Tsumagoi (嬬恋村, Tsumagoi-mura) is a village located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 September 2020, the village had an estimated population of 9,546 in 3,999 households,[1] and a population density of 28 persons per km². The total area of the village is 337.51 square kilometres (130.31 sq mi).

Tsumagoi
嬬恋村
Tsumagoi village office
Tsumagoi village office
Flag of Tsumagoi
Official seal of Tsumagoi
Location of Tsumagoi in Gunma Prefecture
Location of Tsumagoi in Gunma Prefecture
Tsumagoi is located in Japan
Tsumagoi
Tsumagoi
 
Coordinates: 36°31′0.6″N 138°31′48.5″E / 36.516833°N 138.530139°E / 36.516833; 138.530139
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureGunma
DistrictAgatsuma
Area
 • Total
337.58 km2 (130.34 sq mi)
Population
 (September 2020)
 • Total
9,546
 • Density28/km2 (73/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSilver birch
- FlowerJapanese Gentian
- FishOncorhynchus masou
Phone number0279-96-0511
Address110 Ōmae, Tsumagoi-mura, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma-ken 377-1692
WebsiteOfficial website
Manza Onsen area seen from Mount Kusatsu-Shirane

Geography

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Tsumagoi is situated on the northwestern corner of Gunma Prefecture, touching Nagano Prefecture to the north, south, and west. Because of its elevated location and the ash deposits of Mount Asama, Tsumagoi is well known for growing cabbages. Parts of the village are within the borders of then Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park.

Surrounding municipalities

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Gunma Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Climate

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Tsumagoi has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall, due to the high elevation. Winters are cold, with a January 24-hour average temperature of −4.6 °C (23.7 °F), while summers are warm and wet, with a July 24-hour average temperature of 19.5 °C (67.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1345 mm with September as the wettest month.[2]

Climate data for Tsumagoi(Tashiro)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.5
(52.7)
15.2
(59.4)
19.0
(66.2)
24.8
(76.6)
27.7
(81.9)
29.3
(84.7)
30.2
(86.4)
29.9
(85.8)
29.0
(84.2)
24.3
(75.7)
19.3
(66.7)
15.0
(59.0)
30.2
(86.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.6
(30.9)
0.1
(32.2)
4.0
(39.2)
11.5
(52.7)
16.6
(61.9)
19.6
(67.3)
23.3
(73.9)
24.2
(75.6)
19.6
(67.3)
14.1
(57.4)
8.7
(47.7)
2.9
(37.2)
12.1
(53.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.6
(23.7)
−4.3
(24.3)
−0.9
(30.4)
5.7
(42.3)
10.9
(51.6)
14.7
(58.5)
18.6
(65.5)
19.5
(67.1)
15.3
(59.5)
9.1
(48.4)
3.6
(38.5)
−1.5
(29.3)
7.2
(45.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.0
(15.8)
−9.1
(15.6)
−5.7
(21.7)
0.4
(32.7)
5.4
(41.7)
10.4
(50.7)
14.9
(58.8)
15.7
(60.3)
11.7
(53.1)
4.6
(40.3)
−0.9
(30.4)
−5.9
(21.4)
2.7
(36.9)
Record low °C (°F) −16.5
(2.3)
−17.2
(1.0)
−14.5
(5.9)
−10.0
(14.0)
−6.3
(20.7)
1.8
(35.2)
7.0
(44.6)
8.0
(46.4)
−0.1
(31.8)
−4.3
(24.3)
−10.4
(13.3)
−15.1
(4.8)
−17.2
(1.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 49.0
(1.93)
60.9
(2.40)
102.5
(4.04)
106.9
(4.21)
138.7
(5.46)
180.8
(7.12)
208.7
(8.22)
175.9
(6.93)
232.3
(9.15)
133.8
(5.27)
74.5
(2.93)
42.6
(1.68)
1,506.6
(59.31)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 135.0 152.0 187.4 202.2 194.3 142.5 147.0 150.5 111.6 135.3 140.1 134.9 1,832.2
Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency[3]
Source 2: Japan Meteorological Agency[4]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Tsumagoi has recently decreased after several decades of relative stability.

Tsumagoi has been recognized by Japan's Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization (Kishida Cabinet Secretariat), which promotes the development of new technologies to combat depopulation, for meeting a "high standard" (高水準) of digital transformation/telework infrastructure. Related projects have been awarded over ¥7.0M in government grants.[6]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 6,359—    
1930 9,502 49.4%
1940 9,685 1.9%
1950 13,757 42.0%
1960 15,214 10.6%
1970 12,074−20.6%
1980 10,737−11.1%
1990 10,957 2.0%
2000 10,657−2.7%
2010 10,183−4.4%
2020 8,850−13.1%

History

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Numerous Jōmon period remains have been found in Tsumagoi, although later Yayoi period artifacts are almost non-existent, as the area is not suitable for rice cultivation. During the Edo period, the area around Tsumagoi was part of the hatamoto-administered territory within Kōzuke Province. Kanbara area (鎌原村) was severely damaged by the Tenmei eruption of Mt. Asama in 1783 (477 people died).[7] With the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration on April 1, 1889, the village of Tsumagoi was created within Agatsuma District of Gunma Prefecture.

Government

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Tsumagoi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 12 members. Tsumagoi collectively with the other municipalities in Agatsuma District, contributes two members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Gunma 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Tsumagoi cabbage field and Mount Asama

The economy of Tsumagoi is primarily agricultural, with cabbage forming the most noted local crop. Seasonal tourism primarily in connection with its onsen hot spring resorts and ski resorts are also major contributors to the local economy.

Education

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Tsumagoi has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education.

Senior high schools

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  • Tsumagoi High School

Junior high schools

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  • Tsumagoi Junior High School

Elementary schools

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  • Higashi Elementary School
  • Nishi Elementary School

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR EastAgatsuma Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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The main draw of tourists to Tsumagoi are the onsen (natural hot spring) resorts, some of which are also associated with ski resorts. There are two major hot spring resort areas within the town.

  • Handeki Onsen
  • Kazawa Onsen and ski resort
  • Manza Onsen and ski resort
  • Palcall Tsumagoi Mountain Resort
  • Tsumagoi Onsen

Noted people from Tsumagoi

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References

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  1. ^ "Tsumagoi Village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Tsumagoi climate data
  3. ^ "Japan Meteorological Agency". Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "田代 観測史上1~10位の値". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  5. ^ Higashiagatsuma population statistics
  6. ^ "地方創生テレワーク交付金の交付対象事業一覧(新規事業)" (PDF). 内閣府地方創生推進室. August 10, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "1783年に477人死亡した「日本のポンペイ」…浅間山噴火、集落発掘へ : 社会 : ニュース". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
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