Mori is located in an inland area in the hills of western Shizuoka Prefecture. The town has a temperate maritime climate with very hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters, pleasant air.
Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Mori has been in slow decline over the past 30 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1960
25,244
—
1970
21,764
−13.8%
1980
20,447
−6.1%
1990
21,081
+3.1%
2000
20,689
−1.9%
2010
19,436
−6.1%
Climate
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classificationCfa). The average annual temperature in Mori is 15.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2083 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.4 °C.[3]
With the establishment of the modern municipalities system in the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into the town of Mori within Shūchi District, Shizuoka Prefecture. In 1955-56, the area of the town was expanded through annexation of five neighboring villages. Discussions to merge with neighboring Fukuroi were shelved after a referendum opposing the merger was held in 2009.[4]
Economy
The economy of Mori is mixed with industrial enterprise and agricultural enterprise. The main industries include automobile-related factories by Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd., and Yamaha Motor Company.
Education
Mori has five public elementary schools and three public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.