Mooka (真岡市, Mooka-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020[update], the city had an estimated population of 78,720 in 30,203 households,[1] and a population density of 476 persons per km². The total area of the city is 167.34 square kilometres (64.61 sq mi). Moka is known for the Mooka Railway, which operates steam locomotives.[2] The train line stretches from Shimodate, Ibaraki Prefecture to Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture.[3] The town produces 7,000 tons of strawberries annually.[4] The name of the city is given as "Moka City" per the city's official website;[5] however, the local train station is "Mōka Station",[6] and the direct transliteration of the city name into Hepburn romanization is "Mooka".
Mooka has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mooka is 13.5 °C (56.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,306.2 mm (51.43 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C (77.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C (34.9 °F).[8]
Climate data for Mooka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[10] the population of Mooka has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
40,755
—
1930
45,338
+11.2%
1940
47,533
+4.8%
1950
61,184
+28.7%
1960
58,213
−4.9%
1970
57,035
−2.0%
1980
69,967
+22.7%
1990
79,228
+13.2%
2000
81,530
+2.9%
2010
82,279
+0.9%
2020
78,190
−5.0%
History
During the Edo Period, much of the area was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate or various hatamoto. Towards the end of the Edo Period, the daimyō of Odawara, Ōkubo Tadazane attempted to develop waste land with the assistance of Ninomiya Sontoku. The town on Mooka was established within Tsuga District, Tochigi on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Mooka annexed the neighboring villages of Yamazeki, Ouchi and Naka on March 31, 1954. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1954.
Mooka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city assembly of 21 members. Mooka collectively contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tochigi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Mooka is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy. Agriculture centers primarily on rice production and fruits. Traditional industries of sake brewing and cotton weaving have largely been replaced by light manufacturing of automotive and electronic components, primarily for the nearby Nissan factory in Kaminokawa and Honda factory in Tsuga.
