Nikaho, Akita

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Location of Nikaho in Akita Prefecture

Nikaho (にかほ市; -shi) is a city located in Akita, Japan.

In 2003, the town of Nikaho (formerly 仁賀保町 in Japanese) had an estimated population of 11,698 and a density of 118.75 persons per km². The total area was 98.51 km².

On October 1, 2005, the town of Nikaho merged with the towns of Kisakata and Konoura to form the city of Nikaho. The new city has an area of 240.61km², and an estimated population of 30,287 as of 2005.

Nikaho is a sister city with Shawnee, Oklahoma and Anacortes, Washington (both United States).

[edit] City Symbols

The city tree is the Mura pine, which grows thickly in forests covering the surrounding mountains. The city flower is the flower of the silk tree. The city bird is the sea cormorant. The city fish is the codfish, which is plentiful off the coast.

In 1990, Nikaho-machi (Nikaho town) and Shawnee, Oklahoma signed paperwork that began our annual exchanges of delegations. Since 1990, each city has sent a group of approximately 20 persons (Middle Schools students and adults) to the other city for cultural visits. Almost 700 people have traveled as delegates to learn more about the other city. Each visit includes a home stay with a local family, visit to the local Jr. High school, athletic competition, visits to festivals like the Kanto in Akita and State Fair in Oklahoma, visits to state/prefecture capitals and meeting officials like the governor, museums, shopping, etc. Both cities have changed much and grown in size since Mayors Norio Tomoe and Pierre Taron signed the agreements 18 years ago. We thank both men for having the foresight to create this union. Pat Bolt