Ōdate

is a city in Akita Prefecture, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 71,558 in 31,634 households, and a population density of 82 persons per km² (212 persons per square mile). The total area of the city is .

Geography

Ōdate is located in the mountains of northern Akita Prefecture, with the Ōu Mountains on the east and Aomori Prefecture to the north. The city is a basin surrounded by mountains on all sides. Part of the city is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Much of the city area is covered in forest. Due to its inland location, the city is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

*Akita Prefecture
**Kitaakita
**Kazuno
** Kosaka
** Fujisato
*Aomori Prefecture
**Hirosaki
** Hirakawa
** Owani
** Nishimeya

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ōdate peaked in the 1950s and has been in decline since then.

Climate

Ōdate has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification ''Dfa'') 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 Ōdate is 10.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1426 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.2 °C.Ōdate climate data
/ref>

History

The area of present-day Ōdate was part of ancient Dewa Province, although it remained outside of the control of the Yamato court until well into the Heian period. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain, and who maintained a secondary fortification at Ōdate Castle. The castle was destroyed during the Boshin War. .

After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture in 1878. The town of Ōdate was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. During the Meiji period, the discovery of "black ore" (sphalerite and galena - a mixture of zinc, lead, gold, silver, and other precious metals), led to the development of numerous mines in the area, including the Hanaoka mine; however, the deposits were depleted by the mid-Shōwa period.

On June 20, 2005, the towns of Hinai and Tashiro (both from Kitaakita District) were merged into Ōdate.

Government

Ōdate has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. The city contributes three members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Ōdate is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism.

Education

*Akita University of Nursing and Welfare
* Ōdate has 17 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government, and one national junior high school. The city has three public high schools operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates three special education schools for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airports

* Odate-Noshiro Airport

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line
** - - - -
East Japan Railway Company - Hanawa Line
* - - - - -

Highways

*
*
*
*

Notable people from Ōdate

* Ginko Abukawa-Chiba, gymnast
*Yasushi Akashi, United Nations administrator, January 2001 – June 2003
* Shoeki Ando, philosopher
*Hirohide Ishida, politician
*Hiroshi Ishikawa, film director
*Takiji Kobayashi, writer
*Fuyukichi Maki, actor
*Masahiko Nagasawa, film director
*Nobuhiro Omiya, politician
*Takuya Sugawara, professional wrestler
*Dick Togo, professional wrestler
*Bin Uehara, singer
* Keizo Yamada, long-distance runner

References

External links

Official Website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odate, Akita

Cities in Akita Prefecture
States and territories established in 1951