Tanagura, Fukushima

Tanagura (棚倉町, Tanagura-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020^[update], the town had an estimated population of 13,827 in 5053 households,^[1] and a population density of 86 persons per km². The total area of the town was 159.93 km² (61.75 sq mi).

Tanagura 棚倉町
Town
Tanagura Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Tanagura in Fukushima Prefecture
Tanagura
Coordinates: 37°01′47.5″N 140°22′46.5″E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
District	Higashishirakawa
Area
• Total	159.93 km2 (61.75 sq mi)
Population  (April 2020)
• Total	13,827
• Density	86/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Japanese Red Pine
- Flower	Azalea
Phone number	0247-33-3111
Address	33 Nakayano, Tanagura, Tanagura-machi, Higashishirakawa-gun, Fukushima-ken 963-6131
Website	Official website

Site of Tanagura Castle

Geography

Tanagura is located in the southernmost portion of Fukushima prefecture, bordering on Tochigi Prefecture to the west and Ibaraki Prefecture to the south.

• Mountains: Yamizosan (1021.8m)
• Rivers: Kuji River

Neighboring municipalities

• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Asakawa
  • Hanawa
  • Samegawa
  • Shirakawa
  • Yamatsuri
• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Daigo
• Tochigi Prefecture
  • Nasu
  • Ōtawara

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[2] the population of Tanagura was relatively constant throughout the late 20th century but has begun to decline in the 21st.

Tanagura has been recognized by Japan's Office for the Promotion of Regional Revitalization (Kishida Cabinet Secretariat), which promotes the development of new technologies to combat depopulation, for its digital transformation/telework infrastructure. Related projects have been awarded over ¥6M in government grants.^[3]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	12,536	—
1930	14,150	+12.9%
1940	14,835	+4.8%
1950	19,865	+33.9%
1960	18,755	−5.6%
1970	16,621	−11.4%
1980	16,105	−3.1%
1990	16,606	+3.1%
2000	16,376	−1.4%
2010	15,054	−8.1%
2020	13,343	−11.4%

Climate

Tanagura has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Tanagura is 11.6 °C (52.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,408 mm (55.4 in) with September as the wettest month.^[4]

History

The area of present-day Tanagura was part of ancient Mutsu Province. The area formed part of the holdings of Tanagura Domain, in the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part Higashishirakawa District within the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province. Tanagura Town was formed on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The town expanded on January 1, 1950 by the annexation of the neighboring villages of Yashirogawa, Chikatsu, Yamaoka and Takano.

Economy

Tanagura has a mixed economy with agriculture and precision manufacturing predominating.

Education

Tanagura has four public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education.

High schools

• Shumei High School

Junior High school

• Tanagura Junior High School

Elementary schools

• Chikatsu Elementary School
• Takano Elementary School
• Tanagura Elementary School
• Yashirogawa Elementary School

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Suigun Line
  • Chikatsu - Nakatoyo - Iwaki-Tanakura

Highway

• National Route 118
• National Route 289

International relations

• Sparta, Greece, friendship city since September 23, 1986
• Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, since October 8, 2002

Local attractions

• Site of Tanagura Castle, National Historic Site^[5]
• Nagare temple ruins, National Historic Site^[6]
• Tsutsuwake Shrine