5]

Notable people from Nanao

Sister city relations

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.city.nanao.lg.jp/shimin/aramashi/profile/jinko/index.html Official home page
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/location/5537/ Nanao climate data
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-ishikawa.php Nanao population statistics
  4. Book: Campbell . Allen . Nobel . David S . Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia . Kodansha . 1993 . 1047 . 406205938X.
  5. Web site: 聖地巡礼を 七尾期待 アニメ化・実写映画化が決定 . Chūnichi Shimbun . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220124093223/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/399422 . 24 January 2022.
  6. Web site: International Exchange. List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). en. 1 February 2018.