Tomakomai Explained

Tomakomai
Native Name Lang:	ja
Settlement Type:	City
Pushpin Map:	Japan
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in Japan
Coordinates:	42.6333°N 177°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Japan
Subdivision Type1:	Region
Subdivision Name1:	Hokkaido
Subdivision Type2:	Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:	Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Subdivision Type3:	District
Established Title:	First official recorded
Established Date:	1799 AD
Established Title2:	City settled
Established Date2:	1 April 1948
Leader Title:	Mayor
Leader Name:	Hirofumi Iwakura
Leader Title1:	Vice Mayor
Unit Pref:	Metric
Area Total Km2:	561.57
Population Total:	167372
Population As Of:	July 31, 2023
Population Density Km2:	auto
Timezone1:	JST
Utc Offset1:	+09:00
Blank Name Sec1:	City hall address
Blank Info Sec1:	4-5-6 Asahimachi, Tomakomai-shi, Hokkaido 053-8722
Blank Name Sec2:	Climate
Blank Info Sec2:	Dfb
Module:	Embedded: yes Flower: Tree flower: Hasukappu Grass flower: Hanashōbu Mascot: Toma Chop

is a city and port in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture, and the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. As of 31 July 2023, it had an estimated population of 167,372, with 83,836 households, and a population density of 298 persons per km² (770 persons per mi²). The total area is 561.57km2.

The city is known for its high catch of Arctic surf clams.

History

The name of Tomakomai is derived from Ainu words "to" and "makomai", meaning "Marsh" and "River which goes into the depths of the mountain", respectively.^{[1] [2]}

• 1879: Yūfutsu branch of Hokkaidō Development Commission was transferred into Tomakomai (Foundation anniversary).
• 1902: Tomakomai became second class village.
• 1918: Tomakomai village became Tomakomai town.
• 1948: Tomakomai town became Tomakomai city.
• 1963: Tomakomai Port (West) was opened.
• 1980: Tomakomai Port (East) was opened.
• 6 September 2018: Tomakomai City is the nearest city from the epicenter of the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.

Geography

Mount Tarumae is located in the northwest of Tomakomai and belongs to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.

Climate

Tomakomai has a humid continental climate typical of Hokkaido.

Transportation

Airport

• New Chitose Airport

Rail

• Chitose Line: Numanohata - Uenae
• Hidaka Main Line: Numanohata - Yūfutsu
• Muroran Main Line: Nishikioka - Itoi - Aoba - Tomakomai - Numanohata

Road

• Hidaka Expressway
• Dō-Ō Expressway

Seaport

• Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal: connected with regular ferry services by MOL Ferry, Taiheiyō Ferry, K Line Kinkai.

Education

University

• Hokuyou University

College

• National Institute of Technology, Tomakomai College

High schools

Public

• Hokkaido Tomakomai Higashi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Minami High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Nishi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Sogokeizai High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Technical High School

Private

• Komazawa University Tomakomai High School
• Tomakomai Chuo High School

Sports

In 2014, Tomakomai hosted the World Broomball Championships.^[3]

Tomakomai is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey team Red Eagles Hokkaido. ^[4]

Sister cities and friendship cities

Sister cities

• Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan (since 1973)^[5]
• Napier, Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand (since 1980)
• Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (since 1982)

Friendship city

• Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China (since 1998)

Notable people from Tomakomai

• Yushiroh Hirano, ice hockey player, Adirondack Thunder^[6]
• Tsutomu Kawabuchi, ice hockey player and coach, member of the IIHF Hall of Fame^[7]
• Asami Kimura, singer in Hello! Project and former Country Musume member and leader
• Eiichi Kudo, film director
• Junko Misaki, enka singer
• Ippei Mizuhara, Interpreter for Major League Baseball
• Takuya Onodera, professional wrestler best known as T-Hawk
• Kei Sanbe, manga artist
• Naoki Sano, professional wrestler
• Hisayoshi Sato, swimmer^[8]
• Shokichi, member of Exile and Exile The Second

External links

• Official Website

Notes and References

1. http://www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp/shisei/tomakomainitsuite/gaiyo/gaiyo.html The outline of Tomakomai
2. http://www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp/shisei/tomakomainitsuite/gaiyo/tomakomai-rekishi.html The history of Tomakomai
3. Web site: 2014 – IFBA World Broomball Championship, Tomakomai, Japan (December Update) . IFBA . 14 December 2013 . 7 January 2014.
4. Web site: Oji Eagles top in Japan . James . Armstrong . IIHF . 28 March 2021 . 19 November 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241119022553/https://www.iihf.com/en/news/24915/oji_eagles_top_in_japan . 19 November 2024.
5. http://www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp/shisei/tomakomainitsuite/gaiyo/shimai_yuko.html Sister cities and friendship city of Tomakomai
6. Web site: Yushiroh Hirano Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com . 2022-09-27 . www.hockeydb.com.
7. Web site: Mr. Kawabuchi died, 88 years old Tomakomai comes from the international hall of fame with ice hockey. https://web.archive.org/web/20140227064422/https://www.47news.jp/localnews/hokkaido/2014/01/post_20140120174653.html. dead. 2014-02-27. 2014-01-20. 47news. ja. 2019-03-05.
8. Web site: Hisayoshi Sato. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417212015/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/hisayoshi-sato-1.html. dead. 17 April 2020. sports-reference.com. 19 April 2014.