Tōhoku (東北町, Tōhoku-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2022[update], the town had an estimated population of 16,625 in 7251 households, and a population density of 51 persons per km² in 7,269 households.[1] The total area of the town is 326.50 km2 (126.06 sq mi).
Geography
Tōhoku is located in north-central Aomori Prefecture, bordering on the west shore of Lake Ogawara.
The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classificationCfa). The average annual temperature in Tōhoku is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1217 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around −2.1 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Tōhoku has steadily declined over the past 60 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1950
22,028
—
1960
25,610
+16.3%
1970
23,588
−7.9%
1980
22,587
−4.2%
Year
Pop.
±%
1990
21,553
−4.6%
2000
20,591
−4.5%
2010
19,106
−7.2%
2020
16,428
−14.0%
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
History
During the Edo period, the area around Tōhoku was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain, becoming part of the territories of Shichinohe Domain in the latter half of the Edo period. In the post-Meiji Restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, Katchi (甲地村, Katchi-mura) was created. It was elevated to town status on November 1, 1963, at which time it was renamed to its present name. The neighboring town of Kamikitamerged with Tōhoku on March 31, 2005.
Government
Tōhoku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Tōhoku is part of Kamikita District which contributes four members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Tōhoku is heavily dependent on agriculture, based primarily on production of nagaimo, daikon and carrots as well as lake fish, including smelt, icefish and shijimi.
Education
Tōhoku has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
