Utashinai: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox settlement |
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| name= Utashinai |
| name = Utashinai |
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| native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|歌志内市}}}}}} |
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| native_name_lang = ja |
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| image_skyline= Utashinai city hall.jpg |
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| other_name = |
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| imagesize= |
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| image_skyline = Utashinai city hall.jpg |
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| image_caption = Utashinai city hall |
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| image_flag = Flag of Utashinai Hokkaido.svg |
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| image_seal = Emblem of Utashinai, Hokkaido.svg |
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| image_map= Utashinai in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg |
| image_map = Utashinai in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg |
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| region= [[Hokkaido]] |
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| pushpin_map = Japan |
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan |
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| district= |
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| mayor= Takaoki Murakami |
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| subdivision_type = Country |
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| area_km2= 55.99 |
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| subdivision_name = Japan |
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| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]] |
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| population= 3,494 |
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| subdivision_name1 = [[Hokkaido]] |
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| density_km2= auto |
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| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]] |
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Hokkaido]] ([[Sorachi Subprefecture]]) |
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| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]] |
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| subdivision_name3 = |
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| leader_title = Mayor |
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| leader_name = Takaoki Murakami |
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| city_hall_postal_code= 073-0492 |
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| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor |
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| leader_name1 = |
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| unit_pref = Metric |
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| area_total_km2 = 55.99 |
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| population_total = 2,662 |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]] |
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| utc_offset1 = +09:00 |
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| postal_code_type = |
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| postal_code = |
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| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address |
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| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes |
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| butterfly = |
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| mascot = Horun-kun (ホルンくん) |
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}} |
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}} |
}} |
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{{Nihongo|'''Utashinai'''|歌志内市|Utashinai-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Sorachi Subprefecture]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Japan]]. It is Japan's smallest city by population. |
{{Nihongo|'''Utashinai'''|歌志内市|Utashinai-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Sorachi Subprefecture]], [[Hokkaido]], [[Japan]]. It is Japan's smallest city by population. |
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As of April 30, 2017, the city has an estimated [[population]] of 3,494, with 2,015 [[household]]s,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.city.utashinai.hokkaido.jp|title= Official website of Utashinai City|publisher= Utashinai City|location= Japan|language= Japanese|accessdate= 14 May 2017}}</ref> and a [[population density|density]] of 62 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area is 55.99 km<sup>2</sup>. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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It was formerly a prosperous [[coal mining]] city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948. |
It was formerly a prosperous [[coal mining]] city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948, and has been decreasing every year since. |
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Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an [[alpine climate|alpine]] [[tourist]] destination have met with mixed success. The town has adopted a Swiss theme as part of its tourist oriented strategy |
Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an [[alpine climate|alpine]] [[tourist]] destination have met with mixed success. The town has adopted a Swiss theme as part of its tourist oriented strategy and many new buildings are [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[chalet]] style. A medium-sized [[ski]] hill, Kamoidake, attracts a decent crowd of locals and hosts frequent ski meets, while a [[hot spring]] resort called Tyrol, after the [[Tyrol (state)|Austrian region]], is known throughout Hokkaido for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience [[population decline]] and economic stagnation. The high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education. |
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===Timeline=== |
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*1890 - Sorachi Coal Mine opened, founding of Utashinai. |
*1890 - Sorachi Coal Mine opened, founding of Utashinai. |
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*1897 - Utashinai [[List of villages in Japan|Village]] split away from Nae Village (now the city of [[Sunagawa, Hokkaido|Sunagawa]]). |
*1897 - Utashinai [[List of villages in Japan|Village]] split away from Nae Village (now the city of [[Sunagawa, Hokkaido|Sunagawa]]). |
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===Name=== |
===Name=== |
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The name is derived from the [[Ainu language|Ainu]] ''ota-us-nay'' ({{lang|ain|オタウㇱナイ}}) meaning "River connected to a sandy beach".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ks/ass/grp/1120P.pdf |script-title=ja:アイヌ語地名リスト |trans-title=Ainu Language Place Name List |publisher=Office of Ainu Measures Promotion, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government |language= |
The name is derived from the [[Ainu language|Ainu]] ''ota-us-nay'' ({{lang|ain|オタウㇱナイ}}) meaning "River connected to a sandy beach".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ks/ass/grp/1120P.pdf |script-title=ja:アイヌ語地名リスト |trans-title=Ainu Language Place Name List |publisher=Office of Ainu Measures Promotion, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government |language=ja |access-date=January 29, 2015}}</ref> |
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==Demographics== |
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As of December 31, 2020, the city had a [[population]] of 3,019, with 1,788 [[household]]s, and a [[population density|density]] of 62 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is 55.99 km<sup>2</sup>. The population of Utashinai has been declining very rapidly for the past 80 years.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.city.utashinai.hokkaido.jp|title= Utashinai City Population Statistics|publisher= Utashinai City Local Government|language= ja|access-date= 14 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115141531/https://www.city.utashinai.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/category/115.html |archive-date=15 January 2021}}</ref> |
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{{Historical populations |
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| 1950 | 40,954 |
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| 1960 | 38,002 |
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| 1970 | 19,334 |
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| 1980 | 10,178 |
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| 1990 | 8,279 |
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| 2000 | 5,941 |
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| 2010 | 4,387 |
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| 2020 | 3,019 |
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|align = none |
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| footnote = |
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}} |
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==Culture== |
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===Mascot=== |
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[[File:Horun-kun.png|thumb|left|200px|Horun-kun, the city's mascot]] |
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Utashinai's mascot is {{Nihongo|'''Horun-kun'''|ホルンくん}}. He is a sheep who moved from Switzerland to Japan. He carries an alphorn. He was unveiled in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.city.utashinai.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00000006.html|title=プロフィール|website=Utashinai}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Cities in Hokkaido]] |
[[Category:Cities in Hokkaido]] |
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{{Hokkaido-geo-stub}} |
{{Hokkaido-geo-stub}} |
Latest revision as of 00:08, 28 February 2024
Utashinai
歌志内市 | |
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Coordinates: 43°31′N 142°2′E / 43.517°N 142.033°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Hokkaido |
Prefecture | Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Takaoki Murakami |
Area | |
• Total | 55.99 km2 (21.62 sq mi) |
Population (January 31, 2024) | |
• Total | 2,662 |
• Density | 48/km2 (120/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
City hall address | 5, Aza Honchō, Utashinai-shi, Hokkaidō 073-0492 |
Website | www |
Symbols | |
Bird | Japanese bush-warbler |
Flower | Azalea |
Mascot | Horun-kun (ホルンくん) |
Tree | Japanese rowan |
Utashinai (歌志内市, Utashinai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is Japan's smallest city by population.
History[edit]
It was formerly a prosperous coal mining city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948, and has been decreasing every year since.
Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an alpine tourist destination have met with mixed success. The town has adopted a Swiss theme as part of its tourist oriented strategy and many new buildings are Swiss chalet style. A medium-sized ski hill, Kamoidake, attracts a decent crowd of locals and hosts frequent ski meets, while a hot spring resort called Tyrol, after the Austrian region, is known throughout Hokkaido for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience population decline and economic stagnation. The high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.
Timeline[edit]
- 1890 - Sorachi Coal Mine opened, founding of Utashinai.
- 1897 - Utashinai Village split away from Nae Village (now the city of Sunagawa).
- 1900 - Ashibetsu Village splits off.
- 1906 - Utashinai becomes a Second Class Municipality.
- 1919 - Utashinai becomes a First Class Municipality.
- 1922 - Akabira Village split off.
- 1940 - Utashinai becomes a town.
- 1949 - Part of the town splits off into Kamisunagawa Town.
- July 1, 1958 - Utashinai becomes a city.
- 1971 - Sumitomo closes Utashinai Mine.
- 1988 - Kamiutashinai Mine closed.
- 1995 - Sorachi Mine closed.
- 2003 - Mid-Sorachi Merger Conference established.
- 2004 - Merger Conference disbanded.
Geography[edit]
Penkeutashunai River, a tributary of Ishikari River, flows through Utashinai. There is Mount Kamoi on the northwest of the city.
Name[edit]
The name is derived from the Ainu ota-us-nay (オタウㇱナイ) meaning "River connected to a sandy beach".[1]
Demographics[edit]
As of December 31, 2020, the city had a population of 3,019, with 1,788 households, and a density of 62 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 55.99 km2. The population of Utashinai has been declining very rapidly for the past 80 years.[2]
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1950 | 40,954 | — |
1960 | 38,002 | −7.2% |
1970 | 19,334 | −49.1% |
1980 | 10,178 | −47.4% |
1990 | 8,279 | −18.7% |
2000 | 5,941 | −28.2% |
2010 | 4,387 | −26.2% |
2020 | 3,019 | −31.2% |
Culture[edit]
Mascot[edit]
Utashinai's mascot is Horun-kun (ホルンくん). He is a sheep who moved from Switzerland to Japan. He carries an alphorn. He was unveiled in 1998.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ アイヌ語地名リスト [Ainu Language Place Name List] (PDF) (in Japanese). Office of Ainu Measures Promotion, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ "Utashinai City Population Statistics" (in Japanese). Utashinai City Local Government. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- ^ "プロフィール". Utashinai.
External links[edit]
- Official Website (in Japanese)