Kazuno, Akita

Kazuno, Akita
is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 28,329 in 12,570 households, and a population density of 40 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Kazuno is located in the far northeast corner of Akita Prefecture. The urban center is located in the Hanawa Basin, which is part of the basin of the Yoneshiro River. Outside the Hanawa Basin, it is mountainous and heavily forested, with numerous rivers and waterfalls with the Ōu Mountains and Iwate Prefecture on the east. The area has many hot springs. Much of the city is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, although the city does not border on Lake Towada self. Due to its inland location, the difference between the annual maximum temperature and the annual minimum temperature is very large and the city is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter.
Neighboring municipalities
Akita Prefecture
Kitaakita
Ōdate
Semboku
Kosaka
Iwate Prefecture
Hachimantai
Aomori Prefecture
Towada
Takko
Sannohe
Shingō
Climate
Kazuno has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters with heavy snowfalls. The average annual temperature in Kazuno is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around .
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kazuno has declined over the past 60 years.
History
The area of present-day Kazuno was settled in prehistoric times, and contains major Jōmon period archaeological sites and numerous burial mounds from the Kofun period. The area was part of ancient Mutsu Province and was ruled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain during the Edo period. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became briefly part of Rikuchū Province before being transferred to Akita Prefecture in 1871. It was organized as part of Kazuno District, Akita Prefecture in 1878 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.
The city of Kazuno was founded on April 1, 1972 by the merger of the towns of Hanawa, Towada, and Osarizawa and the village of Hachimantai.
Government
Kazuno has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes two members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita 2nd district 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Kazuno is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism. Kazuo is the main production area in Akita Prefecture for apples, pears, cherries, peaches, blueberries, quince, and prunes. Although Kazuno is located in a mountainous area, it has also cultivated rice.
Education
Kazuno has six public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. Akita Prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Transportation
Railway
East Japan Railway Company - Hanawa Line
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Highway
Local attractions
Chagama Falls – one of the Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls
Ōyu Stone Circles - Jōmon period archaeological site, Special National Historic Site of Japan
former Osarizawa Mine
Hachimantai Onsen
Ōyu Onsen
Yuza Onsen
Dainichido Bugaku - Ritual dance and music held on January 2, UNESCO Intangible cultural heritage
Alpas Sports Park
International relations
Kazuno is twinned with:
Sopron, Hungary (1995)
Liangzhou, China since November 6, 2000
Noted people from Kazuno
Junko Asari, Olympic marathon runner
Kenichi Takahashi, Olympic long-distance runner
Takayuki Matsumiya, Olympic long-distance runner
Yasuhiko Okudera, professional soccer player
Yuta Kimura, professional baseball player
Naitō Torajirō, historian
Tomoefuji Toshihide, sumo wrestler
Media
Kazuno Kiritanpo FM
References
External links
Official Website
Cities in Akita Prefecture