Sakata, Yamagata Explained

Sakata
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Image Map1:Sakata in Yamagata Prefecture Ja.svg
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:38.9145°N 139.8364°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Tōhoku
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Yamagata
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Itaru Maruyama (from September 2015)
Area Total Km2:602.97
Population Total:96777
Population As Of:March 31, 2023
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:Phone number
Blank Info Sec1:0234-22-5111
Blank1 Name Sec1:Address
Blank1 Info Sec1:2-2-45, Honchō, Sakata-shi, Yamagata-ken 998-8540
Blank Name Sec2:Climate
Blank Info Sec2:Cfa
Module:
Embedded:yes

is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 96,777 in 42,600 households,[1] and a population density of 180 people per km2. The total area of the city is 602.97sqkm.

Geography

Sakata is located in the coastal plains of the northwest corner of Yamagata Prefecture, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west, and by Akita Prefecture to the north. The city has Mount Chōkai on its northern border; however, the urban center is in the flatlands of the Shōnai Plains on the right bank of the Mogami River. The inhabited island of Tobishima, approximately 38km (24miles) off the coast of the mainland, is within the administrative borders of the city. The island, as well as part of the mainland portion of the city, is within the borders of the Chōkai Quasi-National Park[2]

Neighboring municipalities

Akita Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture

Climate

Sakata has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Sakata is . The average annual rainfall is with November as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around .

Demographics

According to Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakata has declined in recent decades.

History

The area of present-day Sakata was the location of the provincial capital of ancient Dewa Province, although the precise location has yet to be discovered by archaeologists. A port at the mouth of the Mogami River is known to have existed since the Kamakura period. Although silting rendered it less important in the Muromachi period, the area developed as a major center for the coastal trade during the Edo period. By the early Meiji period, the Honma clan, a local merchant clan, dominated trade and emerged as the largest landholder in Japan. Traces of their powerful influence on Sakata City can still be seen across the city. This includes the Honma Museum and The Honma Gardens located in the downtown area.[4] With the establishment of the modern municipalities system after the start of the Meiji period, the area was organized as Sakata Town under Akumi District, Yamagata Prefecture in 1878. Approximately 80% of the town was destroyed by the 1894 Shōnai earthquake and subsequent fires. The modern city of Sakata was founded on April 1, 1933.

World War II

The city largely escaped damage during World War II, save for a lone air raid on its port district on August 10, 1945, which left 30 people dead or missing.

On September 20, 1944, over 200 British prisoners of war transfer to the newly created POW camp, known officially as Sakata Branch Camp (Sendai 9-B). The British would later be joined by American, Dutch and Australian POW's. The camp was liberated in September 1945.[5] The camp was originally established as Tokyo 22B, jurisdictional transferred to Sendai on April 14, 1945. The camp roster included:

Most of the POW's were transferred from camps in the Osaka and Tokyo area and many had survived the sinking of the steamships and . The men were used as forced labor at the Port of Sakata and some worked for Nittsu, also known as Nippon Express, still operating in Japan today.

After World War II

On October 29, 1976, Sakata suffered from a major fire which gutted 22.5 hectares of its city center, destroying 1,774 buildings and injuring 964 people (and one fatality).

On November 1, 2005, the towns of Hirata, Matsuyama, and Yawata (all from Akumi District) were merged into Sakata.

Government

Higashine has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 28 members. The city contributes five members to the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 3 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Sakata is based on light manufacturing, agriculture, and commercial fishing. The Sakata Kyodo Thermal Power Station is a fossil-fueled power station operated by a joint venture of Tohoku Electric and Sumitomo Aluminum in the city.

Major employers include Maeta Seikan,[6] which makes concrete products and has played a major role in supporting reconstruction after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Kao, a chemical and cosmetics company[7] and the electronics company, Seiko Epson. Seiko Epson uses the local Shonai Airport for weekly employee charter flights to and from Matsumoto, Nagano since 1997.

Education

Universities

Vocational schools

High schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

Transportation

Airports

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Uetsu Main Line

East Japan Railway Company - Rikuu West Line

Highway

Seaports

Health care

Media

Cinemas

Television

Radio

Sister city relations

Culture

Festivals

The Sakata Festival is a major historical festival held every year between May 19 and May 21. The first festival was held in 1609, during the Edo period, and was called the . However, after a large fire damaged much of Sakata in 1976, the festival became a memorial event and was renamed . There is a large parade in the central streets of the city, which features festival floats and dancers from schools, local companies, and community organizations. Huge are symbols of the festival. It is said that children chewed by the will become smart and healthy. About 350 stalls line the side of the main street selling snacks, drinks, and crafts.[10]

The celebration of the Sakata Festival was not interrupted by the eruption of Mount Chōkai in 1801, the 1894 Shōnai earthquake, the 1796 and 1976 Great Fires in Sakata, World War I, or World War II; however, it was interrupted in 2020 and 2021, due to prevention measures associated with the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Films

Sakata was the shooting location for the following movies:

Local attractions

Art and historical museums

Famous and historical sites

Shrines and temples

Notable people

External links

English Information https://www.thehiddenjapan.com/sakata

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sakata city official statistics. Japan. ja.
  2. Web site: Natural Parks of Yamagata Prefecture . ja . .
  3. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-yamagata.php Sakata population statistics
  4. Web site: Sakata City Yamagata Japan. 2 June 2022 .
  5. Web site: Sendai POW Camp #9-B Sakata.
  6. Web site: 前田製管(株) - マイナビ2015. mynavi.jp. 24 March 2015.
  7. Web site: Sakata Plant. kao.com. 24 March 2015.
  8. Web site: International Exchange. List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). 21 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095936/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=06&n=Yamagata%20Prefecture. 22 December 2015.
  9. News: Delaware, Sakata officially become sister cities. 2017-07-12. The Delaware Gazette. en-US.
  10. Web site: 酒田まつり｜イベント｜酒田さんぽ . 2015-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180428083100/http://www.sakata-kankou.com/event/80 . 2018-04-28 . dead .
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069238/awards 2009 Best Foreign Film
  12. Web site: Oshin (2013). IMDb.
  13. Web site: The Honma Museum of Art - Sakata - Tohoku - Japan Travel Guide and Information - att.JAPAN. att.JAPAN. 24 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402090630/http://www.att-japan.net/en/spot/ES001194. 2015-04-02. dead.
  14. Web site: Abumiya Sakata The Hidden Japan. Yamagata Shonai The Hidden Japan. en. 2019-06-09.
  15. Web site: Sakata City Museum of Art. 2015-03-31. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035258/https://guides-japan.com/spots/detail/2779/Sakata%20City%20Museum%20of%20Art. dead.
  16. Web site: 数寄屋・書院建築/(株)安井杢工務店：建築作品 . 2015-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091624/http://www.yasuimoku.co.jp/sukiya/index_e.html . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  17. Web site: 出羽遊心館｜歴史文化を学ぶ｜観光スポット｜酒田さんぽ . 2015-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305162823/http://www.sakata-kankou.com/spot/118?category=26 . 2016-03-05 . dead .
  18. Web site: Sakata Area - Japan National Tourism Organization. Japan National Tourism Organization. jnto.go.jp. 24 March 2015.
  19. Web site: Sakata City — 酒田市 . 2015-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402234656/http://www.city.sakata.lg.jp/ou/shimin/machi/kokusai/introductionofsakatacity.html . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  20. Web site: 山居倉庫｜観光スポット｜酒田さんぽ . 2015-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180426081232/http://www.sakata-kankou.com/spot/165 . 2018-04-26 . dead .
  21. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-27 . 2015-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143107/http://yamagatakanko.com.e.db.hp.transer.com/spotdetail/?data_id=402 . dead .
  22. Web site: Sokushinbutsu – Japanese Mummies – Japan Reference (JREF). Japan Reference (JREF). 30 December 2011 . 24 March 2015.
  23. Web site: Jichi-in Temple The Hidden Japan. thehiddenjapan. en. 2020-01-23.

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