Shiraoi, Hokkaidō

Infobox City Japan
Name= Shiraoi
JapaneseName= 白老町
Map

Region= Hokkaidō
Prefecture= Hokkaidō (Iburi)
District=Shiraoi
Area_km2= 425.75
PopDate=31 May 2008
Population= 20,3731
Density_km2=47.86
Coords= coord|42|33|N|141|21|E|region:JP_type:city
Tree=nihongo|Sorbus commixta|ナナカマド|Nanakamado
Flower=nihongo|Lespedeza bicolor|エゾヤマハギ|Ezo-yama-hagi
Bird=
Symbol

SymbolDescription= Shiraoi symbol
Mayor=
CityHallPostalCode=059-0995　
CityHallAddress=1-1-1 Ōmachi, Shiraoi-chō, Shiraoi-gun, Hokkaidō
CityHallPhone=0144-82-2121
CityHallLink= [http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/default.htm Town of Shiraoi]

nihongo|Shiraoi|白老町|Shiraoi-chō is a town located in Shiraoi District, Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 31 May 2008, the town had a population of 20,371cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/default.htm|title=Shiraoi Official Web Page|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Town|language=Japanese|accessdate=2008-06-12] The town was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.

History

Shiraoi like the rest of Hokkaidō was populated by the Ainu According to the town's official website, the name, Shiraoi, means "Rainbows are frequent here" in the Ainu language.. Other sources state that the name comes from "Shiraunai" meaning "Horse-flies are common here". [nihongo|Akagi Sanpei|赤木 三兵, nihongo|Journey of Hokkaidō Place Names—Notes on Ainu Language Place Names|北海道 地名の旅—アイヌ語地名解 |Hokkaidō Chimei no Tabi — Ainugo Chimei Kai, pg 65.]

In 1867 the Sendai domain established a fort in Shiraoi and work began on nihongo|Shiogama Shrine|塩釜神社|Shiogama Jinjya. The following year the Boshin War caused Sendai to retreat from Shiraoi and return to Sendai proper. After the revolt was put down the government dismantled the fort in 1870.

The end of the 19th century saw expansion of the town. A road was established connecting Shiraoi with Muroran, Sapporo, and Hakodate in 1873. 19 years later the first railroad station was established. The villages of Shadai and Shikiu are established. Two events interrupt this expansion: in 1874 Mount Tarumae erupts and in 1881 Emperor Meiji visits.cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/profile/history1.htm|title=History 1800|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Official Website|accessdate=2008-06-13] .

Geography

The total area is convert|425.72|km2|sqmi. The town is convert|28.0|km|mi East to West and convert|26.4|km|mi North to South. 82% of this area is forested. cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/profile/local.htm|title=Local|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Town|accessdate=2008-06-12] .

Shiraoi is crossed by a number of rivers running from the mountains like Mount Horohoro to the Pacific Ocean. These include:
* Shadai River
* Shiraoi River
* Shikyu River
* Betsubetsu River

Mount Horohoro and Lake Kuttara are part of Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Lake Poroto is also a place of natural beauty.

Climate

Shiraoi has an oceanic climate, mild when compared to the rest of Hokkaidō. The annual temperature ranges between the extremes of convert|27.8|C|F and convert|-20.8|C|F. The average annual temperature is convert|7.2|C|F. Shiraoi receives convert|1660|mm|in of precipitation annually. This only results in convert|103|cm|in of snow annually. In a typical year, the snow lingers for 80 days. Accumulated snow rarely exceeding convert|44|cm|in. Wind velocity averages merely convert|1.6|m/s|mph, that is less than half of the neighboring Tomakomai and Muroran.cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/profile/topology-climate.htm|title=Topology and Climate|date=2002-11-25|publisher=Shiraoi Offical Website|accessdate=2008-06-16] .

Demographics

Shiraoi has a density of 47.86 persons per km².

Economy

In the 1930s Shiraoi began the cultivation of mushrooms, such as Shiitake, and cod roe at Kojohama. Shiraoi imported the knowledge of cod roe prodution from Iwanai, Hokkaidō.

Shiraoi has been involved in the harvest of marine products such as the Horsehair crab and konbu. Because of dwindling resources harvesting of hair crab has been reduced to a test operation from middle of July until middle of August.cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/attracion/marine_products.htm|title=Marine Products|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Town|accessdate=2008-06-16]

Shiraoi introduced the raising of beef cattle from Shimane Prefecture in 1954. In 1966 Shiraoi began with the production of chicken eggs. Shiraoi boasts 550,000 chickens and a business worth ¥2.8 billion.cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/attracion/products.htm|title=Products|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Town|accessdate=2008-06-16]

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

Shiraoi has four annual festivals:cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/attracion/festival.htm|title=Festival|date=2006-10-03|publisher=Shiraoi Town|accessdate=2008-06-16]
* Shiraoi Dosanko Winter Festival — early February
* Shiraoi Beef Festival — early June
* Shiraoi Port Festival — early August
* Shiraoi Cheipu Festival — early September

Museums and other points of interest

* The Ainu museum
* Poroto Kotan
Poroto Kotan is a natural history museum depicting a traditional Ainu village. Performers show traditional crafts and dances like the "yomante rimuse". [cite book|last=Bisignani|first=J.D.|title=Japan Handbook|editor=Taran March|publisher=Moon Publications, Inc.|location=Chico, California|date=December 1993|edition=Second Edition|pages=792–793|chapter=Donan-Southern Hokkaido|isbn=0-918373-70-0]
* Lake Kuttara
* Inkura Falls
* Mount Horohoro
* Ayoro Beach
*
*
* Kojohama hotsprings

Education

Elementary schools:
*
*
*
*
*
*

Middle Schools:
*
*
*
*

Other Schools:
*

Infrastructure

Transportation

Shiraoi has several stations on the Muroran Main Line:
* Kojōhama
* Takeura
* Kita-yoshihara
* Hagino
* Shiraoi
* Shadai

Shiraoi is served by the following bus companies:
*Donan bus Co.,Ltd
*Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., ltd.

Shiraoi is served by the following roads and highways:
* Hokkaidō Expressway
** Interchange at Siraoi
** Parking area at Hagino

*National highways:
**Japan National Route 36
*Prefectural roads:
** Hokkaidō Highway 86
** Hokkaidō Highway 350
** Hokkaidō Highway 388
** Hokkaidō Highway 701
** Hokkaidō Highway 1045

ister cities

Shiraoi has the following twin city relationships:cite web|url=http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/english/profile/profile.htm|title=Town Profile|publisher=Shiraoi Official Website|accessdate=2008-06-13]
* Quesnel, Canada since 1981
* Sendai, Japan since 1981
* Morita (now part of Tsugaru), Japan since 1991

ports

The Shadai Stallion Station is located here. Shadai Stallion Station has bought high-profile thoroughbreds for their breeding program, such as Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem.cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/sports/othersports/28emblem.html|title=A Pampered Derby Champion’s Finicky Taste |last=Drape|first=Joe|date=April 28, 2008|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-06-16]

References

External links

*ja icon [http://www.town.shiraoi.hokkaido.jp/ Official website] (some English content)
* [http://www.ainu-museum.or.jp/english/english.html The Ainu Museum]