Tome (登米市, Tome-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 77,897 and a population density of 150 persons per km2 in 27,298 households.[1] The total area of the city is 536.12 square kilometres (207.00 sq mi). The area is noted for its rice production.

Tome
登米市
Upper: Swans on Hasama River Middle: Japanese number one hatto Festival. Chacha world Ishikoshi Lower: Korin-ji, Naganuma footopia park
Upper: Swans on Hasama River
Middle: Japanese number one hatto Festival. Chacha world Ishikoshi
Lower: Korin-ji, Naganuma footopia park
Flag of Tome
Official seal of Tome
Location of Tome in Miyagi Prefecture
Location of Tome in Miyagi Prefecture
Tome is located in Japan
Tome
Tome
 
Coordinates: 38°41′30.6″N 141°11′15.9″E / 38.691833°N 141.187750°E / 38.691833; 141.187750
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureMiyagi
Town SettledJune 1, 1889
City SettledApril 1, 2005
Government
 • MayorMorihiro Kumagai (from April 2017)
Area
 • Total
536.12 km2 (207.00 sq mi)
Population
 (30 April 2020)
 • Total
77,897
 • Density150/km2 (380/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0220-22-2111
Address2-6-1 Nakae, Sanuma, Hasama-chō, Tome-shi, Miyagi-ken 987-0595
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdSwan
FlowerSakura
TreeSugi
Tome City Hall

Geography

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Tome is in far northeastern Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by Iwate Prefecture to the north. The Kitakami River flows through the city. The city is approximately 70 kilometers north of the prefectural capital of Sendai.

Neighboring municipalities

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Iwate Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture

Climate

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Tome has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Tome is 11.5 °C (52.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,078.2 mm (42.45 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 °C (74.8 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.1 °C (31.8 °F).[2]

Climate data for Yoneyama, Tome (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.7
(60.3)
17.7
(63.9)
24.4
(75.9)
30.4
(86.7)
33.0
(91.4)
33.8
(92.8)
36.4
(97.5)
36.3
(97.3)
35.0
(95.0)
30.5
(86.9)
23.5
(74.3)
20.3
(68.5)
36.4
(97.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.6
(40.3)
5.8
(42.4)
10.0
(50.0)
15.9
(60.6)
20.6
(69.1)
23.8
(74.8)
27.1
(80.8)
28.6
(83.5)
25.1
(77.2)
19.8
(67.6)
13.4
(56.1)
7.1
(44.8)
16.8
(62.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8)
0.6
(33.1)
4.0
(39.2)
9.4
(48.9)
15.1
(59.2)
19.0
(66.2)
22.5
(72.5)
23.8
(74.8)
20.1
(68.2)
14.0
(57.2)
7.6
(45.7)
2.2
(36.0)
11.5
(52.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.5
(23.9)
−4.2
(24.4)
−1.6
(29.1)
3.3
(37.9)
10.4
(50.7)
15.3
(59.5)
19.3
(66.7)
20.4
(68.7)
15.9
(60.6)
8.7
(47.7)
2.2
(36.0)
−2.1
(28.2)
6.9
(44.4)
Record low °C (°F) −17.5
(0.5)
−18.3
(−0.9)
−13.6
(7.5)
−7.6
(18.3)
2.2
(36.0)
6.8
(44.2)
11.3
(52.3)
11.6
(52.9)
4.6
(40.3)
−1.9
(28.6)
−6.1
(21.0)
−19.5
(−3.1)
−19.5
(−3.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35.5
(1.40)
29.1
(1.15)
69.9
(2.75)
77.3
(3.04)
93.6
(3.69)
111.2
(4.38)
161.6
(6.36)
120.1
(4.73)
150.6
(5.93)
129.4
(5.09)
58.6
(2.31)
41.4
(1.63)
1,078.2
(42.45)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.8 5.7 7.9 8.5 9.5 9.8 12.7 10.4 10.8 8.9 7.3 6.9 104.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 149.4 158.7 177.1 189.6 195.9 158.1 141.3 156.3 131.5 139.8 137.5 136.5 1,871.6
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Tome peaked in the 1950s and has declined steadily over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 77,807—    
1930 88,911+14.3%
1940 98,905+11.2%
1950 128,416+29.8%
1960 122,386−4.7%
1970 102,525−16.2%
1980 98,568−3.9%
1990 98,231−0.3%
2000 93,769−4.5%
2010 83,969−10.5%
2020 76,037−9.4%

History

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The area of present-day Tome was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. During the later portion of the Heian period, the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The town of Tome was established on June 1, 1889 within Tome District, Miyagi with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The city of Tome was established on April 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Hasama, Ishikoshi, Minamikata, Nakada, Toyoma, Towa, Toyosato, Tsuyama, and Yoneyama (all from Tome District), and the town of Tsuyama (from Motoyoshi District). Tome District was dissolved as a result of his merger.

2011 earthquake and tsunami

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Tome was one of several cities severely affected by an earthquake and tsunami on Friday, 11 March 2011, with as many as 6,000 people left homeless.[5] On 15, 2011, authorities announced that German and Swiss teams with search dogs would be deployed to the city to aid in search and recovery efforts. Other search and rescue team came from Australia and New Zealand.[6] Early reports suggest that many residents of the nearby town of Minamisanriku, which was one of the hardest hit by the tsunami, had evacuated to Tome.[7]

Government

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Tome has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members.[8] Tome contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Tome is largely based on agriculture.

Education

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Tome has 21 public elementary schools, one combined public elementary/middle school, nine public junior high schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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  East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

  East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Kesennuma Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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Sister cities

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Tome is twinned with:[9]

Noted people from Tome

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References

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  1. ^ Tome city official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Tome population statistics
  5. ^ "Japan Tsunami victim found alive after 96 hours". tntmagazine, 15 March 2011
  6. ^ "The world reaches out with funds, rescue teams". todayonline
  7. ^ [1] ABC, 13 March 2011
  8. ^ Tome City Council
  9. ^ "姉妹都市". city.tome.miyagi.jp (in Japanese). Tome. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
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