Higashine

Higashine (東根市, Higashine-shi) is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2020, the city had an estimated population of 47,910 in 17868 households,[1] and a population density of 230 persons per km². The total area of the city is 207.17 square kilometres (80 sq mi).

Higashine

東根市
City
Higashine City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Higashine in Yamagata Prefecture
Higashine
 
Coordinates: 38°25′52.7″N 140°23′27.9″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureYamagata
Area
 • Total207.17 km2 (79.99 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2020)
 • Total47,910
 • Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeJapanese Zelkova
- FlowerCherry
Phone number0237-42-1111
Address1-1-1 Chūō, Higashine-shi, Yamagata-ken 999-3795
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

Located on the eastern shore of the Mogami River in the northern part of the Yamagata Basin, the urban area of Higashine is located in an alluvial fan created by the Shirasui River, the Murayamano River, and the Nitto River flowing from the Ōu Mountains in the eastern part of the city. The western portion of the city is hilly, rising to the Ōu Mountains which form its eastern border.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Higashine has gradually been increasing over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 25,059—    
1930 28,626+14.2%
1940 30,257+5.7%
1950 42,767+41.3%
1960 40,917−4.3%
1970 39,113−4.4%
1980 40,559+3.7%
1990 42,751+5.4%
2000 44,800+4.8%
2010 46,412+3.6%

Climate

Higashine 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 Higashine is 11.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1438 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.3 °C.[3]

History

The area of present-day Higashine was part of ancient Dewa Province and is mentioned in the Engishiki records of the early Heian period. Under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, much of the area was part of the holdings of the Ezo-based Matsumae Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitamurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Higashine was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system and was raised to town status on June 15, 1896. It attained city status on November 3, 1958.

Government

Higashine has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes two members 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

Higashine is known as "The Fruit Kingdom" and is especially well known for its cherries as well as for apples, pears and persimmons. The city mascot is a pear with cherry earrings and a staff with an apple. Higashine is the largest producer of cherries in Yamagata Prefecture, which is the third largest producer of cherries in Japan.

Higashine also has a large industrial park. Some of the businesses include 3M, Casio, THK, ODELIC, and Kyocera. Many of these businesses are involved in manufacturing and research and development.

Education

Higashine has nine public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high schools operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airports

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Yamagata Shinkansen

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line

Highway

Military

The 6th Division (第6師団) is one of nine active divisions of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is headquartered in at JGSDF Camp Jinmachi in Higashine. Its responsibility is the defense of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Yamagata prefectures.

Noted people from Higashine

References
  1. Higashine City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Higashine population statistics
  3. Higashine climate data

Media related to Higashine, Yamagata at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.