The village has a cold oceanic climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall and strong winds (Köppen climate classificationCfb). The average annual temperature in Sai is 8.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1258 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.7 °C.[4]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Sai has declined over the past 60 years and is now much less than it was a century ago.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
3,202
—
1930
3,816
+19.2%
1940
4,364
+14.4%
1950
5,370
+23.1%
1960
5,271
−1.8%
1970
4,622
−12.3%
Year
Pop.
±%
1980
4,174
−9.7%
1990
3,348
−19.8%
2000
3,010
−10.1%
2010
2,422
−19.5%
2020
1,788
−26.2%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
History
The area around Sai was inhabited by the Emishi people until the historical period. During the Edo period, it was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain and prospered due to its timber industry and as a ferry terminal to Ezo. During the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, Sai Village was proclaimed from the merger of Sai hamlet with neighboring Chōgō hamlet.
Government
Sai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Sai is part of Shimokita District which, together with the city of Mutsu, contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Sai is heavily dependent on forestry and commercial fishing. Approximately 90% of the village area is covered by mountains and forest, of which approximately 90% is national forest. Some of the locally caught seafood include sea urchin roe, sea pineapple, sea cucumber, scallops, abalone, konbu and squid. Seasonal tourism is also an important contributor to the local economy.
Education
Sai has one public elementary school, one public middle school and two combined public elementary/middle schools operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
September, Yanonemori Hachiman-gu Matsuri with floats pulled by the locals, during which Kagura is performed and Shintopriests bless the village houses
November, Sai Culture Festival, during which different variations of festival songs and kagura are performed at the community centre.
