Sōsa

Sōsa (匝瑳市, Sōsa-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2020, the city had an estimated population of 35,674 in 14,688 households and a population density of 350 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 101.78 square kilometres (39.30 sq mi).

Sōsa
匝瑳市
City
Flag of Sōsa
Flag
Official seal of Sōsa
Seal
Location of Sōsa in Chiba Prefecture
Location of Sōsa in Chiba Prefecture
Sōsa is located in Japan
Sōsa
Sōsa
 
Coordinates: 35°42′27″N 140°33′51″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureChiba
First official recorded90 BC
As city settled for YōkaichibaJuly 1, 1954
As current city's name changedJanuary 23, 2006
Government
 • MayorYasunori Ohta
Area
 • Total101.78 km2 (39.30 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total35,674
 • Density350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
-treePodocarpus macrophyllus
• FlowerTulip
• BirdJapanese bush-warbler
Phone number0479-73-0084
Address793-2 Yōkaichiba Sasakawa Sōsa-shi, Chiba-ken 285-8510
WebsiteOfficial website
Sōsa City Hall

Geography

Sōsa is located in far northeastern Chiba Prefecture. It is bordered to the north by the Pacific Ocean on the southwest. The land is mostly flat, and much is from 40 to 50 meters above sea level in average elevation.

The northern section, a mixture of valleys, ports and rice fields, consists of a plateau made up of complicated terrain and features. The southern half consists of flat terrain facing Kujūkuri Beach.

Through the center of the city runs both the Japan Railways (JR) Sōbu Main Line and Japan National Route 126, which run east-west. To the west of the center of Sosa is Japan National Route 296, which runs north-south.

Neighboring municipalities

Chiba Prefecture

Climate

Sōsa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sōsa is 15.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1557 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.1 °C.[2]

Demographics

Sōsa City and National PopulationSōsa City Population
Distribution by Age (2005)Distribution by Gender (2005)
■ = Sōsa City■ = Male
■ = Japan (National)■ = Female

Census statistics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 35,188—    
1930 37,399+6.3%
1940 38,790+3.7%
1950 48,924+26.1%
1960 44,568−8.9%
1970 40,186−9.8%
1980 41,160+2.4%
1990 42,261+2.7%
2000 42,914+1.5%
2010 39,814−7.2%
2020 35,040−12.0%
Source: Source: Japan Statistics Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications / National Census (translated), citypopulation.de[3]

History

Sōsa was founded on January 23, 2006 as a result of the merger between the former city of Yōkaichiba, and the former town of Nosaka (from Sōsa District).

Sōsa City History Timeline

A 8 December 1915
B 3 November 1948
C 31 March 1954
D 1 July 1954
E 17 July 1954
F 23 January 2006

Events

Government

Sōsa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Sōsa contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Sōsa is a regional commercial center whose economy is primarily agricultural. Sōsa is well known for growing trees that are sold all over Japan.

Shopping
CAINZ HOME Super Center
  • Cainz Home Super Center, Yōkaichiba (Includes Beisia supermarket)
  • Ocean Mart 126 (shopping mall)...closed due to The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake

Financial institutions
  • Chiba Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Chiba Industrial Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Keiyo Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Choshi Credit Union, Yōkaichiba Branch

Education

High schools
  • Sōsa Prefectural Public High School, Chiba Prefecture
  • Keiai University Yōkaichiba High School

Junior high schools
  • Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 1
  • Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 2
  • Nosaka Public Junior High School

Elementary schools
  • Heiwa Public Elementary School
  • Chinkai Public Elementary School
  • Yōkaichiba Public Elementary School
  • Sosa Public Elementary School
  • Toyosaka Public Elementary School
  • Suka Public Elementary School
  • Kyoko Public Elementary School
  • Yoshida Public Elementary School
  • Iidaka Public Elementary School
  • Toyowa Public Elementary School
  • Sakae Public Elementary School
  • Noda Public Elementary School

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Sōbu Main Line

Municipal bus routes
  • Purple Line (to Toyosaka, Yoshida)
  • Pink (to Idaka, Sosa)
  • Orange (to Toyowa, Chinkai)
  • Yellow (to Heiwa, Kyoko)
  • Light Green (to Noda, Eastern-Suka)
  • Light Blue (to Sakae, Western- Suka)

Major bus companies
  • JR Bus Kanto Company
  • Chiba Kotsu
Yōkaichiba Bus Route (Tokyo Station – Sōsa City Hall)

Bus stops at the following areas:

  • Tokyo Station (Departing from Tokyo Station: Yaesu Entrance, Arriving at Tokyo Station: Nihonbashi Entrance)
  • Tomisato Bus Terminal
  • Tomisato Nanae Square
  • Radison Hotel
  • Sanrizuka Park
  • Jitaku (Residential) Entrance
  • Kuko Hakubutsukan (Aviation Museum)
  • Shiromasu
  • Somei
  • Tako
  • Tako Michi no Eki (Road Station)
  • Yoshida
  • JR Bus- Yōkaichiba Branch
  • JR Yōkaichiba Station
  • Sōsa City Hall
Choshi-Chiba-Makuhari Route

Bus stops at the following areas:

  • License (Menkyo) Center
  • JR Kaihimmakuhari Station
  • Chiba Minato Station (Monorail)
  • Chiba Central Station (Keisei)
  • JR Chiba Station
  • Chuo 3 Chome (Central District 3)
  • Matsuo-Yokoshiba IC (Highway Interchange)
  • Matsuo
  • Yokoshiba
  • Iigura
  • Yokaichiba
  • Sosa City Hall
  • JR Higata Station
  • Asahi
  • Unakami
  • Iioka Health and Welfare Center
  • Iioka
  • Kousoku Yagi
  • Kousoku Obama
  • Kousoku Misakicho
  • Toshiba
  • Jinyacho

National highways
Main artery roads
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 16, Sawara – Yōkaichiba Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 30, Iioka – Ichinomiya Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 45, Yōkaichiba – Yachimata Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 48, Yōkaichiba – Nosaka Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 49, Yōkaichiba – Sakae Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 74, Tako – Sasamoto Line
General roads
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 104, Yokaichiba – Idono – Asahi Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 106, Yokaichiba – Sawara Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 109, Yokoshiba Depot – Yoshida Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 114, Yokaichiba – Yamada Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 122, Iioka – Katakai Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 149, Yōkaichiba – Fuma Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 212, Yōkaichiba Depot Line
  • Chiba Prefectural Road 299, Heiwa – Kyoko Line
Farm road
  • Toso Region Farm Roads
Choshi Renraku Road
  • Currently the above road is not within city limits, but according to plans, the Yōkaichiba IC (Interchange) is planned for construction. The plan is to extend the road from Yokoshiba-Hikari IC area toward the city of Choshi.

Places and events

Locations
  • Oio Shrine which dates back to Emperor Sujin Era, Year 7 (258 AD)
  • Iidaka Temple (known locally as “Iidaka Danrin (ato)”)
  • Chōtoku Temple
  • Chōfuku Temple (in Kawamukai area)
  • Shingon-Chisan, Buddhist Sect (Setsubun Buddhist Mass is held every new year)
  • Suka Eastern Orthodox Church

Exhibition and community areas
  • Matsuyama Art Museum
  • Fureai Koen (Park)- Yōkaichiba
  • Formally named the “Municipal and Agricultural Exchange Terminal Community Park of Yōkaichiba”, Sosa City established and controls this institution for the promotion of activity in local industry with the intention of exchange between the municipal and the agricultural parts of the city.
  • Horikawa-hama (Beach) Swimming Area
  • At a shoreline of roughly 150m, this beach area's waves are calm compared to nearby Kujukuri Beach.

Festivals
  • Odaka Hadaka Matsuri (early January)
  • Jinkumi Lion Dance (every January)
  • Yōkaichiba Bon Festival Dance
  • (Yaegaki Shrine) Gion Festival (every August 4 & 5)
  • Yokappe Festival (every October)

Notable people of Sōsa
  • Kan Kase (former member, Japanese National Diet)
  • Takeo Chii (actor, local promoter)
  • Nobuko Sakuma (actress, fashion model)
  • Arekisanda Oryō (Comedian)
  • Yumiko Kobayashi (voice actress)
  • Shigeya Iijima (baseball player, Japan professional league)
  • Masaru Uno (baseball player, Japan professional league)
  • Nichirō (Buddhist prelate, Kamakura Era)

References
  1. "Sōsa city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Sōsa climate data
  3. Sōsa Population statistics
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