Miyako, Iwate

Miyako
宮古市
City

Top left: Cape of Dodo and lighthouse, Top right: Miyako Bay from satellite, 2nd row: Mount Hayachine, lower left: Jyodo Beach, lower right: Rock of Sano, Bottom left: Tago Port, Bottom right: Rock of Rosoku (Candle)

Flag
Seal

Location of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture
Miyako

 

Coordinates: 39°38′29.1″N 141°57′25.7″E / 39.641417°N 141.957139°E / 39.641417; 141.957139Coordinates: 39°38′29.1″N 141°57′25.7″E / 39.641417°N 141.957139°E / 39.641417; 141.957139
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Iwate
Area
 • Total 1,259.15 km2 (486.16 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
 • Total 55,041
 • Density 43.7/km2 (113/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols  
- Tree Japanese red pine
- Flower Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum)
- Bird Black-tailed gull
- Fish Chum salmon
Phone number 0193-62-2111
Address 2-1 Shinkawachō, Miyako-shi, Iwate-ken 027-8501
Website Official website
Miyako City Hall

Miyako (宮古市 Miyako-shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, in the Tohoku region of northern Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 55,041 and a population density of 43.7 persons per km2. The total area was 1,259.15 square kilometres (486.16 sq mi).

Geography

Miyako is located in central Iwate Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, where the Hei River (閉伊川 Heigawa) flows into Miyako Bay. It is connected to Morioka by an east-west train line and highway and the coastal highway also goes through the town. The city has a small port but much of the shipping traffic is taken by larger cities along the coast. Parts of the coastal area of the city are within the borders of the Sanriku Fukkō National Park. The easternmost point of Honshu island is at Cape Todo (魹ヶ崎 Todogasaki) in Miyako.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

Climate data for Miyako, Iwate
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 5.0
(41)		 5.2
(41.4)		 8.2
(46.8)		 14.2
(57.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 20.7
(69.3)		 24.5
(76.1)		 26.9
(80.4)		 23.4
(74.1)		 18.6
(65.5)		 13.6
(56.5)		 7.9
(46.2)		 15.6
(60.1)
Average low °C (°F) −4.7
(23.5)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 3.3
(37.9)		 8.0
(46.4)		 12.5
(54.5)		 16.9
(62.4)		 19.0
(66.2)		 14.9
(58.8)		 8.3
(46.9)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 6.0
(42.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 62.7
(2.469)		 69.6
(2.74)		 84.4
(3.323)		 93.9
(3.697)		 101.9
(4.012)		 120.2
(4.732)		 134.6
(5.299)		 158.9
(6.256)		 211.0
(8.307)		 147.5
(5.807)		 82.7
(3.256)		 61.0
(2.402)		 1,328.4
(52.3)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 23.9
(9.41)		 36.3
(14.29)		 27.4
(10.79)		 2.4
(0.94)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.4
(0.16)		 9.8
(3.86)		 100.2
(39.45)
Average relative humidity (%) 63.5 65.7 66.6 67.9 74.3 84.2 87.0 85.9 84.3 79.4 69.9 64.8 74.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 172.5 166.4 196.0 203.0 205.2 168.6 159.9 177.8 141.3 162.2 158.5 160.6 2,072
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

History

The area of present-day Miyako was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jomon period. The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the Yamato dynasty during the early Heian period with the construction a fortified settlement on the coast. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. During the Boshin War of the Meiji restoration, the Battle of Miyako Bay was one of the major naval engagements of the war.

The towns of Miyako and Kuwagasaki were established within Higashihei District on April 1, 1889. The area was devastated by a 18.9 metres (62 ft) tsunami in 1896, which killed 1859 inhabitants. Higashihei District became part of Shimohei District on April 1, 1897. Miyako and Kuwagasaki merged on April 1, 1924. On March 3, 1933, much of the town was destroyed by the 1933 Sanriku earthquake, which killed 911 people and destroyed over 98% of the buildings in the town. Miyako attained city status on June 20, 1940.

On June 6, 2005, Miyako absorbed the town of Tarō, and village of Niisato (both from Shimohei District), more than doubling the old city's size. On January 1, 2010, Miyaki absorbed the village of Kawai (also from Shimohei District).

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

On March 11, 2011, Miyako was devastated by a tsunami caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.[1] Only about 30–60 boats survived from the town's 960 ship fishing fleet.[2][3] A subsequent field study by the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute revealed that the waters had reached at least 37.9 metres (124 ft) above sea level, almost equaling the 38.2 metres (125 ft) meter record of the 1896 Sanriku earthquake tsunami.[4] The final reported death toll from the disaster was 420 confirmed dead, 92 missing, and 4005 buildings destroyed.[5]。

Some of the most iconic footage of the tsunami, repeatedly broadcast worldwide, was shot in Miyako. It shows a dark black wave cresting and overflowing a floodwall and tossing cars, followed by a fishing ship capsizing as it hit the submerged floodwall and then crushed as it was forced beneath a bridge.[6][7]

Economy

The local economy of Miyako was based heavily on commercial fishing and food processing.

Education

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Port

Local attractions

International relations

Noted people from Miyako

References

  1. ↑ Kyodo News, "Deaths, people missing set to top 1,600: Edano", The Japan Times, 13 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Agence France-Presse/Jiji Press, "Fishermen who lost livelihoods determined to return to cruel sea", The Japan Times, 4 April 2011, p. 2.
  3. ↑ Fukada, Takahiro, "Iwate fisheries continue struggle to recover", The Japan Times, 21 September 2011, p. 3.
  4. ↑ Iwate saw wave test 38 meters, The Japan Times (Kyodo News), 4 April 2011
  5. ↑ 岩手県発行 岩手県東日本大震災津波の記録 p43
  6. ↑ "東北・関東地震　宮古市の港に到達した津波" (video). 39°38′28″N 141°57′26″E / 39.6412°N 141.9573°E: YouTube. 2011-03-11. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  7. ↑ "When Tsunami hit Miyako" (photo). Panoramio. 39°38′28.54″N 141°57′26.85″E / 39.6412611°N 141.9574583°E. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  8. 1 2 "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

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