Country Japan -Tree Asunaro -Bird Whooper swan Population 59,807 (Feb 2017) Local time Thursday 3:18 AM | Region Tōhoku -Flower Rosa rugosa Area 864.2 km² Prefecture Aomori Prefecture | |
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Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) Weather 0°C, Wind W at 29 km/h, 64% Humidity | ||
Mutsu (むつ市, Mutsu-shi) is a city located in northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 28 February 2017, the city had an estimated population of 59,807 and a population density of 69.2 persons per km², in 29,304 households. Its total area was 864.16 square kilometres (333.65 sq mi), making it the largest municipality in Aomori Prefecture in terms of area.
Contents
- Map of Mutsu Aomori Prefecture Japan
- Geography
- Neighbouring municipalities
- Climate
- Demographics
- History
- Government
- Economy
- Education
- High schools
- Railway
- Highway
- International relations
- Local attractions
- Noted people from Mutsu
- References
Map of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Geography
Mutsu occupies most of Shimokita Peninsula and is bordered by Mutsu Bay to the south and Tsugaru Strait to the north, and is the northernmost city on the island of Honshū. Parts of the city is within the limits of the Shimokita Hantō Quasi-National Park. The volcanic Osorezan Mountain Range extends across the northern portion of the city, and includes a number of caldera lakes.
Neighbouring municipalities
Climate
Mutsu has a cold maritime climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) bordering on a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mutsu is 7.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1339 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 20.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.6 °C.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Mutsu has declined over the past 40 years.
History
Mutsu was founded as September 1, 1959 through the merger of the former towns of Ōminato and Tanabu. Tanabu had been the location of a daikansho under the Morioka Domain in the Edo period, and was a resettlement and colonization zone for dispossessed ex-samurai of the defeated Aizu Domain after the Boshin War. Ōminato was a port town, and home to the Ōminato Guard District, a major base for the Imperial Japanese Navy until the end of World War II. The base facilities were used by the United States Navy during the occupation of Japan, and (on a reduced scale) by the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force to date.
The new city was originally called Ōminato-Tanabu (coupling of the names of two antecedent towns); its name was changed to Mutsu in 1960. At the time, it was the only city with a hiragana name (むつ), which was adopted to avoid confusion with the original kanji word Mutsu (陸奥) which indicates the old province that covered most of the modern Tōhoku region.
On March 14, 2005, the towns of Kawauchi and Ōhata, and the village of Wakinosawa (all from Shimokita District) were merged into Mutsu.
Government
Mutsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.
Economy
The economy of Mutsu is heavily dependent on agriculture, forestry and fishing, especially scallop aquaculture in Mutsu Bay. The city is also the location for various facilities of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and was the home port for the nuclear powered research vessel Mutsu, until its decommissioning in 1997.
Education
Mutsu has 13 public elementary schools and nine middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.