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Obanazawa

Coordinates: 38°36′N 140°24′E / 38.600°N 140.400°E / 38.600; 140.400
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Obanazawa
尾花沢市
City
Ginzan Onsen in the snow
Ginzan Onsen in the snow
Flag of Obanazawa
Flag
Official seal of Obanazawa
Seal
Location of Obanazawa in Yamagata Prefecture
Location of Obanazawa in Yamagata Prefecture
Obanazawa is located in Japan
Obanazawa
Obanazawa
 
Coordinates: 38°36′N 140°24′E / 38.600°N 140.400°E / 38.600; 140.400
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureYamagata
Area
 • Total373.32 km2 (144.14 sq mi)
Population
 (January 2020)
 • Total15,237
 • Density41/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0237-22-1111
Address1-1-3 Wakabachō, Obanazawa-shi, Yamagata-ken 999-4292
ClimateCfa/Dfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerAzalea
TreeJapanese Zelkova
Obanazawa City Hall

Obanazawa (尾花沢市, Obanazawa-shi) is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2020, the city had an estimated population of 15,237, and a population density of 40.9 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 372.32 square kilometres (144 sq mi).

Geography

Obanazawa is located in a mountain valley northeast Yamagata Prefecture, bordered by the Mogami River to the west and the Ōu Mountains to the east.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

Obanazawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Obanazawa is 10.8 °C (51.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,538.5 mm (60.57 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.7 °C (74.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around −1.0 °C (30.2 °F).[1] The city is noted for its very heavy snowfall in winter.

Climate data for Obanazawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.9
(53.4) 		14.6
(58.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		29.0
(84.2) 		33.4
(92.1) 		32.6
(90.7) 		36.2
(97.2) 		35.9
(96.6) 		34.6
(94.3) 		28.2
(82.8) 		23.7
(74.7) 		18.7
(65.7) 		36.2
(97.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1) 		2.7
(36.9) 		6.4
(43.5) 		14.0
(57.2) 		20.4
(68.7) 		23.8
(74.8) 		26.9
(80.4) 		28.4
(83.1) 		24.5
(76.1) 		18.2
(64.8) 		11.0
(51.8) 		4.2
(39.6) 		15.2
(59.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		2.1
(35.8) 		8.2
(46.8) 		14.6
(58.3) 		19.0
(66.2) 		22.5
(72.5) 		23.7
(74.7) 		19.6
(67.3) 		13.1
(55.6) 		6.6
(43.9) 		1.3
(34.3) 		10.8
(51.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.1
(24.6) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−2.1
(28.2) 		2.8
(37.0) 		9.3
(48.7) 		14.9
(58.8) 		19.1
(66.4) 		19.9
(67.8) 		15.5
(59.9) 		8.5
(47.3) 		2.6
(36.7) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		6.7
(44.1)
Record low °C (°F) −16.3
(2.7) 		−15.5
(4.1) 		−12.3
(9.9) 		−7.6
(18.3) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		5.3
(41.5) 		5.8
(42.4) 		10.2
(50.4) 		3.4
(38.1) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		−7.4
(18.7) 		−17.4
(0.7) 		−17.4
(0.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 165.3
(6.51) 		98.4
(3.87) 		80.7
(3.18) 		68.4
(2.69) 		78.4
(3.09) 		105.6
(4.16) 		174.0
(6.85) 		148.9
(5.86) 		128.9
(5.07) 		120.5
(4.74) 		155.2
(6.11) 		197.1
(7.76) 		1,538.5
(60.57)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 322
(127) 		231
(91) 		145
(57) 		17
(6.7) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		18
(7.1) 		216
(85) 		948
(373)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 23.2 19.3 16.6 11.8 10.4 10.0 12.7 11.8 12.5 13.7 17.6 22.2 181.8
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 23.6 19.7 17.3 2.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.8 14.5 79.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 38.0 62.0 108.3 169.4 200.0 179.0 154.6 188.5 141.7 119.5 83.6 40.8 1,485.3
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][1]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Obanazawa peaked around 1950 and has declined considerably since then.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 21,517—    
1930 24,320+13.0%
1940 26,692+9.8%
1950 33,754+26.5%
1960 31,538−6.6%
1970 27,173−13.8%
1980 25,231−7.1%
1990 23,909−5.2%
2000 22,010−7.9%
2010 18,955−13.9%
2020 14,971−21.0%

History

The area of present-day Obanazawa was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitamurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Obanazawa was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, and was raised to town status on July 26, 1897. It was made a city on April 10, 1959.

Obanazawa is the origin of one version of the Dontsuki song, the 'Hanagasa Dance Song', a song sung in many parts of Yamagata Prefecture.[4]

Government

Obanazawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 14 members. The city contributes one member to the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Obanazawa is based on agriculture and forestry. In agriculture, Obanazawa is best known for its watermelons.[5]

Education

Obanazawa has four public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line

Highway

Local attractions

Noted people

References

  1. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  2. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Obanazawa population statistics
  4. ^ "Origins of the Hanagasa Festival / Hanagasa Festival Official 2011". www.hanagasa.jp. Archived from the original on 2012-10-15.
  5. ^ "Welcome to Obanazawa !".
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