Aizubange (会津坂下町, Aizubange-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 15,159 in 5487 households,[1] and a population density of 170 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 91.59 square kilometres (35.36 sq mi).
Aizubange
会津坂下町 | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 37°33′41.3″N 139°49′17.9″E / 37.561472°N 139.821639°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Tōhoku |
Prefecture | Fukushima |
District | Kawanuma |
Area | |
• Total | 91.59 km2 (35.36 sq mi) |
Population (April 2020) | |
• Total | 15,159 |
• Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
Symbols | |
• Tree | Sakura |
• Flower | Chrysanthemum |
• Bird | Japanese bush warbler |
Phone number | 0242-84-1503 |
Address | 3662 Sanban-ko Ichinaka, Aizubange-machi, Kawanuma-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-6547 |
Website | Official website |
Geography
editAizubange is located in the northern portion of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture in the western part of Aizu Basin. The basin extends from the center of the town to the east and is relatively flat, with many paddy fields. On the other hand, the western part of the town has many forests. The Aga River flows from the east to the north of the town, and the Tadami River flows to the west.
- Mountains : Mount Takadera
- Rivers : Tadami River, Agakawa
Neighboring municipalities
editFukushima Prefecture
Climate
editAizubange has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aizubange is 11.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1399 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.2 °C.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Aizubange has declined steadily over the past 60 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1960 | 25,867 | — |
1970 | 21,720 | −16.0% |
1980 | 20,504 | −5.6% |
1990 | 20,332 | −0.8% |
2000 | 19,426 | −4.5% |
2010 | 17,262 | −11.1% |
2020 | 15,068 | −12.7% |
History
editThe area of present-day Aizubange was part of ancient Mutsu Province. The area formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the area was organized as part of Kawanuma District. Fukushima Prefecture. The town of Bange was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The town of Aizubange was founded on April 1, 1955, by the merger of the town of Bange with the Wakamiya, Kanagami, Hirose, Kawanishi and Yawata.
Economy
editThe economy of Aizubange is centered on the production of rice, with much of the town area under paddy fields.
Education
editAizubange has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has two public high schools operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
editRailway
editHighway
edit- Ban-etsu Expressway – Aizubange IC
- National Route 49
- National Route 252
Local attractions
edit- Eryū-ji – Buddhist temple with Important[citation needed] Cultural Property Kannon-dō.
- site of Jingamine Castle (National Historic Site)[4]
- Kamegamori-Chinjumori Kofun (National Historic Site)[5]
Noted people from Aizubange
edit- Yoshitaka Egawa, basketball player
- Hachiro Kasuga, singer
- Kiyoshi Saitō, artist
- Takeda Sōkaku, martial artist
- Hiroshi Takahashi, manga artist
References
edit- ^ "Aizu Bange Town official home page" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Aizubange climate data
- ^ Aizubange population statistics
- ^ "陣が峯城跡". Cultural Heritage Online (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ "亀ヶ森・鎮守森古墳" [Kamegamori-Chinjumori Kofun] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.
External links
edit- Media related to Aizubange, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)