Sakai, Ibaraki Explained

Sakai
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:36.1085°N 139.7949°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Kantō
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Ibaraki
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Sashima
Leader Title:Mayor
Area Total Km2:46.59
Population Total:24061
Population As Of:October 2020
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:City Symbols
Blank1 Name Sec1:- Tree
Blank1 Info Sec1:Osmanthus fragrans
Blank2 Name Sec1:- Flower
Blank2 Info Sec1:Canna
Blank3 Name Sec1:- Bird
Blank4 Name Sec1:-Fish
Blank Name Sec2:Phone number
Blank Info Sec2:0280-81-1300
Blank1 Name Sec2:Address
Blank1 Info Sec2:391-1 Sakai-machi, Sashima-gun, Ibaraki-ken 306-0495

is a town located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 24,061 in 8890 households and a population density of 516 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 29.1%.[1] The total area of the town is 46.59sqkm.

Geography

Sakai is located in the flatlands in the very western portion of Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by Chiba Prefecture to the west. The Tone River runs east to west at the southern end of the town, which is located about 50 to 60 kilometers from central Tokyo.

Neighboring municipalities

Ibaraki Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture

Climate

Sakai has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sakai is 14.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1321 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.3 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakai has remained relatively steady over the past 70 years.

History

In the Edo period, the village of Sakai was part of the jōkamachi of Sekiyado Domain on the opposite bank of the Tone River, and was a port for river traffic to and from Edo. The area was part of Shimōsa Province and was transferred to Ibaraki Prefecture in 1875 after the start of the Meiji period. The town of Sakai was proclaimed with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Government

Sakai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Sakai, together with neighboring Bandō and Goka, contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Ibaraki 7th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Sakai in primarily agricultural, with rice, lettuce and cabbage as the main cash corps. The town has three industrial parks.

Education

Sakai has five public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

The town does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

Noted people from Sakai

Sister city

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ibaraki prefectural official statistics. Japan. Japanese.
  2. https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/ibaraki/sakai-769620/ Sakai climate data
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-ibaraki.php Sakai population statistics
  4. News: PIO Department. Mayor of Sakai Town in Japan, Other Officials, Visit Sister City Marikina. 1 July 2018. Marikina City. Marikina City. 6 March 2018.
  5. Web site: Honolulu and Sakai, Japan are now sister cities . 2024-06-05 . spectrumlocalnews.com . en.