Motomiya, Fukushima (City)

Infobox City


official_name = Motomiya City
native_name = 本宮市

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map_caption = Location of Motomiya City within Fukushima, Japan.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Prefecture
subdivision_name = Japan
subdivision_name1 = Fukushima
established_title = Established
established_date = January 1, 2007
area_total_km2 = 87.94
settlement_type = City
population_as_of = January 2007
population_total = 31,718
population_density_km2 = 360.7
city_bird = Japanese Bush-warbler, ウグイス
website = http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp
footnotes = nihongo|Motomiya|本宮市|Motomiya-shi is a city situated in the middle of Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of December 2006, the total population of the town and village that merged to form Motomiya was 31,718 and the total area was 87.94 km², giving a population density of 360.7 people per km². It is the smallest city in Fukushima, both in terms of population and size.

Located conveniently in the middle of Fukushima Prefecture, Motomiya City has easy access to national transportation route including the Tohoku Expressway, Japan National Route 4, and Tohoku JR East rail lines via Motomiya Station.

Surrounding Municipalities

* Koriyama City
* Nihonmatsu City
* Adachi District：Otama Village
* Tamura District：Miharu Town

Geography

Conveniently located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture, Motomiya possesses a wide range of geographic features from the hills in the east, to the plains in the west, and the Abukuma River.

Running through Motomiya City, the Abukuma river divides Motomiya in two. On the former Motomiya Town side, bordered by the Ou (奥羽) Mountain Range (including Mt. Adatara) in the west, and the Abukuma River in the east, flat plains run north to south extending into the Koriyama Basin. The mountains to the north in Otama Village and Koriyama City serve as the sources for several rivers and streams including the Hyakka?? River (百日川), Adatara River (安達太良川), Seto River (瀬戸川), and Gohyaku River (五百川). The Hyakka?? River and Adatara River share the same source but diverge downstream.

On the former Shirasawa Village side, there are gentle rolling hills, and it is said that the Shirasawa Village side is locked in the hills.

The average elevation is about 200 meter above sea level, but it can be as high as 400 to 500 meters in some areas.

History

On January 1, 2007, the former town of Motomiya and the former village of Shirasawa, both in Adachi District, merged to form the present city. The city became the first new municipality to form under the New Merger Law, in effect since April 2005.

Prior to the merger with Shirasawa Village, as of 2003, the town of Motomiya Town had an estimated population of 21,981 and a density of 555.92 persons per km². The total area was 39.54 km².

Further translation forthcoming

Municipality

* Mayor: Mr. Kaju Sato, 佐藤嘉
** Inaugurated February 4, 2007)
**First elected Mayor of former Motomiya Town in 1994.
**Re-elected unopposed 4 times.
** Currently in his 5th term.
** In-law of the former Governor of Fukushima, Eisaku Sato, 佐藤栄佐久.

City Districts

*Residences without “Oaza”
* Motomiya, 本宮This is the original Motomiya area since before the Showa era. Most city departments including City Hall are located in this district. Now, portions of the former agricultural northern area are being converted to industrial and residential use.
* Aota, 青田This district is a typical farming area. While the eastern half is undergoing rapid development thanks to its proximity to National Route 4, the western half remains largely agricultural.
* Arai, 荒井This district has well developed retail and industrial areas. Many large shopping centers and factories are located in this area.
* Niita, 仁井田This is a geographically narrow district. Because of its shape, homes and businesses line the roads giving it an appearance reminiscent of the Showa era.
* Iwane, 岩根The northern part of this district is mountainous, while the southern part is farmland. The origin of the district’s name comes from the large instances of peculiarly shaped rocks. Even now, specimens can still be seen. A rise in the district’s population can be attributed to the Mizuki ga Oka housing development.
* Sekishita, 関下This district is a farming area following the Abukuma River with large belts of worked arable land.
* Takagi, 高木This is the downtown district. Like Niita District, homes and shops line the road as in the Showa era. Constructed above in the hills, Kita Koriyama New Town has contributed to a population increase in this district.
* Shiraiwa, 白岩This was the nucleus of the former Shirasawa Village, and still contains the Shirasawa gymnasium, Yume Library, Village Sports Grounds, Community Center, Culture Center and many other civic buildings. Nestled in the hills, farmers have taken to growing rice and crops in small fields between the slopes.
* Nukazawa, 糠沢A quiet farming area on the western part of former Shirasawa Village, the opening of Hikari ga Oka housing development makes this district one of the most populous in the former Shirasawa Village.
* Wada, 和田This district is a farming area on the northern part of former Shirasawa Village. It is home to the Wanda Spring.
* Inazawa, 稲沢Having won prizes for demonstrating “what a farming village should be,” this district is the very paradigm of a Japanese farming community.
* Nagaya, 長屋This district is another mountainous farming district with farming practices similar to Shiraiwa.
* Matsuzawa, 松沢

Changes to the Municipality

* In 1871, Motomiya Village (本宮村)、Aota Village (青田村)、Arai Village (荒井村)、Niita Village(仁井田村)、Inashirota Village (苗代田村)、Haneseishi Village(羽瀬石村)、Sagehi Village (下樋村)、Sekishita Village (関下村)、Takagi Village (高木村)、Wada Village (和田村)、Nukazawa Village (糠沢村)、Shiraiwa Village (白岩村)、Nagaya Village (長屋村)、Inazawa Village (稲沢村)、Matsuzawa Village (松沢村) were formed.
*On April 1, 1889, Motomiya Town, Aota Village, Arai Village, Niita Village、Iwane Village (岩根村, formed from Inashirota, Haneseishi, Sagehi Villages and later Sekishita Village), Wagisawa Village (和木沢村, formed from Wada, Takagi and Nukazawa Village), and Shiraiwa Village(白岩村, formed from Shiraiwa, Nagaya, Inazawa, and Matsuzawa Villages) were formed.
* On April 1, 1954, a new Motomiya Town was formed from Aota, Arai, Niita Villages and Motomiya Town.
* On April 30, 1955, Wagisawa Village was dissolved with Takagi District being added to Motomiya Town, and Wada and Nukazawa Districts being added to Shiraiwa Village to create Shirasawa Village.
*On March 31, 1956, Motomiya Town absorbed Iwane Village.
*On January 1, 2007, Motomiya Town and Shirasawa Village merged to create Motomiya City.

Motomiya City Civic Centers

* Motomiya City Hall, 本宮市役所（Formerly Motomiya Town Offices, 本宮町役場）
* Shirasawa Consolidated District Offices, 白沢総合支所（Formerly Shirasawa Village Offices, 白沢村役場）
** Iwane District Offices, 岩根支所
** Shiraiwa District Offices, 白岩支所

Police Department

* Motomiya Police Station (Currently slated to be abolished due to budget cuts with duties being divided between Nihonmatsu and Northern Koriyama Police Stations)
** Iwane Police Home/Offices, 岩根駐在所
** Shiraiwa Police Home/Offices, 白岩駐在所
** Shirasawa Police Home/Offices, 白沢駐在所

Post Office Branches

* Motomiya Branch
* Motomiya Northern Branch
* Iwane Branch
* Arai Japan Post Insurance Branch
* Shirasawa Branch

Fire Department

*Adachi Administrative District Combined Southern Fire Station

Education (Motomiya City School District)]

High Schools (Ages 15-18)

* [http://www.motomiya-h.fks.ed.jp// Motomiya High School]

Junior High Schools (Ages 12-14)

* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Motomiya 1st Junior High School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Motomiya 2nd Junior High School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/school/shirasawachu/index.htm/ Shirasawa Junior High School]

Elementary Schools (Ages 7-11)

* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Iwane Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Gohyakugawa Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Motomiya Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/school/mayumisyo/menu.html Motomiya Mayumi Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/school/nukazawasho/ Nukazawa Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Shiraiwa Elementary School]
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/school/wadasho/ Wada Elementary School]

Kindergarten and Preschools (Ages 4-6)

*Motomiya 1st Preschool
*Motomiya 2nd Preschool
*Motomiya 3rd Preschool
*Motomiya 4th Preschool
*Shirasawa Preschool
*Gohyakugawa Kindergarten
*Iwane Kindergarten
*Nukazawa Kindergarten
*Shiraiwa Kindergarten
*Wada Kindergarten
*Gakko Honin Motomiya Kindergarten
*Komei Preschool
*Donguri Preschool
*Motomiya Children’s House

[http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/kyoiku/655431497.html/ Motomiya Schools Page]

Industry

Translation Forthcoming

Parks

*Mizuiro Park
*Takagi Athletics Field, 高木総合運動公園
*Hebi no Hana Playground, 蛇の鼻遊園

Transportation

With the early construction of Motomiya Station on the Japanese rail network, Motomiya was an early departure point for people leaving for Tokyo. It is said that when Inawashiro’s famous Dr. Hideo Noguchi left, he came by carriage to Motomiya to board a train for Tokyo.

However, predating rail links, roads leading to towns all over Fukushima including Aizu City, Soma City, and Miharu City converged here, making Motomiya a hub for transportation. Even though it only had gravel roads, the transportation industry quickly grew, and with it, the bus and taxi services. Since these times, much of the traffic has been diverted to nearby Koriyama City and Nihonmatsu City. But even now, roads to Aizu from National Route 4 (Prefectural Route 8, Motomiya-Atami line), and roads to the Tosaki(戸崎) traffic circle such as Prefectural Route 118 from Obama (小浜)(Nihonmatsu City) and Route 146 from Ishimushiro(石筵) (Koriyama City) converge in Motomiya, still making it an important hub for transportation and large numbers of freight trucks still pass through.

Rail

* Tohoku JR East rail lines
** Motomiya Station (main)
**Gohyakugawa Station (unmanned)
*The Tohoku Shinkansen passes through Motomiya, but there is no station.

Buses

*Fukushima Public Transportation
*Motomiya City Bus

Roads

=National Expressway=

*Tohoku Expressway, Motomiya Interchange

National Routes

* Japan National Route 4

Prefectural Routes

*Fukushima Prefectural Route 8 (Motomiya to Atami)
*Fukushima Prefectural Route 28 (Motomiya to Miharu)
*Fukushima Prefectural Route 30 (Motomiya to Tsuchiyu)
*Fukushima Prefectural Route 73 (Nihonmatsu to Kaneya)
*Fukushima Prefectural Route 40 (Iino to Miharu to Ishikawa)

External links

* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/ Motomiya official website] jp icon
* [http://www.fm-mot.com/ FM Mot.com もとみや] jp icon
* [http://www.city.motomiya.lg.jp/old/vill_shirasawa/ Former Shirasawa Village Website] jp icon