Mimasaka, Okayama

Mimasaka (美作市, Mimasaka-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the city had an estimated population of 25,946 in 12287 households and a population density of 60 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 429.29 square kilometres (165.75 sq mi).

Mimasaka
美作市
Main street in Ohara Mimasaka
Main street in Ohara Mimasaka
Flag of Mimasaka
Official seal of Mimasaka
Location of Mimasaka in Okayama Prefecture
Location of Mimasaka
Mimasaka is located in Japan
Mimasaka
Mimasaka
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°0′31″N 134°8′55″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku (San'yō)
PrefectureOkayama
Government
  MayorSeiji Hagiwara <萩原誠司> (from March 2014)
Area
  Total429.29 km2 (165.75 sq mi)
Population
 (January 31, 2023)
  Total25,946
  Density60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address38-2 Sakaemachi, Mimasaka-shi, Okayama-ken 707-8501
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerErythronium japonicum
TreePrunus mume
Mimasaka city hall

Geography

Mimasaka is located in northeast Okayama. Most of the city limits are hills and forests. The prefectural border is at the Chugoku Mountains, and there is Mount Ushiro (1344 meters), the highest peak in the prefecture is within the city limits. Parts of the city are considered to be heavy snowfall areas.

Adjoining municipalities

Okayama Prefecture

Hyōgo Prefecture

Tottori Prefecture

Climate

Mimasaka has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Mimasaka is 13.3 °C (55.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,620.4 mm (63.80 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C (78.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C (34.9 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Mimasaka was 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) on 7 August 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −13.6 °C (7.5 °F) on 28 February 1981.[3]

Climate data for Mimasaka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.5
(59.9)
20.6
(69.1)
24.6
(76.3)
29.7
(85.5)
32.0
(89.6)
34.8
(94.6)
36.8
(98.2)
38.5
(101.3)
35.1
(95.2)
29.8
(85.6)
24.3
(75.7)
18.2
(64.8)
38.5
(101.3)
Average high °C (°F) 6.6
(43.9)
7.8
(46.0)
12.1
(53.8)
18.4
(65.1)
23.4
(74.1)
26.3
(79.3)
29.9
(85.8)
31.4
(88.5)
27.1
(80.8)
21.4
(70.5)
15.2
(59.4)
9.1
(48.4)
19.1
(66.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)
2.4
(36.3)
6.0
(42.8)
11.6
(52.9)
16.8
(62.2)
20.8
(69.4)
24.7
(76.5)
25.6
(78.1)
21.4
(70.5)
15.2
(59.4)
9.1
(48.4)
3.8
(38.8)
13.3
(55.9)
Average low °C (°F) −2.4
(27.7)
−2.1
(28.2)
0.5
(32.9)
5.1
(41.2)
10.6
(51.1)
16.1
(61.0)
20.7
(69.3)
21.2
(70.2)
16.9
(62.4)
10.0
(50.0)
4.1
(39.4)
−0.5
(31.1)
8.4
(47.0)
Record low °C (°F) −11.1
(12.0)
−13.6
(7.5)
−7.9
(17.8)
−4.4
(24.1)
0.0
(32.0)
5.1
(41.2)
11.4
(52.5)
12.9
(55.2)
4.9
(40.8)
−0.8
(30.6)
−4.2
(24.4)
−11.6
(11.1)
−13.6
(7.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 73.8
(2.91)
81.4
(3.20)
116.5
(4.59)
126.9
(5.00)
164.7
(6.48)
193.6
(7.62)
252.7
(9.95)
163.5
(6.44)
192.2
(7.57)
109.2
(4.30)
70.0
(2.76)
75.9
(2.99)
1,620.4
(63.80)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 40
(16)
35
(14)
4
(1.6)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
19
(7.5)
97
(38)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 11.2 11.8 11.9 10.4 10.7 12.4 12.9 10.2 10.4 8.5 8.0 9.6 128
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 4.3 3.2 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.7 9.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 107.8 117.2 156.0 193.8 204.9 149.4 150.6 188.0 150.7 160.1 134.5 121.5 1,832.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Mimasaka in 2020 is 25,939 people.[4] Mimasaka has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 48,439    
1925 48,519+0.2%
1930 48,222−0.6%
1935 47,435−1.6%
1940 46,164−2.7%
1945 59,880+29.7%
1950 60,755+1.5%
1955 57,761−4.9%
1960 52,598−8.9%
1965 45,973−12.6%
1970 40,731−11.4%
1975 38,793−4.8%
1980 38,430−0.9%
1985 38,309−0.3%
1990 36,942−3.6%
1995 36,140−2.2%
2000 34,577−4.3%
2005 32,479−6.1%
2010 30,504−6.1%
2015 27,977−8.3%
2020 25,939−7.3%
Mimasaka population statistics[4]

History

The area of Mimasaka is part of ancient Mimasaka Province, from which it takes its name. The Hayashino district, which is the center of the city, has long been an important transportation hub, and since the Sengoku period, goods have been transported by boats crossing the Yoshii River. In the Edo period, the Mori clan, who were the first daimyō of Tsuyama Domain, gave local merchants the same level of authority as merchants in the castle town of Tsuyama, making it the center of eastern Mimasaka. Afterwards, it came under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate and a magistrate's office was established. The famed samurai Miyamoto Musashi was born in what is now part of the city.

The modern city of Mimasaka was founded on March 31, 2005 by the merger of the former town of Mimasaka, absorbing the towns of Aida, Ōhara and Sakutō, the village Higashiawakura (all from Aida District), and the town of Katsuta (from Katsuta District).

Government

Mimasaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Mimasaka, collectively with the village of Nishiawakura, contributes one member to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Okayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Mimasaka has a mixed economy based on manufacturing, wholesale and retail commerce, agriculture, forestry, and tourism (hot springs),

Education

Mimasaka has nine public elementary schools and five public junior high school operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Okayama prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR West (JR West) - Kishin Line

Chizu Express - Chizu Line

Highways

Sister and Friendship cities

Local attractions

Notable people from Mimasaka

References

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