Ichinoseki, Iwate

Ichinoseki (一関市, Ichinoseki-shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of 1 May 2020, the city had a population of 114,476 and a population density of 91 persons per km² in 46,375 households.[1] It is currently the second largest city by population in the prefecture, after Morioka. The total area of the city was 1,256.42 square kilometers (485.11 sq mi).

Ichinoseki

一関市
City
Ichinoseki Skyline
Flag
Seal
Location of Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture
Ichinoseki
 
Coordinates: 38°56′5″N 141°07′35.7″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureIwate
Area
 • Total1,256.42 km2 (485.11 sq mi)
Population
 (May 1, 2020)
 • Total114,476
 • Density91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneJapan Standard Time
Symbols 
• TreeJapanese beech
• FlowerCanola
• BirdJapanese bush-warbler
Phone number0191-21-2111
Address7-2 Takeyama-chō, Ichinoseki-shi, Iwate-ken 021-8501
WebsiteOfficial website
Ichinoseki City Office

Geography

Ichinoseki is located inland in the south of Iwate Prefecture, a little over two hours north of Tokyo by the Tōhoku Shinkansen. A large volume of extremely stable granite rock runs beneath the city, and is the center of the site is being promoted as a suitable location for construction of the International Linear Collider (ILC).[2]

Neighboring municipalities

Iwate Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

Akita Prefecture

Climate

Ichinoseki has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with warm summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Ichinoseki is 10.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1248 mm with September as the wettest month and January as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.5 °C.[3]

Demographics

The agricultural makeup of the city outside the centre is mostly composed of farmers, leading to an influx of Chinese and Filipino immigrants due to marriage. As a result, Ichinoseki has a varied ethnic makeup, although the newcomers still remain a small minority.

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ichinoseki peaked in the 1950s, has declined over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 118,556—    
1930 131,447+10.9%
1940 135,612+3.2%
1950 170,515+25.7%
1960 168,768−1.0%
1970 150,366−10.9%
1980 147,465−1.9%
1990 144,896−1.7%
2000 140,825−2.8%
2010 127,642−9.4%

History

The area of present-day Ichinoseki was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Japanese Paleolithic period. The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the Yamato dynasty during the early Heian period. During the Heian period, it was controlled by the Abe clan, followed by the Northern Fujiwara clan of Hiraizumi. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Date clan during the Edo period, who ruled Sendai Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. A portion of the present city was part of Ichinoseki Domain, a sub-domain of Sendai Domain.

The town of Ichinoseki was established within Nishiiwai District, Iwate on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipality system. It was raised to city status on April 1, 1948 by the merger of the towns of Ichinoseki and Yamame with the villages of Mataki and Nakasato.

  • January 1, 1955 - Ichinoseki absorbed the villages of Genbi, Hagisho, Maikawa, and Yasakae
  • September 1, 1956 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed parts of the town of Hiraizumi.
  • May 1, 1964 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed more of the town of Hiraizumi.
  • September 20, 2005 - the towns of Daitō, Higashiyama and Senmaya, the villages of Kawasaki and Murone (all from Higashiiwai District), and the town of Hanaizumi (from Nishiiwai District) were merged with the city of Ichinoseki, which approximately doubled the old city's population and nearly tripled its size.
  • September 26, 2011 - the town of Fujisawa (also from Higashiiwai District) was merged into Ichinoseki. Higashiiwai District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government

Ichinoseki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 25 members.[5] Ichinoseki and the town of Hiraizumi collectively contribute five seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Iwate 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Ichinoseki has 29 public elementary schools and 16 public junior high schools operated by the city government and one junior high school and eight public elementary schools operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school and one private junior college. The Prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Extended content

Special school

Elementary schools

  • Nagai Elementary School (一関市立永井小学校)
  • Hanaizumi Elementary School (一関市立花泉小学校)
  • 一関市立日形小学校
  • Yushima Elementary School (一関市立油島小学校)
  • 一関市立涌津小学校
  • 一関市立内野小学校
  • 一関市立大原小学校
  • 一関市立興田小学校
  • 一関市立猿沢小学校
  • 一関市立渋民小学校
  • 一関市立摺沢小学校
  • 一関市立曽慶小学校
  • Iwashimizu Elementary School (一関市立磐清水小学校)
  • Okutama Elementary School (一関市立奥玉小学校)

Junior high schools

High schools

  • Ichinoseki Gakuin High School (一関学院高等学校)
  • Ichinoseki Shuko High School (一関修紅高等学校) (also has a preschool and a university)
  • Ichinoseki No. 1 High School (岩手県立一関第一高等学校)
  • Ichinoseki No. 2 High School (岩手県立一関第二高等学校)
  • Hanaizumi High School (岩手県立花泉高等学校)
  • Daito High School (岩手県立大東高等学校)
  • Senmaya High School (岩手県立千厩高等学校)
  • Ichinoseki Tech High School (岩手県立一関工業高等学校)

Kosen

  • Ichinoseki National College of Technology (一関工業高等専門学校)

Junior college

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Ōfunato Line

Highway

Local attractions
Geibikei Gorge, Ichinoseki
  • Ichinoseki is in close proximity to the historically significant site of Hiraizumi, which lies adjacent to the mid-northern border of the city. Ichinoseki station is a convenient transit hub for excursions to Hiraizumi, with access to Tōhoku Shinkansen and local rail lines.
  • Geibikei is a dramatic river gorge which offers rides in traditional flat-bottomed boats, navigated by singing "gondoliers".
  • Genbikei is another popular river area with naturally carved cliffs.
  • Honederamura Shōen ruins has been designated an Important Cultural Landscape and a National Historic Site.[6] A brochure can be seen here. http://www.ichitabi.jp/guidebook/pdf/guidebook_04_03_en.pdf

Sister Cities/Friendship Cities

International relations

Friendship Cities

Noted people from Ichinoseki
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References
  1. Ichinoseki City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. http://www.city.ichinoseki.iwate.jp/ilc/en/index.html Ichinoseki City's ILC website
  3. Ichinoseki climate data
  4. Ichinoseki population statistics
  5. Hiraizumi Town Council
  6. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  7. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.

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