Higashimatsushima

Higashimatsushima
東松島市
City

Higashi-Matsushima City Hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Higashi-Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture
Higashimatsushima

 

Coordinates: 38°25′N 141°12′E / 38.417°N 141.200°E / 38.417; 141.200Coordinates: 38°25′N 141°12′E / 38.417°N 141.200°E / 38.417; 141.200
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Miyagi
Government
 • Mayor Hideo Abe
Area
 • Total 101.86 km2 (39.33 sq mi)
Population (June 2014)
 • Total 39,689
 • Density 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Pine
- Flower Sakura
Phone number 0225-82-1111
Address 36-1 Kamikawado, Yamoto, Higashimatsushima-shi, Miyagi-ken 981-0503
Website http://www.city.higashimatsushima.miyagi.jp/

Higashi-Matsushima (東松島市, Higashimatsushima-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2014, the city had an estimated population of 39,689, and a population density of 390 persons per km². The total area is 101.86 km².

Geography

Higashi-Matsushima (lit. "East Matsushima") is in eastern Miyagi Prefecture. The city borders on Matsushima Bay to the west, and the Pacific Ocean (Ishinomaki Bay) to the south. Its coastline forms part of the Sanriku Fukkō National Park, which stretches north to Aomori Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

History

The area of present-day Higashi-Matsushima was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period. The modern city of Higashi-Matsushima was created on April 1, 2005, when the towns of Naruse and Yamoto were merged to create the new city.

2011 Earthquake disaster

Houses inundated and collapsed by the tsunami in Nobiru, Higashimatsushima

On March 11, 2011, Higashi-Matsushima was severely hit by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami resulting in at least 1,039 deaths,[1] and the destruction of over 11,000 structures, or approximately two-thirds of the buildings in the city limits. During the tsunami, a 45-metre ship, the Chōkai Maru, was hurled over a pier and left aground in the city. At the time of the disaster, Higashi-Matsushima had still not fully recovered from a previous major earthquake in 2003.[2][3] About 63% of the town was inundated by the tsunami.[4]

Economy

Higashi-Matsushima traditionally has been a center for commercial fishing, especially for the cultivation of oysters and on tourism. The Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Matsushima Air Field is located in Higashi-Matsushima.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Local attractions

Noted people from Higashi-Matsushima

References

  1. ↑ NOAA Data 2 April 2011
  2. ↑ Tsunami survivors face monstrous cleanup task, Japan Times, 26 March 2011
  3. ↑ Gilhooly, Rob, "Tsunami-hit towns face dire future", Japan Times, 1 April 2011, p. 4.
  4. ↑ NHK, "Tsunami flooded 100 square kilometers of city land", 29 March 2011.
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