Motomiya, Fukushima

Motomiya
本宮市
City

Motomiya City Hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Motomiya in Fukushima Prefecture
Motomiya

 

Coordinates: 37°30′47.5″N 140°23′37.8″E / 37.513194°N 140.393833°E / 37.513194; 140.393833Coordinates: 37°30′47.5″N 140°23′37.8″E / 37.513194°N 140.393833°E / 37.513194; 140.393833
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture
Government
 • - Mayor Kajū Satō
Area
 • Total 87.94 km2 (33.95 sq mi)
Population (December 1, 2014)
 • Total 30,505
 • Density 347/km2 (900/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Hamilton's Spindle Tree (Euonymus hamiltonianus)
- Flower Peony
- Bird Japanese bush warbler
Phone number 0243-33-1111
Address 212 aza Bansei, Motomiya, Motomiya-shi, Fukushima-ken 969-1192
Website www.city.motomiya.lg.jp

Motomiya (本宮市 Motomiya-shi) is a city situated in the middle of Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

As of December 2014, the city had an estimated population of 30,505 and a population density of 347 persons per km².[1] The total area was 87.94 km². It is the smallest city in Fukushima, both in terms of population and size.

The modern city of Motomiya was established on January 1, 2007, by the merger of the former town of Motomiya absorbing the village of Shirasawa (both from Adachi District). The city became the first new municipality to form under the New Merger Law, in effect since April 2005.

Located conveniently in the middle of Fukushima Prefecture, Motomiya has easy access to national transportation route including the Tohoku Expressway, Japan National Route 4, and Tohoku JR East rail lines via Motomiya Station.

Geography

Conveniently located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, Motomiya possesses a wide range of geographic features from the hills in the east, to the plains in the west, and the Abukuma River.

Running through Motomiya, the Abukuma River divides the city in two. On the former Motomiya Town side, bordered by the Ou (奥羽) Mountain Range (including Mount Adatara) in the west, and the Abukuma River in the east, flat plains run north to south extending into the Kōriyama Basin. The mountains to the north in Otama Village and Kōriyama serve as the sources for several rivers and streams including the Hyakunichi River (百日川), Adatara River (安達太良川), Seto River (瀬戸川), and Gohyaku River (五百川). The Hyakunichi River and Adatara River share the same source but diverge downstream.

On the former Shirasawa Village side, there are gentle rolling hills, and it is said that the Shirasawa Village side is locked in the hills.

The average elevation is about 200 meter above sea level, but it can be as high as 400 to 500 meters in some areas.

Surrounding municipalities

Population

According to 2005 census data, Motomiya lost population for the first time in 25 years, falling to 31,367 residents.

History

The oldest known record refers to the area of Motomiya as Honmoku (本牧). Later in the Nara Era, the characters for Honmoku were rewritten as (本目), also pronounceable as Motome. Motome was then rewritten as (木目). Then in the 11th century, it became the current Motomiya (本宮). The origins of the name Motomiya, literally meaning "Central Shrine," refer to the Adatara Jinja (安達太良神社), a Shinto shrine in the city's northern district which was devoted to the Southern Adachi's Shinto deity.

As a starting point for roads to Aizu, Miharu, Soma, and many other destinations, Motomiya became well known as an inn town. In addition, with the growth of lesser roads to Aizu, Adachi no Umaya (安達駅), a government-maintained rest stop and messenger station, was established in Motomiya. Currently, the stone marker indicating the start of the Aizu road is preserved for all to see at the Motomiya City Historical Folk Museum. Date Masamune (伊達政宗) famously used Motomiya as a base during the Battle of Hitotoribashi (人取橋の戦い), where his army of 7000 faced off against an army of Aizu clans 30,000 strong. Afterwards in the Edo Era, Motomiya was placed under the control of the Nihonmatsu Domain.

During the Boshin War, intense battles spread through the countryside and even now scars from these battles can be seen in locations within the city limits.

During the Meiji and Taisho eras, the Motomiya Electric Corporation was established and constructed a power plant in present Otama Village's Tamanoi district which provided electricity to the area. From this point many glamorous industries were born in the area. During the Showa era, Gunze, a Japanese textiles company, opened a factory and began operations in Motomiya. During World War II, Allied bombers attacked Motomiya, because the Gunze factories manufactured cloth used to cover the wings of Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters. In the attack, known to locals as, "the Motomiya air raids," 4 people were killed.

After the war, Japan entered a time of rapid economic growth, and industrial parks were zoned and constructed in Motomiya, Arai, Nukazawa, and Shiraiwa districts. Soon after, Asahi Beer was enticed to construct a brewery in the city limits.

In the 1980s, mid-size housing developments such as the Northern Kōriyama New Town and Hikari ga Oka developments were begun as an influx of workers to Kōriyama and Fukushima created a demand for bedroom communities.

In 1889, with the establishment of the municipalities system, Motomiya Town was created within Adachi District. January 1, 2007 – Motomiya Town and Shirasawa Village, also from Adachi District merged. January 4, 2007 – City Hall is opened (the former Motomiya Town Hall), City Mayoral duties are given to former Mayor of Shirasawa and Provisional Mayor of Motomiya City, Mr. Zengi Okabe ??? (岡部善宣) until elections can be held.

February 4, 2007 – Former Mayor of Motomiya Town, Mr. Kaju Sato (佐藤嘉重) defeats Prefectural legislator Mr. Shigeo Watanabe (渡辺重夫) by 1500 votes to become the first mayor of Motomiya City.

Municipality

Inaugurated on February 4, 2007, Mayor Sato was first elected Mayor of former Motomiya Town in 1994. Continuing without elections 4 times, he is currently serving his 5th term. He is an in-law of the former Governor of Fukushima, Eisaku Sato, 佐藤栄佐久.

City districts

This is the original Motomiya area since before the Showa era. Most city departments including City Hall are located in this district. Now, portions of the former agricultural northern area are being converted to industrial and residential use.

This district is a typical farming area. While the eastern half is undergoing rapid development thanks to its proximity to National Route 4, the western half remains largely agricultural.

This district has well-developed retail and industrial areas. Many large shopping centers and factories are located in this area.

This is a geographically narrow district. Because of its shape, homes and businesses line the roads giving it an appearance reminiscent of the Showa era.

The northern part of this district is mountainous, while the southern part is farmland. The origin of the district's name comes from the large instances of peculiarly shaped rocks. Even now, specimens can still be seen. A rise in the district's population can be attributed to the Mizuki ga Oka housing development.

This district is a farming area following the Abukuma River with large belts of worked arable land.

This is the downtown district. Like Niita District, homes and shops line the road as in the Showa era. Constructed above in the hills, Kita Koriyama New Town has contributed to a population increase in this district.

This was the nucleus of the former Shirasawa Village, and still contains the Shirasawa gymnasium, Yume Library, Village Sports Grounds, Community Center, Culture Center and many other civic buildings. Nestled in the hills, farmers have taken to growing rice and crops in small fields between the slopes.

A quiet farming area on the western part of former Shirasawa Village, the opening of Hikari ga Oka housing development makes this district one of the most populous in the former Shirasawa Village.

This district is a farming area on the northern part of former Shirasawa Village. It is home to the Wanda Spring.

Having won prizes for demonstrating "what a farming village should be," this district is the very paradigm of a Japanese farming community.

This district is another mountainous farming district with farming practices similar to Shiraiwa.

Changes to the municipality

Motomiya City civic centers

Police department

Post office branches

Fire department

Industry

Agriculture

Farming Revenue: In 2002, rice paddies produced superior quality rice (Koshi hikari type) worth 1.6 billion yen

Industry

Shipping Revenues: 290.5 billion yen (2002)

City Specialties

Parks

Education (Motomiya City School District)][2]

High Schools (Ages 16-18)

Junior High Schools (Ages 13-15)

Elementary Schools (Ages 7-12)

Kindergarten and Preschools (Ages 4-6)

Transportation

With the early construction of Motomiya Station on the Japanese rail network, Motomiya was an early departure point for people leaving for Tokyo. It is said that when Inawashiro's famous Dr. Hideyo Noguchi left for the capital, he came by carriage to Motomiya to board a train for Tokyo.

However, predating rail links, roads leading to towns all over Fukushima including Aizu City, Soma City, and Miharu City converged here, making Motomiya a hub for transportation. Even though it had only gravel roads, the transportation industry quickly grew, and with it, the bus and taxi services as well. Since these times, much of the traffic has been diverted to nearby Kōriyama City and Nihonmatsu City. But even now, roads to Aizu from National Route 4 (Prefectural Route 8, Motomiya-Atami line), and roads to the Tosaki(戸崎) traffic circle such as Prefectural Route 118 from Obama (小浜) (Nihonmatsu City) and Route 146 from Ishimushiro(石筵) (Kōriyama City) converge in Motomiya, still making it an important hub for transportation and large numbers of freight trucks still pass through.

Rail

Buses

Roads

National Expressway

National Routes

Prefectural Routes

Noted people from Motomiya

References

  1. ↑ City of Motomiya home page (Japanese)
  2. ↑ Motomiya Schools Page
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