Iwanuma

Iwanuma (岩沼市, Iwanuma-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the city had an estimated population of 43,946 in 18,062 households,[1] and a population density of 730 persons per km². The total area of the city is 60.45 square kilometres (23.34 sq mi). Iwanuma is at the convergence of two ancient roads, the Tōkaidō and the Rikuzen-Hama Kaidō.

Iwanuma

岩沼市
City
Takekoma Shrine, Kanahebisui Shrine
Abukuma River, Iwanuma Station
Iwanuma urban area, Dontosai festival
Flag
Seal
Location of Iwanuma in Miyagi Prefecture
Iwanuma
 
Coordinates: 38°06′15.4″N 140°52′12.6″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureMiyagi
Government
 • MayorTsuneaki Iguchi
Area
 • Total60.45 km2 (23.34 sq mi)
Population
 (May 31, 2020)
 • Total43,946
 • Density730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeJapanese Black Pine
- FlowerAzalea
- BirdSeagull
Phone number0223-22-1111
Address1-6-20 Sakura, Iwanuma-shi, Miyagi-ken 989-2480
WebsiteOfficial website
Iwanuma City Hall

Geography

Iwanuma is in the east-center Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is also located at the mouth of the Abukuma River.

Neighboring municipalities

Miyagi Prefecture

Climate

Iwanuma has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwanuma is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1252 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iwanuma has increased over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 15,428—    
1930 17,524+13.6%
1940 18,490+5.5%
1950 25,303+36.8%
1960 26,452+4.5%
1970 29,822+12.7%
1980 34,910+17.1%
1990 38,091+9.1%
2000 41,407+8.7%
2010 44,187+6.7%

History

The area of present-day Iwanuma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the Takekoma Inari Shrine claims to have been founded in 842 AD. Mention of “Iwanuma Castle” appears in early Muromachi period documents. The area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Iwanuma was established on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The village of Okuma merged with Iwanuma on January 11, 1947, followed by Sengan and Tamaura on April 1, 1955. Iwanuma was raised to city status on November 1, 1971.

The city was seriously affected by the tsunami associated with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake,[4] which resulted in 180 deaths.

Government

Iwanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Iwanuma contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Iwanuma has four public elementary school and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

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

Highway

Media
  • Iwanuma Community FM Station

Local attractions

Sister city relations

Noted people from Iwanuma

References
  1. Iwanuma city official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Iwanuma climate data
  3. Iwanuma population statistics
  4. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/11/photo-gallery-devastation-after-earthquake-in-japan/a-massive-tsunami-hits-the-coastal-areas-of-iwanuma-miyagi-prefecture-northeastern-japan/ Archived 2011-03-15 at the Wayback Machine Massive tsunami hits Iwanuma

Media related to Iwanuma, Miyagi at Wikimedia Commons

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