Namioka, Aomori
Encyclopedia
was a town
located in Minamitsugaru District
in central Aomori Prefecture
, Japan
.
Namioka Town was located in the plains of central Aomori prefecture, bordered by the Ōu Mountains
to the east. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain
during the Edo period
. In 1889, after the Meiji Restoration
, Namioka Village was created on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on June 1, 1940. It annexed the four neighboring villages of Megasawa, Osugi, Nozawa and Gogo on December 15, 1954 and annexed a portion of Nanawa Village from Kitatsugaru District
in 1956. On January 1, 2006 it was merged
with the neighboring city of Aomori
, and thus no longer exists as an independent municipality.
The merger was very controversial; after the agreement was made with the city of Aomori and the Aomori prefectural parliament had approved the change, strong objections were made by Namioka residents, who had not been consulted. The town mayor was recalled
on December 26, 2004. A new mayor was elected on February 13, 2005 who indicated his opposition to the merger. On March 27, 2005 a referendum
was held showing strong opposition to the plan, but five days later the merger went into effect in accordance with the previously settled agreement.
At the time of its merger, Namioka had an estimated population
of 20,543 and a density
of 155.48 persons per km². The total area was 15.19 km².
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Minamitsugaru District
Minamitsugaru District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 93,748 and a density of 133.76 persons per km²...
in central Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Namioka Town was located in the plains of central Aomori prefecture, bordered by the Ōu Mountains
Ou Mountains
The are a mountain range in the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan. The range is the longest range in Japan and stretch south from the Natsudomari Peninsula of Aomori Prefecture to the Nasu volcanoes at the northern boundary of the Kantō region. Though long, the range is only about wide...
to the east. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain
Hirosaki Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in northern Mutsu Province . It was ruled by the Tsugaru clan...
during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. In 1889, after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, Namioka Village was created on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on June 1, 1940. It annexed the four neighboring villages of Megasawa, Osugi, Nozawa and Gogo on December 15, 1954 and annexed a portion of Nanawa Village from Kitatsugaru District
Kitatsugaru District, Aomori
is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,751 and a density of 110.21 persons per km²...
in 1956. On January 1, 2006 it was merged
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
with the neighboring city of Aomori
Aomori, Aomori
is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
, and thus no longer exists as an independent municipality.
The merger was very controversial; after the agreement was made with the city of Aomori and the Aomori prefectural parliament had approved the change, strong objections were made by Namioka residents, who had not been consulted. The town mayor was recalled
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
on December 26, 2004. A new mayor was elected on February 13, 2005 who indicated his opposition to the merger. On March 27, 2005 a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
was held showing strong opposition to the plan, but five days later the merger went into effect in accordance with the previously settled agreement.
At the time of its merger, Namioka had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 20,543 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 155.48 persons per km². The total area was 15.19 km².
Noted residents of Namioka
- Takanosato ToshihideTakanosato ToshihideTakanosato Toshihide was a sumo wrestler from Namioka, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 59th Yokozuna from 1983 to 1986 and won four top division tournament championships...
– sumo wrestler - Bushūyama TakashiBushuyama Takashiis a Japanese sumo wrestler from Aomori, Aomori Prefecture. He made his professional debut in January 1999. At the age of 32, he was promoted to the top makuuchi division in the November 2008 tournament...
– sumo wrestler