Ishinomaki, Miyagi

Ishinomaki City 石巻市
—  City  —
Flag
Location of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture
Ishinomaki City
Coordinates: 38°25′N 141°18′E / 38.417°N 141.3°E / 38.417; 141.3Coordinates: 38°25′N 141°18′E / 38.417°N 141.3°E / 38.417; 141.3
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Miyagi Prefecture
Government
– Mayor	Hiroshi Kameyama
Area
– Total	555.36 km2 (214.4 sq mi)
Population (January 1, 2010)
– Total	164,294
– Density	295.83/km2 (766.2/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Japanese Black Pine
- Flower	Azalea
Phone number	0225-95-1111
Address	14-1 Kokucho, Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi-ken 986-8501
Website	www.city.ishinomaki.lg.jp

Ishinomaki (石巻市, Ishinomaki-shi^?) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

As of January 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 164,294 and a population density of 295.83 persons per km². The total area is 555.35 km².

A rice-shipping port founded in the 4th century, Ishinomaki is known for its large fish market, a museum devoted to manga, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty on a small island in the Old Kitakami River.^{[citation needed]}

History

The city was founded on April 1, 1933.

On April 1, 2005, Ishinomaki was merged with six towns, Kahoku, Kanan, Kitakami, Monou and Ogatsu, all from the former Monou District, and Oshika, from Oshika District, to more than quadruple its area and add nearly 60,000 people to its population.

Ogatsu

The town of Ogatsu is regionally famous for its inkstones and has an annual scallop festival in the summer. The city was a base for several ships in Japan's whaling fleet.

The city also hosts a full-size replica of the Japanese warship San Juan Bautista, a ship commissioned in 1613 by Date Masamune, Daimyo of Sendai, to transport an embassy to the Pope in Rome.

Ishinomaki Station area roughly corresponds to Manga Road, along with Ishinomori Manga Museum in town are celebrating Shotaro Ishinomori's manga legacy.

Ishinomaki includes Tashirojima (aka Manga Island), Ajishima, and Kinkasan, three islands off the south coast of Oshika Peninsula.

2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsidence

Ishinomaki port on 20 March 2011 showing heavy damage to ships and port facilities caused by the 11 March 2011 tsunami

The city was among the most seriously affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.^[1][2] A tsunami about 10 meters high traveled 600 meters inland and destroyed around 80% of the 700 houses in the coastal whaling port of Ayukawa and district of Kadonowaki.^[3][4] Approximately 46% of the city was inundated by the tsunami.^[5]

One elementary school, Okawa Elementary, was completely destroyed, killing 75 of 108 students and 10 of 13 teachers and staff. The teachers and students were evacuating from the school and were swept away bey the tsunami while crossing a nearby river bridge. One of the teachers who survived later committed suicide.^[6][7][8][9]

As of 17 June 2011 (2011 -06-17)^[update], a total of 3,097 deaths had been confirmed in Ishinomaki due to the tsunami, with 2,770 unaccounted for.^[10] Approximately 29,000 city residents lost their homes.^[11]

The earthquake shifted the city southeast and downward, lowering it by as much as 1.2 m in some areas and causing it to flood twice daily at high tide.^[12]

International friendship links

• Civitavecchia, Lazio, Italy
• Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
• Port of Everett: Everett, Washington (State), United States

Japanese sister cities

• Hitachinaka, Ibaraki
• Kahoku, Yamagata

Education

Ishinomaki Okawa Elementary School (大川小学校) was one of the schools worst affected by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. When the earthquake occurred, the staff and students evacuated the school, but were hit by the subsequent tsunami. Of the 108 registered students, 77 are missing or presumed to be dead.^[13]

Transportation

Railway stations

• JR East: The central station is Ishinomaki Station.
  • Senseki Line: Hebita - Rikuzen-Yamashita - Ishinomaki
  • Ishinomaki Line: Maeyachi - Kakeyama - Kanomata - Sobanokami - Ishinomaki - Rikuzen-Inai - Watanoha - Mangoku-ura - Sawada

Intercity bus

Daily scheduled intercity buses bound for the following cities on the Sanriku Expressway are served from Ishinomaki Station.

• Sendai via Aeon Ishinomaki Shopping Center (Mall), by Miyakou Bus Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Miyagi Transportation (Miyagi Kotsu) Co., Ltd.
• Shinjuku, Tokyo via Shibuya(overnight): via Sendai, operated by Miyagi Transportation (Miyagi Kotsu) Co., Ltd. and Keio Dentetsu Bus Corporation

A replica of the Japanese-built galleon San Juan Bautista

Major roads

• Sanriku Expressway (Ishinomaki-kanan, Kahoku, Monou-toyosato and Monou-tsuyama interchanges)
• National Road Route 45, Route 108, Route 398

See also

Japan portal

• Ishinomaki Saint John the Apostle Orthodox Church
• Ishii lock

External links

Media related to Ishinomaki, Miyagi at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)
• Official website in English

References

1. ^ Satellite Photos of Japan Before and After the Quake and Tsunami New York Times, 13 March 2011
2. ^ Kyodo News, "Death toll may surpass 10,000 in Miyagi", Japan Times, 14 March 2011, p. 1.
3. ^ Kyodo News, "Miyagi coastal whaling port pulverized, little more than memory", Japan Times, 18 March 2011, p. 3.
4. ^ Gihooly, Rob, "'Nothing can prepare you to witness this', Japan Times, 20 March 2011, p. 7.
5. ^ NHK, "Tsunami flooded 100 square kilometers of city land", 29 March 2011.
6. ^ Gilhooly, Rob, "Parents unable to let go continue search for missing kids", Japan Times, 13 October 2011, p. 3.
7. ^ Associated Press, "Loss-staggered school reopens", Japan Times, 19 April 2011, p. 3.
8. ^ Kyodo News, "Loss-hit Ishinomaki school opens", Japan Times, 22 April 2011, p. 2.
9. ^ Kyodo News, "School that lost 70% of its pupils mourns", Japan Times, 29 April 2011, p. 1.
10. ^ Kyodo News, "Ishinomaki can't tally March 11 missing", Japan Times, 17 June 2011, p. 2.
11. ^ Robson, Seth, "Ishinomaki residents rebuild their lives as they rebuild their town", Stars and Stripes, 30 August 2011.
12. ^ Alabaster, Jay (May 9, 2011). "Quake shifted Japan; towns now flood at high tide". Contra Costa Times/Associated Press. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18026656?nclick_check=1. Retrieved May 9, 2011. 
13. ^ Lah, Kyung. "In Japan, parents try to go on: 'My child should come home to me'." CNN. March 23, 2011. Retrieved on March 23, 2011.