Ōsaki (大崎市, Ōsaki-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2020, the city had an estimated population of 128,763 in 51,567 households,[1] and a population density of 160 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 796.76 square kilometres (307.63 sq mi). Ōsaki is a member of the World Health Organization’s Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC).[2]

Ōsaki
大崎市
upper:Furukawa festival, Kashima-dai middle:Kejonuma Leisure Land, Furukawa Station lower:Naruko Dam, Mount Kagoho
upper:Furukawa festival, Kashima-dai
middle:Kejonuma Leisure Land, Furukawa Station
lower:Naruko Dam, Mount Kagoho
Flag of Ōsaki
Official seal of Ōsaki
Location of Ōsaki in Miyagi Prefecture
Location of Ōsaki in Miyagi Prefecture
Ōsaki is located in Japan
Ōsaki
Ōsaki
 
Coordinates: 38°34′37.6″N 140°57′20.1″E / 38.577111°N 140.955583°E / 38.577111; 140.955583
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureMiyagi
First official recorded695 AD
Narugo Town SettledApril 20, 1921
Furukawa City SettledDecember 15, 1950
As current city namedMarch 31, 2006
Government
 • MayorYasushi Ito
Area
 • Total
796.76 km2 (307.63 sq mi)
Population
 (May 1, 2020)
 • Total
128,763
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0229-23-2111
Address1-1 Furukawa Nanokamachi, Ōsaki-shi, Miyagi-ken 989-6188
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerFlowering Dogwood
TreeRose
Ōsaki City Hall

Geography

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Ōsaki is in north-central Miyagi Prefecture in the northern Sendai Plain. The Furukawa area in the center of the city is a base for commercial and service industries in the northern portion of Miyagi Prefecture, and the Naruko area in the northwestern of the city is noted for hot spring tourism . The Kashimadai and Matsuyama districts in the southeastern part of the city are within the commuting zone of Sendai.

Climate

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Ōsaki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The average annual temperature in Ōsaki is 11.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1249 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.6 °C.[3]

Climate data for Kashimadai, Ōsaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5)
18.4
(65.1)
22.7
(72.9)
29.6
(85.3)
31.3
(88.3)
33.2
(91.8)
35.5
(95.9)
36.1
(97.0)
34.2
(93.6)
29.6
(85.3)
23.5
(74.3)
21.1
(70.0)
36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
5.5
(41.9)
9.3
(48.7)
15.1
(59.2)
19.8
(67.6)
22.9
(73.2)
26.3
(79.3)
27.9
(82.2)
24.8
(76.6)
19.5
(67.1)
13.2
(55.8)
7.2
(45.0)
16.3
(61.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.3
(32.5)
0.8
(33.4)
3.9
(39.0)
9.1
(48.4)
14.7
(58.5)
18.7
(65.7)
22.2
(72.0)
23.5
(74.3)
20.0
(68.0)
14.0
(57.2)
7.6
(45.7)
2.5
(36.5)
11.4
(52.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.1
(24.6)
−3.9
(25.0)
−1.7
(28.9)
3.0
(37.4)
10.1
(50.2)
15.2
(59.4)
19.2
(66.6)
20.2
(68.4)
15.8
(60.4)
8.7
(47.7)
2.2
(36.0)
−1.9
(28.6)
6.9
(44.4)
Record low °C (°F) −17.3
(0.9)
−17.1
(1.2)
−13.4
(7.9)
−6.2
(20.8)
0.1
(32.2)
6.8
(44.2)
11.2
(52.2)
10.8
(51.4)
4.7
(40.5)
−2.1
(28.2)
−6.1
(21.0)
−17.9
(−0.2)
−17.9
(−0.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35.1
(1.38)
29.2
(1.15)
72.2
(2.84)
84.7
(3.33)
95.1
(3.74)
119.4
(4.70)
155.4
(6.12)
129.3
(5.09)
166.7
(6.56)
143.7
(5.66)
62.7
(2.47)
41.0
(1.61)
1,134.5
(44.67)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.3 5.2 7.6 8.5 9.4 10.1 13.1 10.6 11.6 9.0 7.0 6.5 103.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 154.7 161.2 184.1 188.8 189.2 146.8 129.2 150.6 130.3 141.5 139.1 133.2 1,848.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5]
Climate data for Furukawa, Ōsaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5)
17.3
(63.1)
22.5
(72.5)
29.9
(85.8)
33.3
(91.9)
34.0
(93.2)
35.6
(96.1)
36.5
(97.7)
35.0
(95.0)
30.1
(86.2)
23.5
(74.3)
20.5
(68.9)
36.5
(97.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7)
4.9
(40.8)
8.9
(48.0)
15.4
(59.7)
20.5
(68.9)
23.7
(74.7)
26.9
(80.4)
28.4
(83.1)
24.8
(76.6)
19.3
(66.7)
12.9
(55.2)
6.5
(43.7)
16.3
(61.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0)
0.6
(33.1)
3.8
(38.8)
9.4
(48.9)
15.1
(59.2)
19.0
(66.2)
22.5
(72.5)
23.7
(74.7)
20.0
(68.0)
13.9
(57.0)
7.6
(45.7)
2.4
(36.3)
11.5
(52.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)
−3.5
(25.7)
−0.9
(30.4)
3.6
(38.5)
10.3
(50.5)
15.3
(59.5)
19.2
(66.6)
20.3
(68.5)
16.0
(60.8)
9.0
(48.2)
2.7
(36.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
7.2
(45.0)
Record low °C (°F) −17.6
(0.3)
−15.9
(3.4)
−12.1
(10.2)
−4.7
(23.5)
1.4
(34.5)
7.0
(44.6)
11.5
(52.7)
12.0
(53.6)
3.7
(38.7)
−1.4
(29.5)
−5.6
(21.9)
−15.9
(3.4)
−17.6
(0.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44.9
(1.77)
35.0
(1.38)
70.4
(2.77)
82.7
(3.26)
102.8
(4.05)
123.3
(4.85)
169.9
(6.69)
139.1
(5.48)
160.4
(6.31)
129.2
(5.09)
62.8
(2.47)
53.1
(2.09)
1,173.5
(46.20)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 80
(31)
55
(22)
24
(9.4)
1
(0.4)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
42
(17)
200
(79)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.9 7.6 9.1 9.1 9.5 10.6 13.5 11.5 11.6 9.9 9.0 9.5 119.8
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 10.0 7.0 3.0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 4.5 24.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 130.8 148.7 176.3 190.7 192.3 147.8 124.8 141.3 125.1 137.2 131.7 115.4 1,762
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[6][7]
Climate data for Kawatabi, Ōsaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14.5
(58.1)
15.7
(60.3)
21.3
(70.3)
28.2
(82.8)
33.4
(92.1)
34.2
(93.6)
35.8
(96.4)
36.5
(97.7)
35.5
(95.9)
29.4
(84.9)
22.8
(73.0)
18.8
(65.8)
36.5
(97.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.7
(36.9)
3.7
(38.7)
7.7
(45.9)
14.5
(58.1)
19.9
(67.8)
23.0
(73.4)
26.2
(79.2)
27.5
(81.5)
23.8
(74.8)
18.3
(64.9)
12.0
(53.6)
5.5
(41.9)
15.4
(59.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.9
(30.4)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.7
(36.9)
8.5
(47.3)
14.0
(57.2)
18.0
(64.4)
21.6
(70.9)
22.7
(72.9)
18.9
(66.0)
12.8
(55.0)
6.7
(44.1)
1.5
(34.7)
10.5
(50.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.4
(24.1)
−4.3
(24.3)
−1.8
(28.8)
2.7
(36.9)
8.6
(47.5)
13.6
(56.5)
18.1
(64.6)
19.1
(66.4)
14.9
(58.8)
8.0
(46.4)
2.1
(35.8)
−2.1
(28.2)
6.2
(43.2)
Record low °C (°F) −14.3
(6.3)
−13.9
(7.0)
−10.9
(12.4)
−5.7
(21.7)
0.0
(32.0)
4.2
(39.6)
7.9
(46.2)
10.6
(51.1)
2.8
(37.0)
−1.4
(29.5)
−5.7
(21.7)
−13.3
(8.1)
−14.3
(6.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 113.4
(4.46)
82.8
(3.26)
105.1
(4.14)
110.2
(4.34)
132.1
(5.20)
161.5
(6.36)
216.6
(8.53)
205.9
(8.11)
183.1
(7.21)
143.6
(5.65)
105.8
(4.17)
128.6
(5.06)
1,697
(66.81)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 144
(57)
115
(45)
61
(24)
4
(1.6)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
7
(2.8)
85
(33)
407
(160)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 17.3 14.6 13.8 11.9 11.1 11.7 15.2 14.3 13.6 12.1 13.6 17.8 167
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 14.3 12.6 6.4 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 8.6 43.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 98.7 114.8 154.5 186.9 190.4 148.2 120.8 131.2 119.8 138.3 126.9 91.2 1,621.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[8][9]

Neighboring municipalities

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Akita Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[10] the population of Ōsaki has remained relatively steady over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 138,978—    
1970 126,057−9.3%
1980 130,266+3.3%
1990 135,208+3.8%
2000 139,313+3.0%
2010 135,147−3.0%
2020 127,330−5.8%

History

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The area of present-day Ōsaki was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. During the Nara period, gold was discovered in the area. During later portion of the Heian period, the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The town of Furukawa was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on December 15, 1950.

The city of Ōsaki was established on March 31, 2006, from the merger of the city of Furukawa with the towns of Iwadeyama and Naruko (both from Tamatsukuri District), the towns of Kashimadai, Matsuyama and Sanbongi (all from Shida District), and the town of Tajiri (from Tōda District).

Government

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Ōsaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 30 members. Ōsaki contributes four seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Ōsaki is largely based on agriculture, primarily the cultivation of rice and soybeans. Industry includes electronics, precision machining and construction materials.

Education

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  • Miyagi Seishin Junior College
  • Ōsaki has 25 elementary public schools and 10 public junior high schools operated by the city government. There are five public high schools, and two combined public middle/high schools operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education and two private high schools and one combined private middle/high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

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Railway

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  East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen

  East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

  East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Rikuu East Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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Sister cities

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Notable people from Ōsaki

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References

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  1. ^ Ōsaki city official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. ^ Alliance for Healthy Cities official home page
  3. ^ Ōsaki climate data
  4. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  5. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  6. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  7. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  8. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Ōsaki population statistics
  11. ^ "旧有備館および庭園". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  12. ^ Kunkle, Tara (March 25, 2009). "Middletown Sister Cities With Furukawa/Osaki City". Middletown Community News. Middletown USA official home page. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  13. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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