Ishinomaki 石巻市 | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from top: View of Mount Kinka from Ojika Peninsula, Makiyama Iris Park, Tashirojima, Ojika Whale Park, Sasa-kamaboko, Ishinomaki Saint John the Apostle Orthodox Church, Mount Hiyori | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture | |
  Ishinomaki | |
| Coordinates:38°25′3.3″N141°18′9.8″E / 38.417583°N 141.302722°E /38.417583; 141.302722 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Miyagi |
| First official recorded | 367 AD |
| City Settled | April 1. 1933 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Masami Saito |
| Area | |
• Total | 554.55 km2 (214.11 sq mi) |
| Population (February 2, 2022) | |
• Total | 138,538 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0225-95-1111 |
| Address | 14-1 Kokucho, Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi-ken 986-8501 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Azalea |
| Tree | Japanese Black Pine |
Ishinomaki (石巻市,Ishinomaki-shi) is acity located inMiyagi Prefecture,Japan. As of 2 February 2022[update], the city has an estimatedpopulation of 138,538, and apopulation density of 250 persons per km2 in 61,919 households.[1] The total area of the city is 554.55 square kilometres (214.11 sq mi).
Ishinomaki is in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture. The city borders on Ishinomaki Bay to the south andMinamisanriku city to the north, with theKitakami Mountains to the west. Its coastline forms part of theSanriku Fukkō National Park, which stretches north toAomori Prefecture. Ishinomaki includesTashirojima (also known as "Cat Island"),Ajishima, andKinkasan, three islands off the south coast ofOshika Peninsula.
Miyagi Prefecture
Ishinomaki has ahumid climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Ishinomaki is 11.9 °C (53.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,091.3 mm (42.96 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.6 °C (74.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.0 °C (33.8 °F).[2] Its record high is 36.8 °C (98.2 °F), reached on 15 August 2007, and its record low is −14.6 °C (5.7 °F), reached on 6 January 1919.[3]
| Climate data for Ishinomaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1887−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) | 19.2 (66.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 28.4 (83.1) | 30.7 (87.3) | 32.0 (89.6) | 35.6 (96.1) | 36.8 (98.2) | 34.0 (93.2) | 28.5 (83.3) | 23.7 (74.7) | 21.9 (71.4) | 36.8 (98.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.9 (48.0) | 14.1 (57.4) | 18.7 (65.7) | 21.9 (71.4) | 25.2 (77.4) | 27.0 (80.6) | 24.2 (75.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 13.2 (55.8) | 7.3 (45.1) | 15.8 (60.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.0 (33.8) | 1.6 (34.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | 9.6 (49.3) | 14.5 (58.1) | 18.3 (64.9) | 21.9 (71.4) | 23.6 (74.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 8.9 (48.0) | 3.4 (38.1) | 11.9 (53.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) | −2.0 (28.4) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.4 (41.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.5 (67.1) | 21.1 (70.0) | 17.4 (63.3) | 10.9 (51.6) | 4.6 (40.3) | 0.0 (32.0) | 8.5 (47.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.6 (5.7) | −13.1 (8.4) | −10.3 (13.5) | −5.0 (23.0) | −0.1 (31.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | 8.3 (46.9) | 11.5 (52.7) | 6.2 (43.2) | −0.7 (30.7) | −4.6 (23.7) | −10.5 (13.1) | −14.6 (5.7) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 38.8 (1.53) | 31.0 (1.22) | 72.4 (2.85) | 86.1 (3.39) | 96.8 (3.81) | 110.6 (4.35) | 145.7 (5.74) | 115.8 (4.56) | 151.6 (5.97) | 137.9 (5.43) | 61.9 (2.44) | 42.8 (1.69) | 1,091.3 (42.96) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 17 (6.7) | 16 (6.3) | 9 (3.5) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 8 (3.1) | 51 (20) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.6 | 4.9 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 93.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 1 cm) | 5.0 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 2.8 | 14.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 71 | 69 | 67 | 68 | 74 | 80 | 84 | 82 | 80 | 76 | 73 | 73 | 75 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 163.8 | 164.6 | 184.5 | 193.4 | 196.0 | 157.4 | 140.1 | 161.9 | 137.3 | 151.5 | 150.0 | 146.2 | 1,946.7 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forMonou, Ishinomaki (2011−2020 normals, extremes 2011−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) | 17.8 (64.0) | 23.4 (74.1) | 29.6 (85.3) | 32.1 (89.8) | 31.9 (89.4) | 35.3 (95.5) | 37.2 (99.0) | 34.1 (93.4) | 29.1 (84.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 17.7 (63.9) | 37.2 (99.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.7 (40.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 10.8 (51.4) | 15.8 (60.4) | 21.4 (70.5) | 23.8 (74.8) | 27.3 (81.1) | 29.2 (84.6) | 25.7 (78.3) | 19.8 (67.6) | 13.4 (56.1) | 6.9 (44.4) | 17.0 (62.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.3 (32.5) | 0.9 (33.6) | 4.9 (40.8) | 9.8 (49.6) | 15.8 (60.4) | 19.3 (66.7) | 22.9 (73.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 14.4 (57.9) | 8.0 (46.4) | 2.4 (36.3) | 12.0 (53.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) | −4.1 (24.6) | −0.8 (30.6) | 3.7 (38.7) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 9.4 (48.9) | 2.7 (36.9) | −1.8 (28.8) | 7.4 (45.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.8 (3.6) | −17.2 (1.0) | −6.6 (20.1) | −3.1 (26.4) | 3.9 (39.0) | 8.0 (46.4) | 13.3 (55.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 6.8 (44.2) | 0.4 (32.7) | −5.3 (22.5) | −10.6 (12.9) | −17.2 (1.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 32.1 (1.26) | 25.7 (1.01) | 75.1 (2.96) | 101.0 (3.98) | 88.1 (3.47) | 92.9 (3.66) | 128.7 (5.07) | 114.9 (4.52) | 147.8 (5.82) | 141.3 (5.56) | 48.2 (1.90) | 42.7 (1.68) | 1,042.9 (41.06) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.1 | 5.8 | 6.4 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 10.4 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 8.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 96.3 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5] | |||||||||||||
Per Japanese census data,[6] the population of Ishinomaki has declined over the past 40 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 102,953 | — |
| 1930 | 122,589 | +19.1% |
| 1940 | 137,327 | +12.0% |
| 1950 | 177,015 | +28.9% |
| 1960 | 180,012 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 177,597 | −1.3% |
| 1980 | 186,094 | +4.8% |
| 1990 | 182,911 | −1.7% |
| 2000 | 174,778 | −4.4% |
| 2010 | 160,826 | −8.0% |
| 2020 | 140,151 | −12.9% |
The area of present-day Ishinomaki was part of ancientMutsu Province. During theSengoku period, the area was contested by varioussamurai clans before the area came under the control of theDate clan ofSendai Domain during theEdo period. The town prospered as a major port and transshipment center for coastal shipping betweenEdo and northern Japan. The town of Ishinomaki was established withinOshika District on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.
The city was founded on April 1, 1933. On April 1, 2005, Ishinomaki absorbed the neighboring towns ofKahoku,Kanan,Kitakami,Monou andOgatsu, and the town ofOshika to more than quadruple its area and add nearly 60,000 people to its population.
The town of Ogatsu is regionally famous for itsinkstones and has an annualscallop festival in the summer. Ayukawa, a town in Oshika, was formerly a base for several ships in Japan'swhaling fleet.
Ishinomaki was among the municipalities most seriously affected by the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[7][8] Several tsunamis, up to about 10 metres (33 ft) high, traveled inland up to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the coast. The tsunami destroyed around 80% of the 700 houses in the coastal port of Ayukawa, and the Kadonowaki neighborhood was largely leveled.[9][10] Approximately 46% of the city was inundated by the tsunami.[11] Following the tsunami, aKamen Rider statue was found completely intact despite damage to the surrounding area; a writer forTokyo Sports hoped that it would symbolically give hope to the survivors of the disaster.[12]
Many public schools were completely destroyed, including Ishinomaki Okawa Elementary School (大川小学校), which lost 70 of 108 students and nine of 13 teachers and staff.[13] There is still anger among some of the parents of the dead students because the teachers had wasted precious time in debating whether to evacuate to higher ground. And when the decision was finally made, the teachers had decided to get to higher ground further away from the school which necessitated crossing a nearby river bridge. It was here while crossing the bridge that both the teachers and students were swept away by the tsunami. This decision is deemed unreasonable by many of the parents because there is a hill right behind the school, which they could have reached quickly. One of the teachers had tried to persuade the other teachers to bring the students to safety uphill soon after the earthquake; when he was unsuccessful, he evacuated himself, managing to persuade one of the students to go with him - both survived. One of the teachers who survived the tsunami at the bridge later committed suicide.[14][15][16][17]
Ishinomaki is the Japanese municipality with the highest confirmed death count. As of 17 June 2011[update], a total of 3,097 deaths had been confirmed in Ishinomaki due to the tsunami, with 2,770 unaccounted for.[18] Approximately 29,000 city residents lost their homes.[19]
Ishinomaki employs several foreigners to teach English in all of its elementary and junior high schools, as well as the two municipal high schools. American teacher Taylor Anderson was killed by the tsunami. Since her death, her family has been active in supporting the Ishinomaki school district, and has set up programs to further English education.[20]
The earthquake shifted the city southeast and downward, lowering it by as much as 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in some areas and causing it to flood twice daily athigh tide. A once sandy beach in the Kadonowaki area completely disappeared and tides now reach the wall that once separated the beach from the road. Near the Mangakan Island, a walkway with benches was partially submerged in the river.[21]
Since 2011, Ishinomaki and other municipalities have been focusing on rebuilding and attracting residents back into the area. In 2019, eight years after the tragedy,Okawa Elementary School remains in ruins, as a memorial to those that were lost in the tsunami. Numerous parents who lost children due to staff errors sued the school and won in 2019.[22]
Ishinomaki and other neighboring cities started construction on levees and large walls along the coast to protect against future tsunamis.[23]
Ishinomaki has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city legislature of 30 members. Ishinomaki, together with the town of Onagawa, contributes five seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofMiyagi 5th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Ishinomaki traditionally has been a center forcommercial fishing, especially for the cultivation ofoysters.
Daily scheduled intercity buses bound for the following cities, through theSanriku Expressway, are being served fromIshinomaki Station.
Sanriku Expressway (Ishinomaki-kanan, Kahoku, Monou-toyosato and Monou-tsuyama interchanges)
National Route 45
National Route 108
National Route 398Ishinomaki istwinned with:[26]
Hitachinaka, Japan
Civitavecchia, ItalyHagi, JapanKahoku, Japan
Wenzhou, China
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