Ojiya, Niigata
| Ojiya 小千谷市 | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 Location of Ojiya in Niigata Prefecture | |
  Ojiya Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 37°19′N 138°48′E / 37.317°N 138.800°ECoordinates: 37°19′N 138°48′E / 37.317°N 138.800°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku) |
| Prefecture | Niigata Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yatsuo Yasui |
| Area | |
| • Total | 155.2 km2 (59.9 sq mi) |
| Population (March 1, 2010) | |
| • Total | 38,802 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (600/sq mi) |
| Symbols | |
| • Flower | Narcissus |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| City Hall Address |
2-7-5 Jonai, Ojiya-shi, Niigata-ken 947-8501 |
| Website |
www |
Ojiya (小千谷市 Ojiya-shi) is a city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
As of July 16, 2003, the city has an estimated population of 40,342 and a population density of 260.07 persons per km². The total area is 155.12 km².
Adjoining communities
The following municipalities surrounding Ojiya:
Events
- Katakai fireworks festival, held in early September
- Ojiya Festival: Held in August
Festivals have played a significant role in forming and celebrating the culture of Ojiya. The festival brings together skills handed down through the generations and celebrates the joy of everyday living. You can feel the collective energy of the community while seeing the impressive parade floats, hearing the traditional music, watching fireworks, and eating festival foods. The Karakuri Mando (Lantern) Festival and the Minyo Nagashi (Festival Folk Dance) preserve the simplicity and spontaneity of the culture's origins.
- Bullfights
This is a competition where bulls weighing nearly a ton collide in a test of strength. This event is a tradition so old that it was described in Bakin Takizawa's Nansou Satomi Hakkenden. It stems from a Shinto ritual and in former times, women and bereaved persons were not allowed to enter the bullfighting arena. The bull fights are unique in Honshu and have been designated as an important intangible national cultural asset. (Held seven times yearly from May to November)
- Hot Air Balloon Festival: Held at the end of February
History
- The city was founded on March 10, 1954.
- On October 23, 2004, the Chūetsu earthquake struck Ojiya, causing shaking measured at Intensity 6+ on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale and causing fatalities. Electricity was cut off for three days after the earthquake.
- Yatsuo Yasui became the new mayor of Ojiya on November 29, 2006.
Notable people from Ojiya
- Junzaburō Nishiwaki, poet
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ojiya, Niigata. |
- Ojiya City official website (Japanese)
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