Mogami, Yamagata

Mogami (最上町, Mogami-machi) is a town in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 29 February 2020, the town has an estimated population of 8,441 in 2848 households,[1] and a population density of 26 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 330.27 square kilometres (128 sq mi).

Mogami

最上町
Town
Mogami Town Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Mogami in Yamagata Prefecture
Mogami
 
Coordinates: 38°45′30.7″N 140°31′9.4″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureYamagata
DistrictMogami
Area
 • Total330.27 km2 (127.52 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2020)
 • Total8,442
 • Density26/km2 (66/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreeJapanese plum
• FlowerJapanese gentian
• BirdCopper pheasant
Phone number0233-43-2111 
Address66 Mukai-machi, Mogami-machi, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-6101
WebsiteOfficial website
Semi Onsen in Moami

Geography

Mogami is located in the mountains of extreme northeastern Yamagata Prefecture. Despite its name, the Mogami River does not run through the town. The area is known for extremely heavy snows in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Mogami peaked in the 1950s, and is now considerably less than what it was a century ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 12,384—    
1930 13,104+5.8%
1940 13,867+5.8%
1950 17,207+24.1%
1960 16,833−2.2%
1970 14,015−16.7%
1980 13,190−5.9%
1990 12,541−4.9%
2000 11,483−8.4%
2010 9,849−14.2%

Climate

Mogami 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 Mogami is 9.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1649 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.7 °C.[3]

History

During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of the Mogami clan who built Oguni Castle. During the Edo period, parts of the area came under the control of Shinjō Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The villages of Higashi-Oguni and Nishi-Oguni were established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. These villages merged to form the town of Mogami on September 1, 1954.

Economy

Mogami was formerly known as a horse breeding area, and numerous ranches supplied horses to the Imperial Japanese Army's cavalry regiments. Modern Mogami is dependent on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism to its many hot spring resorts.

Education

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

Transportation

Railways

East Japan Railway Company - Rikuu East Line

Highways

References
  1. Mogami Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Mogami population statistics
  3. Mogami climate data
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