is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

located in

Iwate Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture at , with a population of 1,210,534 (as of October 1, 2020). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefectur ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. , the city had an estimated population of 55,325 in 23,270 households, and a population density of 300 persons per km². The total area of the city is .

Geography

Takizawa is located in central Iwate Prefecture, bordered to the north and west by the Iwate Mountains, and the Kitakami River to the east and the Shizukuishi River to the south.

Neighboring municipalities

Iwate Prefecture * Morioka * Hachimantai *

Shizukuishi is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 16,263 in 6354 households, and a population density of 27 persons per km². The total area of the town is . Geography Shizukuishi is located in the Ōu Mou ...

Climate

Takizawa has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfa'') characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Takizawa is 9.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1386 mm with September as the wettest month and February as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.3 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Takizawa grew rapidly in the late 20th century and has grown at a slower pace in recent decades.

History

The area of present-day Takizawa was part of ancient

Mutsu Province was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori Prefectures and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture. Mutsu Province is also known as or . The term is often used to refer to the comb ...

. During the Heian period, it was ruled by the Abe clan. During the Sengoku period, the area came under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. In the Meiji period, the village of Takizawa was established within Iwate District on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Takizawa was promoted directly from a village to a city on January 1, 2014.

Government

Takizawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. Takizawa, together with the town of Shizukuishi, contributes three seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of

Iwate 2nd district Iwate 2nd district is a single-member constituency of the House of Representatives in the National Diet of Japan. It is located on the island of Honshu, in Iwate Prefecture, and includes the cities of Kuji, Miyako, and Rikuzentakata, among others. ...

of the

lower house A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

Economy

Takizawa is a bedroom community for Morioka, and a center for many institutions of higher education. Agriculture still plays an important role in the local economy, with Takizawa known for its summer watermelon and fall apples.

Education

Universities and colleges

* Iwate Prefectural University *

Morioka University is a private university Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public stud ...

Morioka Junior College is a public junior college in Takizawa, Iwate, Japan. It was established in 1951 in Morioka, Iwate, and has been attached to Iwate Prefectural University since 1998. Departments * Department of Home Economics * Department of International cultur ...

Iwate College of Nursing is a private junior college in Takizawa, Iwate, Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Jap ...

Primary and secondary education

Takizawa has nine public elementary schools, eight of which are operated by the city government, and one of which is operated by the Morioka city government, although physically located within Takizawa. There are likewise seven public middle schools, six of which are operated by the city government and one of which is operated by the Morioka city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education. There is also a special education school for the handicapped operated by the prefectural government.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...

(JR East) -

Tazawako Line The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) connecting Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate and Ōmagari Station in Daisen, Akita, Japan. Akita Shinkansen '' Komachi'' trains travel over the line, which was regauged ...

* -

Iwate Ginga Railway Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by the " third sector" publicly and privately owned operator Iwate Galaxy Railway Company. It connects Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate to Metoki Station in Sannohe, Aomori. Formerly part of the East J ...

* -

Highway

* — Takizawa IC * * * (unsigned) *

Local attractions

* Chagu Chagu Umakko - Takizawa is famous for its held every June. The festival is designated by the Japanese government to be an Important Cultural Asset. The festival celebrates the horses which once played an important role in the area's agriculture. The festival gets its name from the bells the horses wear during the procession. The sound the bells make, in Japanese, is "chagu-chagu". The festival begins at Chagu-Chagu Shrine which is a large shrine in Takizawa dedicated to horses. After a brief ceremony a long line of colorfully dressed horses ridden mostly by children in traditional dress leave the shrine and go on a 15 km procession that takes them to Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka. In total the trip takes nearly five hours to complete.Information about the Chagu-Chagu Horse Festival
from the Japan National Tourist Organization

Notable people

* Ryuji Ito, professional wrestler * Azusa Iwashimizu, professional soccer player

References

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control Cities in Iwate Prefecture Populated places established in 2014