Takizawa, Iwate

Takizawa 滝沢市
City
Takizawa montage
Flag Seal
Location of Takizawa in Iwate Prefecture
Takizawa
Coordinates: 39°44′5″N 141°4′37″E / 39.73472°N 141.07694°ECoordinates: 39°44′5″N 141°4′37″E / 39.73472°N 141.07694°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Iwate
Area
• Total	182.32 km^2 (70.39 sq mi)
Population (February 2014)
• Total	55,153
• Density	303/km^2 (780/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Lilium auratum
- Bird	Common cuckoo
Phone number	019-684-2111
Address	55, Nakaukai, Takizawa-shi, Iwate-ken 020-0692
Website	Official website

Takizawa (滝沢市 Takizawa-shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2014, the city had an estimated population of 55,153 and a population density of 303 persons per km². The total area was 182.32 km².

Geography

Takizawa is located in central Iwate Prefecture, bordered to the north and west by the Iwate Mountains, and the Kitakami River to the east and the Shizukuishi River to the south.

Neighboring municipalities

• Iwate Prefecture
  • Morioka, Iwate
  • Hachimantai, Iwate
  • Shizukuishi, Iwate

History

The area of present-day Takizawa was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Heian period, it was ruled by the Abe clan. During the Sengoku period, the area came under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The village of Takizawa was established within Iwate District, Iwate on April 1, 1889. Takizawa was promoted directly from a village to a city on January 1, 2014.

Economy

Takizawa is a bedroom community for Morioka. Agriculture still plays an important role in the local economy, with Takizawa known for its summer watermelon and fall apples. Koiwai Farm, based in Takizawa, is currently the largest privately owned dairy production center in Japan. The farm produces a full range of dairy products distributed throughout the nation.

Education

• Iwate Prefectural University
• Morioka University
• Morioka Junior College
• Iwate College of Nursing

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East) – Tohoku Shinkansen
  • Ōkama - Koiwai
• Iwate Ginga Railway Line
  • Sugo - Takizawa

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway – Takizawa IC
• Japan National Route 4
• Japan National Route 46
• Japan National Route 282

Local attractions

• Chagu Chagu Umakko - Takizawa is famous for its Chagu-Chagu Horse Festival (チャグチャグ馬コ Chagu-Chagu Umakko) held every June. The festival is designated by the Japanese government to be an Important Cultural Asset. The festival celebrates the horses which once played an important role in the area’s agriculture. The festival gets its name from the bells the horses wear during the procession. The sound the bells make, in Japanese, is "chagu-chagu". The festival begins at Chagu-Chagu Shrine which is a large shrine in Takizawa dedicated to horses. After a brief ceremony a long line of colorfully dressed horses ridden mostly by children in traditional dress leave the shrine and go on a 15 km procession that takes them to Hachimangu Shrine in Morioka. In total the trip takes nearly five hours to complete.^[1]
• Koiwai Snow Festival - Every year Koiwai Farm puts on the Koiwai Snow Festival (小岩井雪祭 Koiwai Yuki Matsuri). This festival is noteworthy for its giant snow sculptures. Many of the sculptures can reach 30 ft in height or more while most of them can be touched and even climbed on. During the festival there are several traditional musical and dance performances held on a giant stage made from packed snow. The festival ends with a fireworks display which is choreographed to music. A popular event at the festival is eating yakiniku or gageskhan (thinly sliced beef or lamb grilled over a fire or on a hot plate) in an igloo.^[2]

Noted people from Takizawa

• Azusa Iwashimizu – professional soccer player

References

1. Information about the Chagu-Chagu Horse Festival from the Japan National Tourist Organization
2. Koiwai's official website (Japanese)

External links

Media related to Takizawa, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)