Fukaura, Aomori
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in the Nishitsugaru District
of Aomori Prefecture
in the Tōhoku region
of Japan
. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population
of 9,917 and a density
of 20.3 persons per km². Its total area was 488.85 km².
.The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall.
during the Edo period
. It became a village in the Nishitsugaru District in 1889, and was elevated to town status on April1 1, 1926. On July 29, 1955, Fukura annexed the neighboring village of Otose. On March 31, 2005 it was merged
with the neighboring village of Iwasaki
.
Fukaura is the home town of four current sumo
wrestlers: Kaiho, Aminishiki, Asofuji and Masatsukasa. It is believed to be the first time that four elite sekitori
-ranked wrestlers have come from the same town.
.
There is also a small tourism industry centered around the Shirakami Sanchi UNESCO World Heritage area, particularly the Juniko Lakes on its periphery.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in the Nishitsugaru District
Nishitsugaru District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori, Japan.As of 2003 , the district has an estimated population of 24,033 and a density of 28.9 persons per km²...
of Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
in the Tōhoku region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 9,917 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 20.3 persons per km². Its total area was 488.85 km².
Geography
Fukaura occupies the far southwestern coastline of Aomori prefecture, facing the Sea of JapanSea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
.The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Climate
History
The area around Fukaura was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka DomainMorioka Domain
The was a han or feudal domain that encompasses present-day the middle-northern part of Iwate Prefecture and eastern part of Aomori Prefecture. It is sometimes colloquially called . The domain was tozama daimyo and was governed by the Satake clan. Its income was 100,000...
during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. It became a village in the Nishitsugaru District in 1889, and was elevated to town status on April1 1, 1926. On July 29, 1955, Fukura annexed the neighboring village of Otose. On March 31, 2005 it was merged
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
with the neighboring village of Iwasaki
Iwasaki, Aomori
was a village located in Nishitsugaru District in western Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Iwasaki Village was located in the southwestern corner of Aomori Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, Iwasaki Village was...
.
Fukaura is the home town of four current sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestlers: Kaiho, Aminishiki, Asofuji and Masatsukasa. It is believed to be the first time that four elite sekitori
Sekitori
A sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
-ranked wrestlers have come from the same town.
Economy
The economy of Fukaura is heavily dependent on commercial fishingCommercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
.
There is also a small tourism industry centered around the Shirakami Sanchi UNESCO World Heritage area, particularly the Juniko Lakes on its periphery.
Railway
- JR East - Gonō LineGono LineThe is a railway line in Japan linking Higashi-Noshiro Station in Akita Prefecture with Kawabe Station in Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Honshū. The line stretches 147.2 km along the Sea of Japan coast with a total of 43 stations...
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- , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
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Noted people from Fukaura
- Aminishiki RyūjiAminishiki RyujiAminishiki Ryūji is a Japanese sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1997 and has been ranked in the top division since 2000. He has earned ten special prizes and won seven gold stars for defeating yokozuna during his career. He has twice been runner-up in a tournament. The highest rank...
– sumo wrestler - Asōfuji SeiyaAsofuji SeiyaAsōfuji Seiya is a retired sumo wrestler from Fukaura, Nishitsugaru, Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 13. He is the elder brother of Aminishiki.-Career:...
– sumo wrestler - Kaihō RyōjiKaiho RyojiKaihō Ryōji is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori, Japan. His highest rank was komusubi. An amateur champion at Nihon University, he entered professional sumo in 1996. He was one of the lightest sekitori wrestlers in recent years. He won two special prizes for Technique...
– sumo wrestler - Masatsukasa KōshinMasatsukasa KoshinMasatsukasa Kōshin is a former sumo wrestler from Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 8...
– sumo wrestler
External links
Fukaura official website- English homepage on official website