Saroma, Hokkaido

History

Saroma was established in 1894 as part of the Japanese expansion into and colonization of Hokkaido. The first permanent Japanese settler was Jingorou Suzuki, who homesteaded near present-day Hamasaroma, on Saroma Lake. The following decade saw the establishment of a city hall, a railroad, agricultural zoning, and the building of roads. In 1914, the Saroma area was established as Tofutsu Village, the name changed the next year to Saroma Village.

In the early Shōwa era 1930s, additional railroad connections were built to Saroma and several hundred households moved to the area. In 1948 Saroma High School was opened as a night school. 1953 saw Saroma become an official town, with the establishment of a town song and official seal. In 1955, the population reached 15,656. The following year, Saroma merged with neighboring Wakasa Village.

The 1960s and 70s saw greater development in Saroma, with the beginning of full-time operation at Saroma High in 1962 and construction of a proper road over Rukushi Pass to Kitami in 1968. In 1972, the Morinaga Corporation opened a butter factory in central Saroma. The population in 1975 was 9,307.

In 1980, Saroma and the city of Palmer, Alaska became official sister cities. With the privatization of Japan Railways in 1987, the Yumo Line through Saroma was closed, and replaced with a bus service paralleling the former train routes. The following year the Saroma Tunnel was opened through Rukushi pass, allowing year-round access to the nearby city of Kitami. 1994 marked the 100th anniversary of the town, which was celebrated with the building of a memorial park and park golf course.

On November 7, 2006, a tornado struck the town, killing nine people and injuring twelve more. See also 2006 Saroma tornado. Floods also hit the town the same year, causing widespread damage but no injuries. Saroma gained easier access to neighboring communities with new a tunnel to Engaru completed in 2002, and in 2009 with the 4.1 km New Saroma Tunnel to Kitami.

Climate

The areas of the town near Lake Saroma do not experience a large temperature range compared to inland areas, which have colder winters and hotter summers.

Healthcare

As of 2013 many Saroma residents used healthcare facilities in Engaru and Kitami due to a lack of healthcare facilities in Saroma. The town previously had a full hospital. The facility was downgraded to a clinic, Saroma Kosei Clinic and at a later point it closed. Oda Clinic also closed, and in the 2010s Saroma had no healthcare facilities. By 2013 Sendai company Keishoukai Medical opened Clinic Saroma as a limited service healthcare facility.

Education

There are five public schools in Saroma.

Saroma Town Board of Education manages education in town from preschool through compulsory education grades 1-9. The Superintendent is Kenichi Kagawa. Saroma High School (北海道佐呂間高等学校) (grades 10-12) is managed by Hokkaido Prefecture.

Municipal chools in Saroma:

There are also three preschools, one associated with each of the elementary schools.

International relations

On October 28, 1980, Saroma and Palmer agreed to a bilateral sister relation to promote cultural exchange and support a home-stay program for their residents. The relationship began with a friendship formed between Mr. Mutsuhiro Ishiguro, an English teacher at Saroma High School, and Palmer resident Edward Holmes. They met over their ham radios, and over time formed a friendship. Mr. Holmes eventually visited Saroma, which then led to a delegation from Saroma to Palmer, where they signed the sister city accords. Since that time, additional relationships have formed under the auspices of the town connection.

The sister city relationship is managed by the Palmer Saroma Kai (パーマ・サロマ会).