Misawa, Aomori
Misawa
三沢市 | |
---|---|
UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) | |
Phone number | 0176-53-5111 |
Address | 1-1-38 Sakurachō, Misawa-shi, Aomori-ken 033-8666 |
Climate | Cfa/Dfa |
Website | Official website |
Symbols | |
Flower | Satsuki azalea |
Tree | Pine |
Misawa (三沢市, Misawa-shi) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023[update], the city had an estimated population of 38,198 in 19493 households, and a population density of 330 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 119.87 square kilometers (46.28 sq mi).[1]
Misawa is the location of a large military base, Misawa Air Base, which is under joint operation of the United States Air Force's 35th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Facility, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force's 3rd Fighter Wing. It is also an important US base for signals intelligence and related activities. The city population figures do not include the estimated 10,000 American military personnel and their dependents stationed at Misawa Air Base.
Geography
Misawa is located in the flatlands on the southern shore of
Neighboring municipalities
Aomori Prefecture
- Rokunohe
- Tōhoku
- Rokkasho
- Oirase
Climate
The city has a humid continental climate characterized by hot summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Dfa). The average annual temperature in Misawa is 9.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1172 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.9 °C.[3]
Climate data for Misawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
29.2 (84.6) |
34.7 (94.5) |
35.3 (95.5) |
36.4 (97.5) |
37.0 (98.6) |
34.9 (94.8) |
29.1 (84.4) |
24.0 (75.2) |
18.7 (65.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
3.2 (37.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
20.5 (68.9) |
24.3 (75.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
4.9 (40.8) |
14.5 (58.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
2.8 (37.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
20.3 (68.5) |
22.2 (72.0) |
19.2 (66.6) |
13.3 (55.9) |
7.0 (44.6) |
1.2 (34.2) |
10.2 (50.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.4 (24.1) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
3.6 (38.5) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.9 (55.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
19.2 (66.6) |
15.5 (59.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
2.9 (37.2) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
6.4 (43.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −12.5 (9.5) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.0 (39.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.8 (49.6) |
5.5 (41.9) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.7 (2.04) |
45.7 (1.80) |
58.2 (2.29) |
62.4 (2.46) |
88.2 (3.47) |
105.8 (4.17) |
143.0 (5.63) |
156.4 (6.16) |
164.0 (6.46) |
105.6 (4.16) |
68.1 (2.68) |
61.2 (2.41) |
1,110.2 (43.71) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.4 | 10.2 | 9.4 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 11.3 | 11.1 | 11.0 | 9.1 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 122.7 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 119.0 | 124.0 | 170.5 | 187.2 | 192.6 | 157.7 | 137.2 | 149.7 | 145.6 | 153.0 | 126.4 | 109.1 | 1,772.1 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5] |
Demographics
Per Japanese census data:[6] The population of Misawa has remained relatively stable over the past 40 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | 24,790 | — | ||
1960 | 36,570 | +3.96% | ||
1970 | 35,343 | −0.34% | ||
1980 | 39,962 | +1.24% | ||
1990 | 41,343 | +0.34% | ||
2000 | 42,495 | +0.28% | ||
2010 | 41,260 | −0.29% | ||
2020 | 39,152 | −0.52% | ||
|
History
The area around Misawa has been occupied since the Japanese Paleolithic period, and was a major population center for the Emishi people. Numerous Jōmon period remains have been discovered within the borders of Misawa, including within the borders of Misawa Air Base. The area was nominally under control of the Northern Fujiwara in the Heian period, and became part of the holdings granted to the Nanbu clan after the defeat of the North Fujiwara by Minamoto no Yoritomo in the early Kamakura period. The Nanbu established numerous horse ranches, accompanied by a series of numbered fortified settlements in the region. During the Edo period, the area was part of Morioka Domain and was later transferred to the holdings of the subsidiary Shichinohe Domain during the mid-Edo period.. After the Meiji Restoration, the area was settled by many dispossessed ex-samurai from former Aizu Domain.
Per the post-
On 11 February 1948, the town of Omisawa was founded through the merger of Misawa village with portions of
Government
Misawa has a
Economy
Misawa serves as a regional industrial and commercial center, with agriculture and commercial fishing playing secondary roles in the local economy. The large foreign presence at Misawa Air Base also makes a large impact on the local economy.
Education
Misawa has seven public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
Airport
Railway
Aoimori Railway Company -Aoimori Railway Line
Highway
Sister City relations
- East Wenatchee, Washington, United States from 23 August 2001
- Wenatchee, Washington, United States from 4 October 1981
Local attractions
- Misawa Aviation & Science Museum
- Ramsar Site[7]
- Shūji Terayama Museum
- Lake Ogawara
Festivals
The city of Misawa boasts many festivals throughout the year, such as the cherry blossom festival, located at "Train Park", the Tanabata festival, and the most local, the Kosuimatsuri, or Lake Ogawara Festival. At the Kosuimatsuri [2], the new Lake Ogawara Queen is crowned; synonymous to "Miss Misawa", which consists of two women from Misawa between the age of 15–25, and one American citizen from Misawa Air Base, of the same age range. Misawa also hosts "Japan Day" within Misawa Air Base, at the base's Collocated Club. There is also "American Day", occurring generally a week or so after Memorial Day, at which time Japanese and American friendship is strengthened through the festive environment of food vendors and a large parade.
Noted people from Misawa
- Yoko Imai, actress
- Koji Ota, professional baseball player
- Shinobu Kai, gravure model
- Yukio Kakizaki, professional baseball player
- Masaya Kitamura, politician
- Norio Kimura, professional boxer
- Kahoru Kohiruimaki, musician
- Takayuki Kohiruimaki, professional kickboxer
- Kyōichi Sawada, photo journalist
- Akiyoshi Sasaki, professional baseball player
- Takanonami Sadahiro, sumo wrestler
- Yoshimi Tanaka, Japanese Red Army terrorist
- Issei Futamata, voice actor
- Kazusa Okuyama, actress
- J Soul Brothers.
- Byron Howard, film director
References
- ^ "Misawa city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ "Welcome To Misawa". Misawa.Japan. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- ^ [1] Misawa climate data]
- ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Misawa population statistics
- ^ "The Annotated Ramsar List: Japan". Ramsar. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
External links
- Official Website (in Japanese)
- Misawa Air Base Website