Shiogama

is a city in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The city was seriously affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. However, between 1 March and 31 August 2011, less than 1% of the people left the city.
Geography
Shiogama is in the central part of Miyagi Prefecture. It is between Sendai and Matsushima. The city is surrounded by water and mountains: Matsushima Bay is on one side and Matsushima Hills on the other.
The flat areas of the city are mainly reclaimed land. About 60 percent of the urban area is on reclaimed land and 40 percent on hills. People living in the town are crowded into a narrow area. Not much land is good for stripmalls.
Writing the name of the city
The Japanese language has several writing systems. One of them is kanji. Different kanji may have the same pronunciation. Some kanji are similar in form and meaning. There are two ways to write the name of the city. Both ways have the basic meaning "a pot for boiling salt". Both sound the same, but have slightly different meanings.
One way is to write Yan Fu . The other way is Yan Zao . The first way to write the city name is often used, such as on the post office, train station, many brand names, and on signs.
The second way comes from the history and an important landmark in the city. Shiogama shrine is at the top of a hill in the city. It is an important Shinto shrine in the Tohoku region. The city got its name from the shrine, but the shrine is written Yan Zao Shen She . The first character, Yan , is an old character for salt. It has been replaced in the list of kanji for general use by a simpler character, Yan . The second character, Zao , or kamado/kama, means a large cooking area made of earth. The newer name uses Fu , which means an iron pot.
Transportation
Train stations
Tohoku Main Line: Shiogama
Senseki Line: Nishi-Shiogama, Hon-Shiogama, Higashi-Shiogama
Major roads
National Highways
Route 45
Miyagi Prefectural Highways
3 Shiogama--Yoshioka
10 Shiogama--Watari
11 Shiogama-ko (Shiogama--Shiogama-ko)
23 Sendai--Shiogama
35 Izumi--Shigoama
58 Shiogama--Shichigahama--Tagajo
Culture
Festivals
Shiogama 'Hote' festival (10 March)
Shiogama Flower festival and Shiogama Citizens Festival (late April)
Shiogama Harbor festival (Eve:before Marine Day/festival:Marine Day July)
Visitor attractions
Shiogama Jinja
Shiwahiko Jinja
Shiogama Jinja Museum
Okama Jinja
Magaki Jinja
Shiogama Port
Shiogama Fish Market
Urato Islands
Nagai Shiyouiti Manga Museum
Shiogama-city Community Center (Fureai ESP Shiogama)
Shiogama Kyokusui
Noda no Tamagawa(One of Japan's six Tamagawa)
Mother and child stone
Marine Gate Shiogama
Notable people from Shiogama
Konosuke Fuji (Lyricist)
Miyuki Hatanaka (Mogul skiier)
Itaru Hirama (Photographer)
Masao Maruyama (Anime producer)
Takemasa Moriya (Defense vice president)
Katsuichi Nagai (First editor-in-chief of Garo)
Makoto Nakahara (Japanese chess player)
Kohei Otomo (Musician for "HOUND DOG")
Tadashi Sato (Mangaka)
Hitomi Takahashi (Singer)
Su Wakai (Author)
Nobunaga Shimazaki (Seiyu)
Koichi Yamadera (Seiyu, actor, tarento)
Koichi Saura (President of The Sake Samurai Association)
References
Other websites
Official website
Shiogama tourism and industry association
Shiogama tourism and industry association
Shiwahiko Shrine & Shiogama Shrine Official website
The Shiogama Chamber of Commerce and Industry
ShioNavi-Shiogama Navigation
Cities in Miyagi Prefecture