Iwanuma

Iwanuma (岩沼市, Iwanuma-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the city had an estimated population of 43,946 in 18,062 households, and a population density of 730 persons per km². The total area of the city is 60.45 square kilometres (23.34 sq mi). Iwanuma is at the convergence of two ancient roads, the Tōkaidō and the Rikuzen-Hama Kaidō.

Iwanuma 岩沼市
City
Takekoma Shrine, Kanahebisui Shrine Abukuma River, Iwanuma Station Iwanuma urban area, Dontosai festival
Flag Seal
Location of Iwanuma in Miyagi Prefecture
Iwanuma
Coordinates: 38°06′15.4″N 140°52′12.6″E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Miyagi
First official recorded	842 AD
City settled	November 1, 1971
Government
• Mayor	Jyunichi Sato (from June 2022)
Area
• Total	60.45 km2 (23.34 sq mi)
Population  (May 31, 2020)
• Total	43,946
• Density	730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC 9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Japanese Black Pine
- Flower	Azalea
- Bird	Seagull
Phone number	0223-22-1111
Address	1-6-20 Sakura, Iwanuma-shi, Miyagi-ken 989-2480
Website	Official website

Iwanuma City Hall

Geography

Iwanuma is in the east-center Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is also located at the mouth of the Abukuma River.

Neighboring municipalities

Miyagi Prefecture

• Murata
• Natori
• Shibata
• Watari

Climate

Iwanuma has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Iwanuma is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1252 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Iwanuma has recently plateued after a long period of growth.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	15,428	—
1930	17,524	13.6%
1940	18,490	5.5%
1950	25,303	36.8%
1960	26,452	4.5%
1970	29,822	12.7%
1980	34,910	17.1%
1990	38,091	9.1%
2000	41,407	8.7%
2010	44,187	6.7%
2020	44,068	−0.3%

History

The area of present-day Iwanuma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the Takekoma Inari Shrine claims to have been founded in 842 AD. Mention of “Iwanuma Castle” appears in early Muromachi period documents. The area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Iwanuma was established on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The village of Okuma merged with Iwanuma on January 11, 1947, followed by Sengan and Tamaura on April 1, 1955. Iwanuma was raised to city status on November 1, 1971.

The city was seriously affected by the tsunami associated with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which resulted in 180 deaths.

Government

Iwanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Iwanuma contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Iwanuma has four public elementary school and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line/Jōban Line

• Iwanuma

Highway

• Sendai-Tōbu Road – Iwanuma IC
• National Route 4
• National Route 6

Media

• Iwanuma Community FM Station

Local attractions

• Takekoma Inari Shrine, - claiming to be the second oldest Inari shrine

Sister cities

• Dover, Delaware, USA friendship city since 2003
• Nankoku, Kōchi, Japan since July 23, 1973
• Napa, California, USA, since February 15, 1973 .
• Obanazawa, Yamagata, Japan since November 7, 1999

Noted people from Iwanuma

• Kiyoko Ono, former politician and artistic gymnast
• Ryusuke Taguchi, professional wrestler

External links

Media related to Iwanuma, Miyagi at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)