Kazamaura, Aomori
Geography
The northernmost municipality on Honshū island, Kazamaura is on the northwestern shore of Shimokita Peninsula. It is separated from the island of Hokkaidō by the Tsugaru Strait. Most of the village is part of the Osoreyama Mountain Range, resulting in little flat land. The Ikokuma River flows through the village. Approximately 96% of the total area of the village is covered by forests. Much of the village is within the borders of the Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park.
Neighboring municipalities
Aomori Prefecture
Climate
The village has a cold oceanic climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall and strong winds. (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The average annual temperature in Kazamaura is 8.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1259 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.9 °C.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kazamaura has declined over the past 60 years, and is now half of what it was a century ago.
| Year | Pop. | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 3,679 | — | ||
| 1930 | 4,346 | +18.1% | ||
| 1940 | 4,237 | −2.5% | ||
| 1950 | 4,775 | +12.7% | ||
| 1960 | 4,945 | +3.6% | ||
| 1970 | 4,243 | −14.2% | ||
| 1980 | 3,917 | −7.7% | ||
| 1990 | 3,295 | −15.9% | ||
| 2000 | 2,793 | −15.2% | ||
| 2010 | 2,465 | −11.7% | ||
| 2020 | 1,833 | −25.6% | ||
| ||||
History
Kazamaura was founded with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 through the merger of the three hamlets of Shimofuro (下風呂村), Ikokuma (易国間), and Hebiurakani (蛇浦簡易), with the new village taking one kanji from the names of its components to form "Kazamaura".
Government
Kazamaura has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Sai is part of Shimokita District which, together with the city of Mutsu, contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Kazamaura is heavily dependent on forestry and commercial fishing (particularly for squid, sea urchin and konbu).
Education
Kazamaura has one public elementary school, and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Transportation
Railway
The village has no passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Shimokita Station on the JR East Ōminato Line.
Highway
Local attractions
- Shimofuro Onsen - A sulphur hot spring resort known for its view of the many fishing boat lights that shine on the Tsugaru Strait after sunset.
- Kuwabata Onsen,- a hot spring resort
- Isaribi Strait Park
- Squid Centre - A center for supplying fresh squid
- Ikokuma River - A mountain river noted for its scenic foliage season and fishing.
References
- ^ "Kazamaura village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ 詳細データ 青森県風間浦村. 市町村の姿 グラフと統計でみる農林水産業 (in Japanese). Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "Kazamaura Home Page". Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Kazamaura climate data
- ^ Kazamaura population statistics
External links
Media related to Kazamaura, Aomori at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)
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