Tsugaru, Aomori
| Tsugaru つがる | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| City | |||
| つがる市 | |||
 | |||
| |||
 | |||
  Tsugaru | |||
| Coordinates: 40°48′N 140°23′E / 40.800°N 140.383°ECoordinates: 40°48′N 140°23′E / 40.800°N 140.383°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Tōhoku | ||
| Prefecture | Aomori Prefecture | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 253.85 km2 (98.01 sq mi) | ||
| Population (October 1, 2012) | |||
| • Total | 36,216 | ||
| • Density | 143/km2 (370/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| - Tree | Japanese Black Pine | ||
| - Bird | Common cuckoo | ||
| Phone number | 0173-42-2111 | ||
| Address |
61-1, Kizukuri Wakamidori Tsugaru-shi, Aomori-ken 038-3192 | ||
| Website | City of Tsugaru | ||
Tsugaru (つがる市 Tsugaru-shi) is a city located in northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan.
As of April 2012, the city has an estimated population of 36,216 and a population density of 143 persons per km². The total area is 253.85 km². The city's name is atypical for a Japanese place name in that it is written in hiragana rather than kanji (see hiragana cities).
Geography
Tsugaru is located on the west coast of Tsugaru Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Neighbouring municipalities
History
Lord Tsugaru has been mentioned in folklore along with Harada Kurando involving fencing and a tale of a "white serpent God."[1] The area of Tsugaru was part of the holdings of the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo period.
The modern city of Tsugaru was established on February 11, 2005, from the merger of the town of Kizukuri, and the villages of Inagaki, Kashiwa, Morita and Shariki (all from Nishitsugaru District).
Tsugaru has, since 2005, slipped into a state of near-bankruptcy, as several villages that joined the city were carrying huge debts. The local government has tried to combat this situation using somewhat controversial tax raises, including national health insurance for the elderly, as well as somewhat draconian punishments for those who fail to pay water bills (having their home water systems removed, etc.). This has caused significant drops in population over the years.[citation needed]
Economy
The economy of Tsugaru is heavily dependent on agriculture and commercial fishing. The city serves as a minor regional commercial center. Agricultural produce includes rice, apples, melons, watermelons, and Brasenia.
Transportation
Railway
- East Japan Railway Company - Gonō Line
- Kizukuri, Nakata, Mutsu-Morita, Koshimizu
Highway
Sister city relations
– Bath, Maine, United States – from 2006
Noted people from Tsugaru
- Shunkichi Takeuchi – politician, former Aomori governor
- Gento Uehara - songwriter
- Kenroku Uehara – songwriter
- Leo Matsumoto – actress
- Ryuhei Aoyama– actor
- Asahifuji Seiya – sumo wrestler
References
External links
- Tsugaru City official website (Japanese)
- Tsugaru City official website (English)
- Local area business and sightseeing guide
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsugaru, Aomori. |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
