Tozawa, Yamagata

Summary

Tozawa (戸沢村, Tozawa-mura) is a village located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023, the village had an estimated population of 4,042 in 1492 households,[1] and a population density of 17 persons per km². The total area of the village is 261.31 square kilometres (101 sq mi).

Tozawa
戸沢村
Tozawa Village Hall
Tozawa Village Hall
Flag of Tozawa
Official seal of Tozawa
Location of Tozawa in Yamagata PrefectureLocation of Tozawa
Tozawa is located in Japan
Tozawa
Tozawa
 
Coordinates: 38°44′16″N 140°08′37″E / 38.73778°N 140.14361°E / 38.73778; 140.14361
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureYamagata
DistrictMogami
Area
 • Total261.31 km2 (100.89 sq mi)
Population
 (March 31, 2023)
 • Total4,042
 • Density15/km2 (40/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City hall address270 Furukuchi, Tozawa-mura, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-6401
Phone number0233-72-2111 
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerLilium rubellum
TreeCryptomeria japonica
Mogami River at Tozawa

Geography edit

Tozawa is located in north-central eastern Yamagata Prefecture. To the west of the village is the Dewa Mountains, and to east is the Shinjo Basin. The Mogami River runs westward through the center of the village.

Neighboring municipalities edit

Yamagata Prefecture

Climate edit

Tozawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Tozawa is 11.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1877 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.1 °C.[2]

History edit

The area of present-day was Tozawa part of ancient Dewa Province and during the Nara Period and early Heian period was an important fortified point on the road connecting Akita Castle on the Sea of Japan with Tagajo on the Pacific Ocean. During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of the Mogami clan. During the Edo period, the village was a river port on the Mogami River. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Tozawa was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It absorbed the neighboring villages of Furukuchi and Kadokawa in 1955.

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Tozawa peaked around the year 1950 and has declined since then. It is now less than half what it was a century ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1920 8,601—    
1930 9,144+0.61%
1940 9,283+0.15%
1950 11,454+2.12%
1960 10,479−0.89%
1970 8,600−1.96%
1980 7,601−1.23%
1990 7,248−0.47%
2000 6,450−1.16%
2010 5,304−1.94%
2020 4,199−2.31%

Economy edit

The main industry is agriculture, livestock and forestry.

Education edit

Tozawa has one combined public elementary/middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation edit

Railways edit

  East Japan Railway Company - Rikuu West Line

Highways edit

Local attractions edit

Sister city relations edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Tozawa village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Tozawa climate data
  3. ^ Tozawa population statistics
  4. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

External links edit

  Media related to Tozawa, Yamagata at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official Website (in Japanese)