Yakage, Okayama

Yakage (矢掛町, Yakage-chō) is a town located in Oda District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2023, the town had an estimated population of 13,418 in 5445 households and a population density of 150 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town is 90.62 square kilometres (34.99 sq mi).

Yakage
矢掛町
Town
Yakage-juku
Yakage-juku
Flag of Yakage
Official seal of Yakage
Location of Yakage in Okayama Prefecture
Location of Yakage
Yakage is located in Japan
Yakage
Yakage
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°37′39″N 133°35′14″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku
San'yō
PrefectureOkayama Prefecture
DistrictOda
Area
  Total90.62 km2 (34.99 sq mi)
Population
 (March 1, 2023)
  Total13,418
  Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address3018 Yakage, Yakage-cho, Oda-gun, Okayama-ken 714-1297
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush warbler
FlowerSakura
TreeJapanese red pine
Yakage Town Hall

Geography

Yakage is located in southwestern Okayama. About half of the town's area(in the north) is occupied by hills and mountains; most of the population is concentrated in the plains in the south.

Neighbouring municipalities

Okayama Prefecture

Climate

Yakage has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with moderate snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yakage is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1493 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 27.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.9 °C.[2]

Demography

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yakage has been as follows. The population has been decreasing since the 1950s.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 20,447    
1930 20,490+0.2%
1940 19,600−4.3%
1950 24,113+23.0%
1960 21,960−8.9%
1970 18,665−15.0%
1980 18,400−1.4%
1990 17,306−5.9%
2000 16,230−6.2%
2010 15,094−7.0%

History

The area of Yakage was part of ancient Bitchū Province. Yakage was a former post station along the San'yōdō highway, and during the Edo period was part of Niwase Domain. The village of Yakage was established on June 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on February 26, 1896. Yakage annexed the five neighboring village of Mikawa, Mitani, Yamada, Kawamo, and Nakagawa on May 1, 1954. On January 15, 1961, Yakage annexed the village of Oda.

Government

Yakage has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Yakage, collectively with the city of Ibara, contributes two members to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Okayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The main industry is agriculture, but recently, commerce and tourism are also increasing. In terms of agriculture, rice is the main crop, but many fruits such as grapes, pears and figs are also grown.

Education

Yakage has seven public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Ibara Railway Company - Ibara Line

Highways

Local attractions

  • Yakage old town. A samurai parade (大名行列) is held every November in commemoration of the town's history as a major stopping point for daimyō on sankin-kōtai.

Noted people from Yakage

References

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