Sakegawa, Yamagata

Sakegawa (鮭川村, Sakegawa-mura) is a village located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 29 February 2020, the village had an estimated population of 4132 in 1347 households,[1] and a population density of 34 persons per km². The total area of the village is 122.15 square kilometres (47 sq mi).

Sakegawa

鮭川村
Village
Sakegawa Village Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Sakegawa in Yamagata Prefecture
Sakegawa
 
Coordinates: 38°47′47.2″N 140°13′18.6″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureYamagata
DistrictMogami
Area
 • Total122.14 km2 (47.16 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2020)
 • Total4,132
 • Density34/km2 (88/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeMaple
- FlowerLily
Phone number0233-55-2111 
Address2003-7 Sado, Sakegawa-mura, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-5202
WebsiteOfficial website
Rice paddies in Sakegawa

Geography

Sakegawa is located in northern Yamagata Prefecture, bordered to the west by the Dewa Mountains. The area is known for its heavy snowfalls in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

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

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 6,678—    
1930 7,571+13.4%
1940 7,608+0.5%
1950 9,056+19.0%
1960 8,374−7.5%
1970 7,057−15.7%
1980 6,645−5.8%
1990 6,396−3.7%
2000 5,829−8.9%
2010 4,862−16.6%

Climate

Sakegawa 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 Sakegawa is 10.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1902 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.7 °C.[3]

History

The area of present-day was Sakegawa part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Sakegawa was established on December 1, 1954 by the merger of the villages of Toyota and Toyosato, both from Mogami District.

Economy

The economy of Sakegawa is based on agriculture. The town is famous for nameko mushrooms, of which it produces a substantial percentage for Yamagata Prefecture.[4] The town's other main exports are rice and flowers, such as roses and gentians. Sakegawa is also well known for fishing, with the Salmon Festival (鮭祭り) being held at Eco Park every October.[5]

Education

Sakegawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Kabuki

Public kabuki theater performances are given on the first Sunday of July every year.[7]

Salmon Festival

Held on the last Sunday of October every year. During this festival people pay a set price to attempt to catch salmon out of the river with their bare hands.

Niwazuki Kannon Lantern Festival

Held in August. Floating lanterns are sent down the river beginning at the Niwazuki Buddhist temple.

Media related to Sakegawa, Yamagata at Wikimedia Commons

Notes
  1. Sakegawa Village official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Oguni population statistics
  3. Sakegawa climate data
  4. Sakegawa-Mura. .ocn.ne.jp. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
  5. SAKEGAWA-MURA. ocn.ne.jp
  6. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  7. Sakegawa Kabuki. Yamagata, Japan Information – Yamagata info. En.yamagata-info.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-30.
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