Tomari, Hokkaido

Tomari (泊村, Tomari-mura) is a village located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.[1][2] As of September 2016, the village had a population of 1,750, and a density of 21 persons per km². The total area is 82.35 square kilometres (31.80 sq mi).[3]

Tomari

泊村
Village
Tomari Village hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Tomari in Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
Tomari
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°4′N 140°30′E
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
DistrictFuruu
Government
 • MayorHiroomi Makino
Area
 • Total82.35 km2 (31.80 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
 • Total1,750
 • Density21/km2 (55/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address191-7 Usubetsu, Kayanumamura, Tomari, Fufuu-gun, Hokkaido
045-0202
Websitewww.vill.tomari.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
FlowerLilium pensylvanicum
TreeCherry blossom

Etymology

The name of the town originates from the word "Hemoi-tomari" in the Ainu language. "Hemoi-tomari" is formed from two Ainu-language words, the first, "hemoi", meaning "trout", and the second, "tomari", meaning "harbor". In the Japanese language the name of the town is written with a single kanji character, 泊, meaning "anchored" or "at anchor". The written form of the name in Japanese is an ateji, or a kanji character used to phonetically represent native or borrowed words.[2][3]

Geography

Tomari is situated on the western coast of the Shakotan Peninsula along the Sea of Japan. Tomari runs 11.8 kilometres (7.3 mi) from east to west and 14.6 kilometres (9.1 mi) from north to south. 70.57% of the village is forested, and has little arable land.[3] Tomari is known for its view of the sunset on the Sea of Japan. The coast of the village is protected as part of Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park.[2]

Neighboring towns and village

Economy
Tomari Nuclear Power Plant

The village is known for fishing and seafood, including sea urchin (uni), sea cucumber (namako) and squid (ika).[2]

Tomari has been linked with energy and power generation since the beginning of the 20th century, giving it its current nickname of "Hometown of Energy". The village is famous for being the site of Hokkaido's only nuclear power plant, the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. Its first reactor became operational in 1989, and its second in 1991.[2] Tax revenue from the nuclear power plant has ensured that Tomari's local government, unlike most rural villages, operates at a consistent surplus.

History

Historically, the Kayanuma area of the village was a coal mining town. The town was first settled by the Japanese in 1601, and was incorporated as a village in 1880.[3] The villages of Sakazaki, Okishinai, Horikatsubu, and Kayanuma were merged into Tomari in 1909.[1]

Sister city

Ikata, Ehime, Japan

Education
  • Junior high school
    • Tomari Junior High School
  • Elementary school
    • Tomari Elementary School

References
  1. "泊村" [Tomari]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 173191044. dlc 2009238904. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  2. "泊（村）" [Tomari]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  3. 泊村の概要 [Outline of Tomari] (in Japanese). Tomari, Hokkaido: Village of Tomari. c. 2012. Retrieved Aug 7, 2012.
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