Aomori
Aomori
青森市 | |
---|---|
Aomori City | |
Coordinates: 40°49′22″N 140°44′49″E / 40.82278°N 140.74694°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Tōhoku |
Prefecture | Aomori |
Utō-mura | ? |
Aomori-mura | 1626 |
Aomori-machi | 1 April 1889 |
Aomori-shi | 1 April 1898 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Hideki Nishi (since June 2023) |
Area | |
• Prefecture capital and core city | 824.61 km2 (318.38 sq mi) |
Elevation | 0 to 1,584 m (0 to 5,197 ft) |
Population (1 August 2023) | |
• Prefecture capital and core city | 264,945 |
• Density | 320/km2 (830/sq mi) |
• Metro | 310,640 |
Demonym | Aomorian |
Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
Area code | 02201-2 |
Phone number | 017-734-1111 |
Address | 1-22-5 Chūō, Aomori-shi, Aomori-ken |
Expressways | |
Website | Official website |
Symbols | |
Bird | Ural owl |
Flower | Rosa rugosa |
Insect | Firefly |
Tree | Maries' fir |
Aomori (Japanese: 青森, Hepburn: Aomori, IPA: [aoꜜmoɾi]; lit. "Blue Forest"), officially Aomori City (青森市, Aomori-shi), is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 1 August 2023[update], the city had an estimated population of 264,945 in 136,781 households,[1] and a population density of 321 people per square kilometer spread over the city's total area of 824.61 km2 (318.38 sq mi). Aomori is one of Japan's 62 core cities and the core of the Aomori metropolitan area.[2]
Geography
Aomori is located in central Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost prefecture of Honshu. It is located in the northeastern part of the Tsugaru region, which refers to the western half of the prefecture, and is centered on Aomori Plain, facing Aomori Bay, a branch bay of Mutsu Bay, to the north, and the Hakkōda and Higashidake Mountains, which are the northern end of the Ōu Mountains to the south to the east. Among other smaller rivers, the city has two large rivers flowing through it, the Komagome River and its tributary, the Arakawa River. Parts of the city in the southeast are within the borders of Towada-Hachimantai National Park and is a tourist destination throughout the four seasons. In the northeast is Asamushi-Natsudomari Prefectural Natural Park. There are many hot springs in the city, including Sukayu Onsen at the foot of Mt. Hakkōda and Asamushi Onsen on the coast.
Surrounding municipalities
Climate
Like most of the Tōhoku region, Aomori has a humid temperate climate with warm summers, and cold, though not extreme, winters. The city has a cold, humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) characterized by warm, short summers and long, cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aomori is 10.7 °C (51.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,285 mm (50.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.5 °C (74.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.1 °C (28.2 °F).[3]
Aomori and the surrounding areas are known for having the
In summer, a cool wind called "Yamase" often blows from the east, which sometimes results in abnormally cool weather and poor harvests. Additionally, thick fogs from the Oyashio Current are often observed in mountainous areas in the summer. Due to this fog, flights to Aomori Airport are often cancelled.[4]
Climate data for Aomori (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1882−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 13.5 (56.3) |
19.4 (66.9) |
21.4 (70.5) |
28.3 (82.9) |
33.6 (92.5) |
33.5 (92.3) |
35.9 (96.6) |
36.7 (98.1) |
36.1 (97.0) |
30.5 (86.9) |
24.1 (75.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
36.7 (98.1) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) |
2.7 (36.9) |
6.8 (44.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.8 (65.8) |
22.1 (71.8) |
26.0 (78.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
24.5 (76.1) |
18.3 (64.9) |
11.2 (52.2) |
4.5 (40.1) |
14.9 (58.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.9 (30.4) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
2.8 (37.0) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.6 (63.7) |
21.8 (71.2) |
23.5 (74.3) |
19.9 (67.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
7.2 (45.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.5 (25.7) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
4.1 (39.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
15.8 (60.4) |
9.1 (48.4) |
3.4 (38.1) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | −23.5 (−10.3) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
−18.4 (−1.1) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
4.0 (39.2) |
6.5 (43.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−20.6 (−5.1) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 139.9 (5.51) |
99.0 (3.90) |
75.2 (2.96) |
68.7 (2.70) |
76.7 (3.02) |
75.0 (2.95) |
129.5 (5.10) |
142.0 (5.59) |
133.0 (5.24) |
119.2 (4.69) |
137.4 (5.41) |
155.2 (6.11) |
1,350.7 (53.18) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 195 (77) |
141 (56) |
64 (25) |
4 (1.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
23 (9.1) |
143 (56) |
567 (223) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) | 24.0 | 20.0 | 16.7 | 12.2 | 11.3 | 9.5 | 10.2 | 10.8 | 11.6 | 14.6 | 18.9 | 23.6 | 183.3 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
78 | 76 | 70 | 65 | 71 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 78 | 75 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 48.5 | 72.3 | 126.0 | 179.1 | 201.4 | 180.0 | 161.4 | 178.0 | 162.4 | 144.4 | 85.4 | 50.4 | 1,589.2 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6] |
Demographics
A person living in or from Aomori is referred to as an Aomorian.[7] Per Japanese census data,[8] the population of Aomori has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1920 | 48,941 | — | ||
1930 | 77,103 | +4.65% | ||
1940 | 99,065 | +2.54% | ||
1950 | 106,417 | +0.72% | ||
1960 | 235,116 | +8.25% | ||
1970 | 261,743 | +1.08% | ||
1980 | 309,768 | +1.70% | ||
1990 | 308,782 | −0.03% | ||
2000 | 318,732 | +0.32% | ||
2010 | 299,520 | −0.62% | ||
2020 | 275,340 | −0.84% | ||
2023 | 264,945 | −1.27% | ||
|
Etymology
The original name of the Aomori was Utō, named for the Rhinoceros auklet (ウトウ), a seabird that is closely related to the puffin. In 1626 the name was changed to Aomori (青森) "blue forest", but this was not fully embraced until 1783.[9]
History
Aomori literally means blue forest, although it could possibly be translated as "
The area has been settled extensively since prehistoric times, and numerous
After the
The
Much of the town burned down in a large fire on 3 May 1910. The port facilities were expanded in 1924, and the city received its first bus services in 1926. Japan Air Transport began scheduled air services from 1937.
Towards the final stages of World War II, on the night of 28–29 July 1945, Aomori was subject to an air raid as part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign. The 28–29 July bombing claimed 1,767 lives and destroyed 88% of the city.
In the post-war period, Aomori was rebuilt as the local political and commercial center. The Tsugaru Line railway opened between Aomori Station and Kanita Station in 1951. Aomori Airport was opened in 1964 in nearby Namioka.[10] The city was connected to Tokyo by highway in 1979 with the opening of the Tōhoku Expressway.[11] Construction began on a new airport within the city of Aomori in 1982. Aomori's landmark pyramidal Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center opened in 1986. The new airport was completed on 19 July 1987.[10] On 1 October 2002, Aomori was proclaimed a core city, granting it an increased level of local autonomy.
On 1 April 2005, Aomori absorbed the town of Namioka to create the new and expanded city of Aomori; but lost a portion of Namioka to the town of Fujisaki (from Minamitsugaru District) on 1 September 2007.[12][13]
Government
Aomori has a
Economy
Aomori serves as the regional commercial center for central Aomori Prefecture. Agriculture and commercial fishing form only 4% of the city economy, with manufacturing forming 16.2% and the service sector forming 78.2%.
Education
Aomori is the only prefectural capital in Japan which has no national university, instead, nearby Hirosaki became the site for the prefecture's highest educational facility. The city has 45 public elementary schools and 19 public junior high schools operated by the city government, as well as two private junior high schools. The city has 10 public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education and three private high schools. The prefecture also operates eight special education schools for the handicapped.
Universities and colleges
High schools
|
Junior high schools
|
Transportation
Airport
- Seoul–Incheon and Tianjin.
Railways
The Tōhoku Shinkansen opened in 2010 with a new terminal at Shin-Aomori Station. The Shinkansen provides high-speed service between Shin-Aomori, Hachinohe, Morioka, Sendai and Tokyo. East Japan Railway Company (JR East) – Tōhoku Shinkansen
- Aomori - Shin-Aomori - Tsugaru-Shinjō - Tsurugasaka - Daishaka - Namioka
- Aomori - Aburakawa - Tsugaru-Miyata - Okunai - Hidariseki - Ushirogata - Nakasawa
- Aomori -
Highways
- Tōhoku Expressway – Namioka Interchange – Aomori Interchange
- Aomori Expressway – Aomori Interchange – Aomori-chūō Interchange – Aomori-higashi Interchange
- Michinoku Toll Road
- Tsugaru Expressway – Namioka Interchange
- National Route 4
- National Route 7
- National Route 45 (unsigned)
- National Route 101
- National Route 103
- National Route 280
- National Route 394
Seaports
- Honshū and the northern island of Hokkaido. In March 1988, the Seikan Tunnel opened up, traveling under the Tsugaru Strait, this quickly replaced the slow-moving ferry as the primary transportation between the two islands.[citation needed]
Sports
Aomori has hosted several international
Sports facilities
- Aomori City Baseball Stadium, otherwise known as Gappo Park Stadium
- Aomori Stadium
- Aomori Velodrome
Parks and recreation
Local attractions
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri is a famous festival performed from 2–7 August annually and is listed as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.[18] Besides this, major attractions of Aomori include ruins, museums, and mountains. The Hakkōda Mountains have good locations for trekking with hot spas (onsen), such as Sukayu Onsen.[citation needed]
- Aomori Bay Bridge
- Aomori City Forestry Museum
- Aomori City History and Folk Arts Museum
- Aomori Museum of Art
- Aomori Prefectural Museum
- Asamushi Aquarium
- Asamushi Onsen
- Komakino Site, a National Historic Site
- Munakata Shiko Memorial Museum of Art
- Namioka Castle ruins, A National Historic Site
- Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse
- Ōmori Katsuyama Site, a National Historic Site
- Sannai-Maruyama Site, a Special National Historic Site [19]
- Seiryū-ji
- Shinmachi Street
- Sukayu Onsen
- Takayashikidate Site, a National Historic Site
- Uramachi Shinmeigū
Sister city relations
- – Hakodate, Hokkaido[20] – since 1989. Aomori and Hakodate share a "twin cities" relationship referred to as the "Seikan Economic and Cultural Area".
- – Kecskemét, Bács-Kiskun County, Hungary[21] – since August 1994
- – Gyeonggi-do, South Korea[21]– since 1995
- – Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China[21] – since December 2004
- – Hsinchu County, Taiwan[21] – friendship city since October 2014
Notable people from Aomori
- Noriko Awaya, singer
- Takaharu Furukawa, archer
- Takanori Hatakeyama, professional boxer
- Yuji Hayami, science-fiction writer
- Shigeru Izumiya, entertainer
- Yaho Kitabatake, children's fiction writer
- Ichirō Kojima, photographer
- Ibuki Kido, voice actress
- Daimaou Kosaka, comedian
- Daisuke Matsuzaka, baseball player
- Keizo Miura, skier
- Yuichiro Miura, skier
- Shiko Munakata, woodblock artist
- Ren Narita, professional wrestler
- Hitoshi Saito, judoka
- Kyoichi Sawada, photographer
- Akimitsu Takagi, crime fiction writer
- Bushuyama Takashi, sumo wrestler
- Kiyoshi Tanabe, professional boxer
- Shūji Terayama, modern artist
- Takanosato Toshihide, sumo wrestler
- Daigo Umehara, professional fighting game player
- Ryushi Yanagisawa, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist
- Akiko Yano, singer-songwriter
- Kodai Naraoka, badminton player
References
- ^ "人口・世帯数等(住民基本台帳)" [Population and number of households (Basic Resident Register)] (in Japanese). 1 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "2010 Metropolitan Employment Map". University of Tokyo. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Aomori climate data". Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ Hiroshi Takai (2006). "Characteristics of the Yamase Winds over Oceans around Japan Observed by the Scatterometer-Derived Ocean Surface Vector Winds". Journal of the Meteorological Society of Japan. pp. 365–373. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ https://twitter.com/sayakasofiamori/status/1759534345298252150
- ISBN 978-0415818391. Archivedfrom the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Aomori population statistics". Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ a b "「青森」地名伝承の誤解=41" (in Japanese). 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ a b "概要" [Overview]. Aomori Airport Administration Office. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "高速道路開通の歴史" [Expressway History] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- ^ "青森市が進めるコンパクトシティについて" [Aomori Compact City Promotion] (in Japanese). April 2007. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "広報あおもり平成19年9月15日号PDF版" [Aomori Public Information 15 September Heisei 19-PDF version] (PDF). Aomori Official Website (in Japanese). Aomori City. 19 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "青森県の衆議院小選挙区の区割りについて(平成29年以降)" [About the division of Aomori Prefecture's House of Representatives single-member constituency (2017-)] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ "面積広げた合浦公園-14" [Expanded area of Gappo Park-14]. Mutsu Shimpō (in Japanese). 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "青い森公園" [Aoimori Park] (in Japanese). Aomori Prefecture Government. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "都市公園" [City parks] (in Japanese). Aomori City. 16 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ "100 Soundscapes of Japan". Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Sannai-Maruyama Site official website". Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 8 June 2005.
- ^ "青森・函館ツインシティ" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)