Kanegasaki ( 金ケ崎町 , Kanegasaki-chō ) is a town located in Iwate Prefecture , Japan . As of 30 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 15,580, and a population density of 87 persons per km² in 6,155 households. The total area of the town is 179.76 square kilometres (69.41 sq mi). In June 2001, the 34.8 hectare old centre of town was protected as an Important Preservation District by the national government for its traditional samurai residences.
39-584: Kanegasaki is located in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan at the confluence of the Kitakami and Isawa rivers and is bordered to the north by Kitakami-shi , to the east and south by Ōshū-shi . In the mountains to the west, there is a large reservoir known as Sengaishi that is dammed and used for irrigating the rice paddies in the plain below. Kanegasaki is characterized by a variety of geographical features, including mountains and wide expanses of rice paddies to
78-595: A humid climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) bordering with warm summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Kanegasaki is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1323 mm with September as the wettest month and January as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.7 °C. Per Japanese census data,
117-417: A magnitude 8.6 earthquake and tsunami struck the coast of Iwate. On 14 November 1230, volcanic activity was reported. On 2 December 1611, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake and tsunami were reported to have killed over 3,000 horses and people. In 1662 Morioka and its suburbs were hit by a large flood leaving 1,000 dead. Volcanic activity was reported on Mt. Iwate on 23 March 1686 and 14 April 1687. In 1700,
156-556: A campaign of burning crops and kidnapping the Emishi women and children and relocating them to Western Japan was adopted. Many a stout warrior gave up the fight to join his family again. In 801, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro began a new campaign against the Isawa Emishi having moderate success. Finally on 15 April 802 the Emishi leaders More and Aterui surrendered with some 500 warriors. The captives were taken to Kyoto for an audience with
195-466: A cholera outbreak in Kamaishi left 302 dead and warnings about drinking water were posted throughout the prefecture. In April 1884, there was another outbreak of cholera in Kamaishi. In September 1886, cholera outbreaks throughout Iwate left 312 dead. On 15 June 1896, at 7:32 am, a magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck offshore. The ensuing tsunami sent waves onto the coast of Iwate at Yoshihama, in what
234-544: A directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Kanegasaki, together with the city of Ōshū contributes five seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Iwate 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Kanegasaki has a relatively diverse economy that includes rice paddies typical of the region, but also extensive dairy farms in
273-523: A major decline to only 7,220 births from October 2018 to September 2019. This is in contrast to the 17,681 deaths recorded during the same period. Finally, Iwate has a net negative migration rate (-2.8) with 21,265 permanently leaving the prefecture and 16,795 entering. The web site of the Iwate prefecture provides the summarized biographies of 'Famous Iwate people' in Japanese and English. On 13 July 869,
312-451: A population of 1,180,595. Consistent with population trends across Japan , Iwate has experienced a slow, but steady decline in growth since the end of World War II with a major contributing factor being an aging population. As of October 2019, 33.1% of the population was over 65 with 15.4% aged between 65 and 74 and 17.7% over 75. Moreover, the 1950 census saw the most births in the prefecture with 45,968 reported, but since then there has been
351-481: A rainfall, it is said that the devil's hand print can still be seen there. There are many present-day cultural foods popularly eaten in Iwate Prefecture, some of which include walnuts , wanko soba (meaning "bowl noodles") and hittsumi-jiru (meaning "pull and tear", in reference to the way the dough is pulled and torn into oval shapes before being turned into noodles). Iwate's prefectural capital Morioka
390-625: A tsunami from the 1700 Cascadia earthquake struck Iwate Prefecture. No records from North America exist, but the event was reconstructed using Japanese records. On 13 May 1717, The Hanamaki area was struck with a magnitude 7.6 earthquake opening cracks in the ground everywhere. There was also widespread destruction of houses and shops. In Nanbu-han alone, 49,594 people starved to death in the famine of 1755. Severe famines continue from 1783 to 1787 and again from 1832 to 1838. Cholera outbreaks occurred in August 1879, in Miyako and Kuji. In July 1882,
429-454: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Miyagi Prefecture location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Japan is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Iwate Prefecture Iwate Prefecture ( 岩手県 , Iwate-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu . It
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#1732791224707468-652: Is also popular for its apples, blooming in May and ready for harvest from September to November. Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō visited Iwate and wrote about it in the journey described in his major work Oku no Hosomichi . He was especially inspired by the town of Hiraizumi . While the entire island of Honshū was claimed by the Japanese, or Yamato, government from earliest times, the imperial forces were unable to occupy any part of what would become Iwate until 802 when two powerful Emishi leaders, Aterui and More, surrendered at Fort Isawa. The area now known as Iwate Prefecture
507-631: Is characterized by the Kitakami River which flows from north to south between the Ōu and Kitakami mountain ranges. It is the fourth longest river in Japan and the longest in Tōhoku. The basin of the Kitakami is large and fertile providing room for the prefecture's largest cities, industrial parks and farms. In the past Iwate has been famous for its mineral wealth especially in the form of gold, iron, coal and sulfur but these are no longer produced. There
546-425: Is now Sanriku town, reaching 24 metres (79 ft) in height. 18,158 people died in Iwate alone while some 10,000 homes were destroyed. Fishermen fishing the ocean about 20 miles (32 km) offshore felt nothing, then returning home the next morning found the shore littered with their homes and the bodies of their loved ones. In September 1899, dysentery spread throughout the prefecture killing 2,070 people. There
585-449: Is still an abundance of hot water for onsen, or hot springs, which is the basis of a thriving industry. The forests of the prefecture are another valuable resource. Before World War II the forests were mainly composed of beech but since then there has been a huge swing towards the production of faster growing Japanese cedar. Recently, though, there has been a push to restore the original beech forests in some areas. As of 31 March 2019, 5% of
624-539: Is the fourth largest river in Japan and the largest in the Tōhoku region . It is 249 kilometres (155 mi) long and drains an area of 10,150 square kilometres (3,920 sq mi). It flows through mostly rural areas of Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures . The source of the river is the Mount Nanashigure in northern Iwate, from which it flows to the south between the Kitakami Mountains and
663-475: Is the second-largest Japanese prefecture at 15,275 square kilometres (5,898 sq mi), with a population of 1,165,886 (as of July 1, 2023). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the west, and Miyagi Prefecture to the south. Morioka is the capital and largest city of Iwate Prefecture; other major cities include Ichinoseki , Ōshū , and Hanamaki . Located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast, Iwate Prefecture features
702-656: The Ou Mountains and Mutsu Province. In 729 Kokuseki-ji Temple was founded in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City by the itinerant priest Gyōki . Little is known about relations between these Japanese frontiersmen and the native Emishi but in 776 they took a turn for the worse when large forces of the Yamato army invaded Iwate attacking the Isawa and Shiwa tribes in February and November of that year. More fighting occurred
741-831: The Taishō and Shōwa periods for hydroelectric power generation, flood control and irrigation. However, another unusual feature is that there are no dams from its mouth to the Shijūshida Dam north of Morioka. This allows for a spectacular salmon run every fall. In Iwate Prefecture from north to south showing from which direction the water flows and the city where it empties into the Kitakami River. 38°34′36″N 141°27′36″E / 38.576719°N 141.460111°E / 38.576719; 141.460111 (mouth) 38°24′27″N 141°18′49″E / 38.407483°N 141.313667°E / 38.407483; 141.313667 (former mouth) This Iwate Prefecture location article
780-581: The Ōu Mountains . The river is unusual in that it has two mouths, one flowing south into Ishinomaki Bay and the other flowing east into the Pacific Ocean, both in Ishinomaki City. The Kitakami river was an important transportation route during the Edo period and before the building of railways in the early Meiji period . Numerous dams have been constructed on the river and its tributaries from
819-539: The Final Jōmon Period (1,300–300 BC). The earliest mention of a Japanese presence dates to about 630 when the Hakusan Shrine was said to have been built on Mt. Kanzan in what is now Hiraizumi. At this time various Japanese traders, hunters, adventurers, priests and criminals made their way to Iwate. In 712 the province of Mutsu , containing all of Tōhoku , was divided into Dewa Province , the area west of
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#1732791224707858-596: The Iwate Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, the town is known for having developed a system of Life-Long Learning Centers situated throughout the town that provide educational and other opportunities for the local residents. [REDACTED] East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line [REDACTED] Media related to Kanegasaki, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons Kitakami River The Kitakami River ( 北上川 , Kitakami-gawa )
897-542: The beginning of the Meiji Restoration. Iwate faces the Pacific Ocean to the east with sheer, rocky cliffs along most of the shoreline interrupted by a few sandy beaches. The border with Akita Prefecture on the west is generally formed by the highest points of the Ōu Mountains . Aomori Prefecture is to the north and Miyagi Prefecture is to the south. The Ōu mountains on the west still contain active volcanoes such as Mt. Iwate (at 2,038 metres (6,686 ft)
936-540: The control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period , under the Tokugawa shogunate . The village of Kanegasaki was founded on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on September 1, 1925. On March 1, 1955 Kanegasaki absorbed the neighboring village of Nagaoka, also from Isawa District . Kanegasaki has a mayor-council form of government with
975-691: The easternmost point of Honshu at Cape Todo , and shares the highest peaks of the Ōu Mountains —the longest mountain range in Japan—at the border with Akita Prefecture. Iwate Prefecture is home to famous attractions such as Morioka Castle , the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi including Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji , the Fujiwara no Sato movie lot and theme park in Ōshū, and the Tenshochi park in Kitakami known for its huge, ancient cherry trees . Iwate has
1014-557: The emperor and beheaded at Moriyama in Kawachi Province against the wishes of General Sakanoue. This act of cruelty enraged the Emishi leading to another twenty or more years of fighting. After the surrender numerous forts were built on the Chinese model along the Kitakami River. In 802, Fort Isawa was built in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City, in 803, Fort Shiwa was built in what is now Morioka City, and in 812 Fort Tokutan
1053-475: The highest point in the prefecture) and Mt. Kurikoma (1,627 metres (5,338 ft)). But the Kitakami Mountains running through the middle of the prefecture from north to south are much older and have not been active for thousands of years. Mt. Hayachine (1,917 metres (6,289 ft)) lies at the heart of the Kitakami range. Besides these two mountain ranges and the rugged coastline, the prefecture
1092-431: The legend, there was once a devil who often tormented and harassed the local people. When the people prayed to the spirits of Mitsuishi for protection, the devil was immediately shackled to these rocks and forced to make a promise never to trouble the people again. As a seal of his oath, the devil made a handprint on one of the rocks, thus giving rise to the name Iwate, its direct translation being "rock hand". Even now after
1131-549: The lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido , 5% of its total land area having been designated as National Parks . There are several theories about the origin of the name "Iwate", but the most well known is the tale Oni no tegata , which is associated with the Mitsuishi or "Three Rocks" Shrine in Morioka. These rocks are said to have been thrown down into Morioka by an eruption of Mt. Iwate. According to
1170-621: The next and following years but mostly in Dewa and the area south of present-day Iwate prefecture. This situation continued until March 787 when the Yamato army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Sufuse Village in what is now Mizusawa Ward, Oshu City. There the Emishi leaders and Aterui leading a large cavalry force trapped the Yamato infantry and pushed them into the Kitakami River where their heavy armour proved deadly. Over 1,000 soldiers drowned that day. The Japanese general Ki no Asami Kosami
1209-702: The population of Kanegasaki has remained relatively stable over the past 70 years. The area of present-day Kanegasaki was part of ancient Mutsu Province , and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. During the later portion of the Heian period , the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara . During the Sengoku period , the area was contested by various samurai clans before coming under
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1248-492: The total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Towada-Hachimantai and Sanriku Fukkō National Parks; Kurikoma and Hayachine Quasi-National Parks; and Goyōzan , Hanamaki Onsenkyō , Kuji-Hiraniwa , Murone Kōgen , Oritsume Basenkyō , Sotoyama-Hayasaka Heights , and Yuda Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Parks. Fourteen cities are located in Iwate Prefecture: These are
1287-451: The towns and villages in each district : Iwate's industry is concentrated around Morioka and specializes in semiconductor and communications manufacturing. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 3.9% of Japan's beef and 14.4% of broiler chickens. In 2009, 866 tons of dolphins and whales were harvested off the coast of Iwate, accounting for more than half of Japan's total catch of 1,404 tons. As of October 1, 2022, Iwate Prefecture had
1326-520: The west and a small merchant district and neighboring residential areas to the east. On the border of Kanegasaki and Esashi two neighborhoods (Jōnai and Suwa-kōji) were once the location of the border between the Nambu and Date domains, and several examples of gardens and houses from the Edo period that were residences of samurai prior to the 1868 Meiji Restoration remain. Iwate Prefecture Kanegasaki has
1365-403: The western portion of the town and a large industrial park . The industrial park has several different manufacturing facilities, such as a Toyota plant that produces Lexus automobiles ( Kantō Jidōsha ) and a Fujitsu semiconductor facility. Kanegasaki has five public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government and one public high school operated by
1404-463: Was "rebuked" by the Emperor Kanmu when he returned to Kyoto. Since the Japanese could not win on the battlefield they resorted to other means to conquer the Emishi. Trade for superior quality iron wares and sake made the Emishi dependent on the Japanese for these valuable goods. Bribes were offered to the Emishi leaders in the form of Japanese citizenship and rank if they would defect. Finally
1443-548: Was a widespread crop failure due to violent storms in September 1902. Only 32,900 tons of rice were produced in Iwate, just 30% of the previous year's harvest. In 1905, there was again a massive crop failure due to heavy rain and cold leading to famine in 1906. People were reduced to eating straw, acorns and roots. In 1919, a small eruption occurred at Nishi-Iwate. On 3 March 1933, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck offshore killing 3,008 people and destroying 7,479 homes. This
1482-626: Was built also in Morioka. In the latter part of the Heian period , the town of Hiraizumi in what is now southern Iwate became the capital of the Northern Fujiwara . The warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune fled here after the Genpei War . Until the Meiji Restoration , the area of Iwate prefecture was part of Mutsu Province . Iwate Prefecture was created in 1876, in the aftermath of the Boshin Civil War , which heralded
1521-749: Was inhabited by the Jōmon people who left their artifacts throughout the prefecture. For example, a large number of burial pits from the Middle Jōmon Period (2,800–1,900 BC) have been found in Nishida. Various sites from the Late Jōmon Period (1,900–1,300 BC) including Tateishi, Makumae and Hatten contain clay figurines, masks and ear and nose shaped clay artifacts. The Kunenbashi site in Kitakami City has yielded stone "swords", tablets and tools as well as clay figurines, earrings and potsherds from
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