| Rifu | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 38.3329°N 140.9772°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tōhoku |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Miyagi |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Miyagi |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 44.89 |
| Population Total: | 36014 |
| Population As Of: | June 1, 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City Symbols |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | - Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Live oak |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | - Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Nashi pear |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | - Bird |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | - Insect |
| Blank5 Name Sec1: | - Fish |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 022-767-2111 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | Rifu Shinnamimatsu 4, Rifu-chō, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi-ken 981-0112 |
is a town located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 36,014, and a population density of 800 persons per km2 in 13,568 households.[1] The total area of the town is 44.89km². Rifu is known for its nashi pears. Recently, wine and candy made from nashi pears have been developed in the town.
Rifu is located in east-central Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by Sendai metropolis to the south and by Matsushima Bay to the east.
Miyagi Prefecture
Rifu has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Rifu is 11.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1237 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.6 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Rifu has increased rapidly over the past 50 years.
The area of present-day Rifu was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. With the establishment of Tagajō in the Nara period, Rifu was part of the central Yamato colonization area in the region. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate.
The village of Rifu was established on June 1, 1889 with post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on October 1, 1967.
Rifu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members. Rifu, together with the rest of Miyagi District collectively contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Miyagi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The economy of Rifu is largely based on agriculture, primarily horticulture and the cultivation of rice. East Japan Railway Company's Sendai Shinkansen maintenance depot is located in Rifu.
Rifu has six public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Lifou Island, New Caledonia, France,[4] since September 4, 1980.