Sakegawa (鮭川村, Sakegawa-mura) is a village located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023[update], the village had an estimated population of 3843 in 1329 households,[1] and a population density of 31 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 122.15 square kilometres (47 sq mi).
Geography
Sakegawa is located in northern Yamagata Prefecture, bordered to the west by the Dewa Mountains. The area is known for its heavy snowfalls in winter.
Sakegawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Sakegawa is 10.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1902 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.7 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakegawa has declined by more than half from its peak around 1950.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±% p.a.
1920
6,678
—
1930
7,571
+1.26%
1940
7,608
+0.05%
1950
9,056
+1.76%
1960
8,374
−0.78%
1970
7,057
−1.70%
1980
6,645
−0.60%
1990
6,396
−0.38%
2000
5,829
−0.92%
2010
4,862
−1.80%
2020
3,902
−2.18%
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History
The area of present-day was Sakegawa part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Sakegawa was established on December 1, 1954 by the merger of the villages of Toyota and Toyosato, both from Mogami District.
Economy
The economy of Sakegawa is based on agriculture. The town is famous for nameko mushrooms, of which it produces a substantial percentage for Yamagata Prefecture.[4] The town's other main exports are rice and flowers, such as roses and gentians. Sakegawa is also well known for fishing, with the Salmon Festival (鮭祭り) being held at Eco Park every October.[5] The village is promoting agritourism ("green tourism") to increase revenues. Commerce is strongly dependent on the neighboring Shinjo city, but many residents also go to Mamurogawa town for shopping as there are no large commercial facilities such as supermarkets in the village.
Education
Sakegawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Public kabuki theater performances are given on the first Sunday of July every year.[7]
Niwazuki Kannon Lantern Festival
Held in August. Floating lanterns are sent down the river beginning at the Niwazuki Buddhist temple.
Salmon Festival
Held on the last Sunday of October every year. During this festival people pay a set price to attempt to catch salmon out of the river with their bare hands.
^"International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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