Takko
Geography. Takko occupies the far southeast corner of Aomori Prefecture, south of the Hakkōda Mountains. Much of the town is mountainous with peaks ranging from 700 to 1000 meters. The mountainous area is home to many indigenous plant and animal species. Wildlife includes Japanese macaque monkeys, "kamoshika," "tanuki," and Asian black bears. Neighbouring municipalities. Aomori Prefecture Iwate Prefecture Akita Prefecture Climate. The town has a cold Humid continental climate characterized by cool, short summers and long, cold winters with extremely heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification "Dfa"). The average annual temperature in Takko is 8.8 °C. The average annual  rainfall is 1375 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.8 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Takko peaked at around the year 1960 and has declined steadily over the past 60 years. It is now less than it was a century ago. History. The area around Takko has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and numerous Jōmon period remains have been discovered. The town name is derived from an Ainu word “tapkop”, meaning “small hill”. During the  Edo period, the area was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain and later by Hachinohe Domain. During the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, Takko Village was created as a separate village from former Kamigō Village. It was elevated to town status on November 10, 1928. On March 1, 1955, Kamigō Village merged back with Takko Town. Government. Takko has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of ten members. Takko is part of Sannohe District which contributes three members to the  Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The economy of Takko is heavily dependent on agriculture and forestry. The main crop is garlic, of which Takko is Japan's largest producer. Education. Takko has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education. High school (1) Middle school (1) Elementary schools (3) Kindergarten (1) Nursery schools (2)