Noheji
Geography. Noheji occupies the southeastern coastline of Mutsu Bay at the base of the Shimokita Peninsula. Neighboring municipalities. Aomori Prefecture Climate. The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification "Cfa"). The average annual temperature in Noheji is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1243 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.1 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Noheji peaked  in around the year 1970 and has declined over the past 50 years. History. The area around Noheji was inhabited by the "Emishi" people until the historical period, and the name "Noheji" is derived from "Nosobechi", or "place where a pure river flows through a field" in the Ainu language. During the Edo period, the area was controlled by the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain and prospered due to its fishing industry and location on the road connecting Morioka Domain with the Hirosaki Domain. During the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration, the Battle of Noheji occurred between the Tokugawa  loyalist forces of Morioka Domain and pro-imperial forces of Hirosaki Domain on 11 November 1868, resulting in a victory for the Imperial faction. During the post-Meiji restoration creation of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, the village of Noheiji was established. Noheji was elevated to town status on 28 August 1898. Government. Noheji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Noheji is part of Shimokita District which contributes four members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is  part of Aomori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The economy of Noheji is heavily dependent on commercial fishing, especially for scallops, and on agriculture with the raising of mountain yams predominating. The town also serves as a commercial and transportation center for the surrounding rural areas. Education. Noheji 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. The town also has one private high school. Transportation. Railway. Aoimori Railway Company - Aoimori Railway Line East  Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Ōminato Line