Iwanuma

Geography

Iwanuma is in the east-center Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is also located at the mouth of the Abukuma River.

Neighboring municipalities

Miyagi Prefecture

• Murata
• Natori
• Shibata
• Watari

Climate

Iwanuma has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwanuma is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1252 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Iwanuma has recently plateued after a long period of growth. | 1920 | 15,428 | 1930 | 17,524 | 1940 | 18,490 | 1950 | 25,303 | 1960 | 26,452 | 1970 | 29,822 | 1980 | 34,910 | 1990 | 38,091 | 2000 | 41,407 | 2010 | 44,187 | 2020 | 44,068

History

The area of present-day Iwanuma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the Takekoma Inari Shrine claims to have been founded in 842 AD. Mention of “Iwanuma Castle” appears in early Muromachi period documents. The area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Iwanuma was established on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The village of Okuma merged with Iwanuma on January 11, 1947, followed by Sengan and Tamaura on April 1, 1955. Iwanuma was raised to city status on November 1, 1971.

The city was seriously affected by the tsunami associated with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which resulted in 180 deaths.

Government

Iwanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Iwanuma contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Iwanuma has four public elementary school and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

• – Iwanuma IC

Media

• Iwanuma Community FM Station

Local attractions

• Takekoma Inari Shrine, - claiming to be the second oldest Inari shrine

Sister cities

• United States Dover, Delaware, USA friendship city since 2003
• Japan Nankoku, Kōchi, Japan since July 23, 1973
• United States Napa, California, USA, since February 15, 1973 .
• Japan Obanazawa, Yamagata, Japan since November 7, 1999

Noted people from Iwanuma

• Akiko Okamoto, politician
• Kiyoko Ono, former politician and artistic gymnast
• Ryusuke Taguchi, professional wrestlerʋ

References

References

1. [https://www.city.iwanuma.miyagi.jp/shisei/gaiyo/jinko/index.html Iwanuma city official statistics]{{in lang. ja
2. [https://en.climate-data.org/location/5475/ Iwanuma climate data]
3. [https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-miyagi.php Iwanuma population statistics]
4. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/11/photo-gallery-devastation-after-earthquake-in-japan/a-massive-tsunami-hits-the-coastal-areas-of-iwanuma-miyagi-prefecture-northeastern-japan/ {{Webarchive. link. (2011-03-15 Massive tsunami hits Iwanuma)
5. "Napa Valley Sister Cities - Napa Valley Online".