Shosanbetsu (初山別村, Shosanbetsu-mura) is a village located in Rumoi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Shosanbetsu
初山別村
Village
Shosanbetsu village wooden torii
Shosanbetsu village wooden torii
Flag of Shosanbetsu
Official seal of Shosanbetsu
Location of Shosanbetsu in Hokkaido (Rumoi Subprefecture)
Location of Shosanbetsu in Hokkaido (Rumoi Subprefecture)
Shosanbetsu is located in Japan
Shosanbetsu
Shosanbetsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 44°32′N 141°46′E / 44.533°N 141.767°E / 44.533; 141.767
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Rumoi Subprefecture)
DistrictTomamae
Area
 • Total
280.04 km2 (108.12 sq mi)
Population
 (September 2016)
 • Total
1,249
 • Density4.5/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.vill.shosanbetsu.lg.jp

As of September 2016, the village has an estimated population of 1,249 and a density of 4.5 persons per km2. The total area is 280.04 km2. Shosanbetsu observatory is a planetarium-cum-astronomical observatory which is a popular attraction in this region.

Shosanbetsu was the hometown of famed bear hunter Yamamoto Heikichi, famous for his killing of the bear Kesagake.

Climate

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Climate data for Shosanbetsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
11.3
(52.3)
15.4
(59.7)
22.0
(71.6)
27.4
(81.3)
32.8
(91.0)
33.2
(91.8)
33.8
(92.8)
32.0
(89.6)
22.8
(73.0)
19.4
(66.9)
12.3
(54.1)
33.8
(92.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3)
−1.0
(30.2)
2.7
(36.9)
8.9
(48.0)
15.0
(59.0)
18.9
(66.0)
22.8
(73.0)
24.2
(75.6)
21.2
(70.2)
14.9
(58.8)
7.4
(45.3)
1.0
(33.8)
11.2
(52.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.6
(23.7)
−4.4
(24.1)
−0.6
(30.9)
5.1
(41.2)
10.6
(51.1)
14.9
(58.8)
19.0
(66.2)
20.2
(68.4)
16.7
(62.1)
10.9
(51.6)
4.2
(39.6)
−1.8
(28.8)
7.5
(45.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −8.7
(16.3)
−9.1
(15.6)
−4.8
(23.4)
0.7
(33.3)
5.9
(42.6)
10.8
(51.4)
15.2
(59.4)
16.3
(61.3)
12.1
(53.8)
6.4
(43.5)
0.8
(33.4)
−5.0
(23.0)
3.4
(38.1)
Record low °C (°F) −25.4
(−13.7)
−27.7
(−17.9)
−24.2
(−11.6)
−8.7
(16.3)
−3.2
(26.2)
−0.3
(31.5)
5.3
(41.5)
5.8
(42.4)
2.3
(36.1)
−3.2
(26.2)
−10.6
(12.9)
−20.8
(−5.4)
−27.7
(−17.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 56.7
(2.23)
43.1
(1.70)
46.5
(1.83)
49.2
(1.94)
72.2
(2.84)
64.9
(2.56)
128.8
(5.07)
136.1
(5.36)
135.9
(5.35)
143.6
(5.65)
135.3
(5.33)
87.6
(3.45)
1,109.6
(43.69)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 191
(75)
148
(58)
102
(40)
11
(4.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
43
(17)
164
(65)
658
(259)
Average rainy days 15.8 12.3 11.2 9.2 10.2 9.0 10.8 10.9 12.2 16.0 17.8 16.9 152.3
Average snowy days 20.3 17.4 14.0 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 4.9 16.7 74.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 51.2 75.8 137.3 175.6 199.5 177.3 170.4 177.4 175.5 123.8 52.0 31.4 1,543.9
Source 1: JMA[1]
Source 2: JMA[2]

Mascot

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Syosamaru, the village's mascot

Shosanbetsu's mascot is Syosamaru (しょさまる) who is an alien bear. Her ears resemble shooting stars. She wears a helmet that resembles the Shosanbetsu observatory, a necklace made of blue honeysuckle and a pochette that resembles a pufferfish. She was designed by Eiichi Shiozaki of Osaka.[3]

References

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  1. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  2. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "初山別村イメージキャラクター(原画)募集結果について". Shosanbetsu.
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