Ōgaki (大垣市, Ōgaki-shi) is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of 31 October 2018, the city had an estimated population of 161,539, and a population density of 782 persons per km2 in 65,931 households.[1] The total area of the city was 206.57 square kilometres (79.76 sq mi). Ōgaki was the final destination for the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō on one of his long journeys as recounted in his book Oku no Hosomichi. Every November the city holds a Bashō Festival.

Ōgaki
大垣市
Funamachi Port on the Suimon River
Funamachi Port on the Suimon River
Flag of Ōgaki
Official seal of Ōgaki
Location of Ōgaki in Gifu Prefecture
Location of Ōgaki in Gifu Prefecture
Ōgaki is located in Japan
Ōgaki
Ōgaki
 
Coordinates: 35°21′33.7″N 136°36′46.3″E / 35.359361°N 136.612861°E / 35.359361; 136.612861
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu
PrefectureGifu
Area
 • Total206.57 km2 (79.76 sq mi)
Population
 (December 31, 2018)
 • Total161,539
 • Density780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0584-81-4111
Address2-29 Marunouchi, Ōgaki-shi, Gifu-ken 503-8601
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerSatsuki azalea
TreeCinnamomum camphora
Skyline of Ōgaki City

Geography

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Ōgaki is located in the northwest area of the Nōbi Plain in Gifu Prefecture and is known as being the most centrally-located city in Japan. As a result of its 2006 merger with the town of Kamiishizu (from Yōrō District), and the town of Sunomata (from Anpachi District), the city consists of three disconnected regions, with Sunomata in the east, the original Ōgaki in the center, and Kamiishizu in the southwest.[2]

The main river flowing through the city is the Ibi River; however, the Nagara River forms the border between Ōgaki and the neighboring cities of Gifu and Hashima.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Climate

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The city has a climate characterized by hot, humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Ōgaki is 16.0 °C (60.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,963.5 mm (77.30 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.1 °C (82.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C (40.5 °F).[3]

Climate data for Ōgaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)
20.8
(69.4)
25.2
(77.4)
29.7
(85.5)
33.3
(91.9)
35.9
(96.6)
38.7
(101.7)
38.8
(101.8)
37.8
(100.0)
31.9
(89.4)
25.4
(77.7)
22.7
(72.9)
38.8
(101.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5)
9.7
(49.5)
13.7
(56.7)
19.4
(66.9)
24.3
(75.7)
27.5
(81.5)
31.3
(88.3)
33.0
(91.4)
28.9
(84.0)
23.2
(73.8)
17.1
(62.8)
11.2
(52.2)
20.7
(69.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.7
(40.5)
5.3
(41.5)
8.7
(47.7)
14.2
(57.6)
19.2
(66.6)
23.0
(73.4)
26.9
(80.4)
28.1
(82.6)
24.3
(75.7)
18.6
(65.5)
12.5
(54.5)
7.1
(44.8)
16.1
(60.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
1.5
(34.7)
4.4
(39.9)
9.5
(49.1)
14.8
(58.6)
19.4
(66.9)
23.7
(74.7)
24.7
(76.5)
20.8
(69.4)
14.7
(58.5)
8.4
(47.1)
3.4
(38.1)
12.2
(54.0)
Record low °C (°F) −5.3
(22.5)
−7.0
(19.4)
−4.5
(23.9)
0.9
(33.6)
6.5
(43.7)
13.0
(55.4)
17.0
(62.6)
17.9
(64.2)
11.6
(52.9)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.2
(31.6)
−3.8
(25.2)
−7.0
(19.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 68.8
(2.71)
76.2
(3.00)
130.4
(5.13)
167.9
(6.61)
210.9
(8.30)
244.7
(9.63)
282.9
(11.14)
166.1
(6.54)
248.8
(9.80)
168.8
(6.65)
86.1
(3.39)
76.3
(3.00)
1,963.5
(77.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.1 8.5 10.0 9.8 10.1 11.5 13.1 10.0 11.5 8.9 7.5 10.0 120
Mean monthly sunshine hours 146.6 148.2 179.6 192.0 196.7 157.1 160.8 199.9 154.0 156.2 142.3 137.6 1,968.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Ōgaki peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 147,764—    
1980 156,215+5.7%
1990 160,483+2.7%
2000 161,827+0.8%
2010 161,160−0.4%
2020 158,286−1.8%

History

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The area around Ōgaki was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, the area developed as a castle town for Ōgaki Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. In the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, the town of Ogaki was established within Anpachi District, Gifu Prefecture with the creation of the modern municipalities system on July 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on April 1, 1918. The city suffered severe flooding during the 1934 Muroto typhoon, and was largely destroyed in six air raids in 1945.

Municipal timeline

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  • April 1918: Gained city status
  • April 1928: Merged with parts of the village of Kitakuise, Anpachi District (specifically the localities of Kido, Minamiisshiki, Kasagi, Kasanui and Gama)
  • December 1934: Merged with village of Minamikuise, Anpachi District
  • June 1935: Merged with village of Tagishima, Anpachi District
  • June 1936: Merged with village of Yasui, Anpachi District
  • February 1940: Merged with villages of Urū and Shizusato, Fuwa District
  • October 1947: Merged with villages of Ayasato, Fuwa District, and Sumoto, Anpachi District
  • June 1948: Merged with village of Asakusa, Anpachi District
  • October 1948: Merged with village of Kawanami and the Maze part of Maki, Anpachi District
  • April 1949: Merged with village of Nakagawa, Anpachi District
  • April 1951: Merged with village of Wagō, Anpachi District
  • June 1952: Merged with village of Mitsukoshi, Anpachi District
  • October 1954: Merged with village of Arasaki, Fuwa District
  • September 1967: Merged with town of Akasaka, Fuwa District
  • April 1988: Established city constitution
  • March 27, 2006: Merged with towns of Kamiishizu, Yōrō District, and Sunomata, Anpachi District[2]

Government

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Ōgaki City Hall

Ōgaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Economy

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Ibiden, a global electronic components manufacturer, is headquartered in the city.[6]

Education

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Universities and colleges

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Primary and secondary education

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Ōgaki has 22 public elementary schools and ten public middle schools operated by the city government and one private middle school. The city has nine public high school operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education, and two private high schools. The prefecture also operates one special education school.

  • Ogaki Kita Senior High School[7]
  • Ogaki Higashi Senior High School
  • Ogaki Minami Senior High School
  • Ogaki Nishi Senior High School
  • Ogaki Technical High School
  • Ogaki-Shogyo Business High School[8]
  • Nihon University Ogaki Senior High School
  • Hirano Gakuen
  • Ogaki Sakura High School
  • Ogaki School for Handicapped (primary through senior high)

International schools

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Transportation

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Ōgaki Station

Railway

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Highway

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Sister cities

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Ōgaki is twinned with:[10]

Friendship cities

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Local attractions

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Ōgaki Castle

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ Ōgaki city official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ a b 総括 1 大垣市の沿革 [Summary 1 History of Ogaki City] (PDF). Ōgaki official website (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  3. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  4. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "Gifu / 岐阜県 (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de.
  6. ^ "Company Outline." Ibiden. Retrieved on January 16, 2018."
  7. ^ "岐阜県立大垣北高等学校". Gifu Prefectural Ogaki Kita Senior High School.
  8. ^ "岐阜県立大垣商業高等学校". Gifu Prefectural Ogaki Commercial High School.
  9. ^ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "フレンドリーシティ交流について". city.ogaki.lg.jp (in Japanese). Ōgaki. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
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