Biratori, Hokkaido

Geography

Niratori is located in southern Hokkaido in the mountainous western part of the Hidaka Subprefecture. The mountainous area originating from the Hidaka Mountains in the east and the forested area surrounding Mount Nukibetsu (2053 meters) are part of the Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park .

Neighboring municipalities

• Hidaka
• Niikappu
• Obihiro
• Mukawa
• Shimukappu

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Biratori has a humid continental climate. It has large temperature differences, including large annual and daily temperature ranges. It receives a lot of snow, and is designated as a heavy snow area. In winter, temperatures below -20°C are not uncommon, making it extremely cold.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Biratori has declined in recent decades.

| 1970 | 10,770 | 1980 | 8,494 | 1990 | 7,352 | 2000 | 6,503 | 2010 | 5,597 | 2020 | 4,776

History

The area of Biratori was organized into a village in 1923 under the second-class town and village system, and became a town in 1954. Merger negotiations with other municipalities in the Hidaka Subprefecture collpased in 2004.

Ainu culture

The Nibutani Dam was constructed in Nibutani district on the Saru River, though there was a strong objection due to a sacred meaning of the place for indigenous Ainu people. Nibutani is the site of the Ainu Cultural center. Nibutani's best known son is perhaps Shigeru Kayano, a 20th-century advocate for the Ainu people and Ainu language and culture. The cultural landscape along the Saru, consisting of Ainu traditions and modern settlement within Biratori, has been designated an Important Cultural Landscape.

Government

Biratori has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of nine members. Biratori, as part of Hidaka Subprefecture, contributes two members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is overwhelmingly agricultural. Biratori Wagyu beef and tomato (Nishipa's Lover) are local specialities.

Education

Biratori has five public elementary schools and two public middle school operated by the town. The town one public high school an done special education school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Biratori has not had any passenger rail service since the discontinuation of the Japanese National Railways Tomiuchi Line in 1986.

Highways

Local attractions

• Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum
• Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum
• Yoshitsune Jinja
• Biratori Onsen
• Suzuran Field in Memu, where Lily of the Valley (also known as Maybells) bloom from May to June. The field covers 15 hectares and is the largest in Japan. It opened to the public in 1963, but had to be closed in 1975 due to damage from overpicking and trampling. It was able to open again ten years later..

Saru River 1.JPG|Saru River Nibutani-149-r1.JPG|Nibutani Dam Nibutani Ainu Cise.jpg|Nibutani Ainu Museum Yoshitsune Shrine, Biratori, 2024.jpg|Yoshitsune Jinja 振内鉄道記念館.jpg|Furenai Railway Memorial Museum

Mascot

Biratori's mascot is Bilicky. His name is a pun on "be lucky". He is a tomato with a horn and hooves of a bull, a pig's nose and a lily of a valley on his back. His birthday is 12 September.

Notable people from Biratori

• Shigeru Kayano (1926–2006), leading figure in the Ainu ethnic movement.
• Ryo Fukui (1948–2016), jazz pianist.

References

References

1. "北の生命をはぐくむ夫婦川". MLIT.
2. "Biratori Town official statistics".
3. "Biratori： the Ainu village a British woman headed for 138 years ago｜The towns of Hokkaido｜Hokkaido Magazine KAI".
4. "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register".
5. "Database of Registered National Cultural Properties". [[Agency for Cultural Affairs]].
6. "Biratori Town Assembly home page".
7. "Biratori Town Board of Education".
8. "ビラッキー (北海道)".
9. "広報びらとり2014年10月号".