Nanao, Ishikawa

Nanao (七尾市, Nanao-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2018, the city had an estimated population of 53,819 in 22212 households, and a population density of 170 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city was 318.32 square kilometres (122.90 sq mi). Nanao is the fifth largest city by population in Ishikawa, behind Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu, and Kaga.

Nanao

七尾市
Nanao City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Nanao in Ishikawa Prefecture
Nanao
 
Coordinates: 37°2′35.3″N 136°58′2.8″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
PrefectureIshikawa Prefecture
Government
  - MayorFushima Toyokazu
Area
  Total318.32 km2 (122.90 sq mi)
Population
 (January 31, 2018)
  Total53,819
  Density170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
-TreePine
-FlowerAzalea
-BirdCommon gull
Phone number0767-53-1111
Address1-25 Sodegaemachi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa-ken 926-8611
Websitewww.city.nanao.lg.jp
Ishizaki Kiriko Lantern Festival in August

Geography

Nanao occupies the southeastern coast of Noto Peninsula and is bordered by the Sea of Japan on the east and north, and Toyama Prefecture to the south. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Noto Hantō Quasi-National Park. The name "Nanao" (七尾) literally means "Seven Tails" and is said to be named for the seven mountain ridges (or "tails") surrounding Nanao that are visible when viewed from Joyama (七尾城山), site of the city's historical castle ruins. These ridges are called Kikuo (菊尾, "Chrysanthemum Tail"), Kameo (亀尾, "Turtle Tail"), Matsuo (松尾, "Pine Tail"), Torano'o (虎尾, "Tiger Tail"), Takeo (竹尾, "Bamboo Tail"), Umeo (梅尾, "Plum Tail"), and Tatsuo (龍尾, "Dragon Tail").

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Nanao has declined over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 68,303
1980 69,945
1990 68,692
2000 63,963
2010 57,900

Climate

Nanao has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nanao is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2392 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C.[3]

Climate data for Nanao (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)
6.5
(43.7)
10.2
(50.4)
16.3
(61.3)
21.1
(70.0)
24.7
(76.5)
28.4
(83.1)
30.6
(87.1)
26.1
(79.0)
20.6
(69.1)
14.7
(58.5)
9.2
(48.6)
17.8
(64.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.6
(36.7)
2.8
(37.0)
5.7
(42.3)
11.2
(52.2)
16.1
(61.0)
20.2
(68.4)
24.2
(75.6)
26.0
(78.8)
21.8
(71.2)
15.9
(60.6)
10.4
(50.7)
5.6
(42.1)
13.6
(56.5)
Average low °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)
−0.7
(30.7)
1.5
(34.7)
6.4
(43.5)
11.5
(52.7)
16.6
(61.9)
21.0
(69.8)
22.5
(72.5)
18.2
(64.8)
11.7
(53.1)
6.3
(43.3)
2.2
(36.0)
9.7
(49.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 208.8
(8.22)
132.1
(5.20)
134.0
(5.28)
117.3
(4.62)
130.7
(5.15)
172.9
(6.81)
235.1
(9.26)
139.5
(5.49)
207.4
(8.17)
151.0
(5.94)
214.5
(8.44)
233.7
(9.20)
2,077
(81.78)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 84
(33)
64
(25)
17
(6.7)
1
(0.4)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
28
(11)
194
(76.1)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 52.6 79.2 126.1 180.7 193.5 148.6 149.9 194.9 132.8 135.8 90.2 58.2 1,542.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

History

The area around Nanao was part of ancient Noto Province and contained the Nara period provincial capital and provincial temple. During the Sengoku Period (1467–1568), Nanao Castle was a major stronghold of the Hatakeyama clan, and was contested by the Uesugi clan and Maeda clan. The area became part Kaga Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, with the exception of the Tsuruhama area, which was retained by the shogunate directly as tenryō territory.

Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Kashima District, Ishikawa. The town of Nanao was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on July 20, 1939.

On October 1, 2004, Nanao expanded by annexing the neighbouring municipalities of Nakajima, Notojima and Tatsuruhama (all from Kashima District).

On March 25, 2007, the 2007 Noto earthquake caused some property damage in Nanao, but no fatalities.

Government

Nanao has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

Economy

Nanao is a regional commercial centre and a seaport on the Sea of Japan. Manufacturing, especially of bricks and cement, lumber processing, tourism, and agriculture are all major contributors of the local economy.[4]

Education

Nanao has 13 public elementary schools and four middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high school operated by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

West Japan Railway Company - Nanao Line

Noto Railway - Nanao Line

Highway

National Route 159
National Route 160
National Route 249
National Route 470

Seaports

  • Port of Nanao

Local attractions

The Dekayama, a large mikoshi on wheels, passing through the crowd at the Seihakusai matsuri of Nanao

Sister city relations

Notable people from Nanao

References

  1. Official home page
  2. Nanao population statistics
  3. Nanao climate data
  4. Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 1047. ISBN 406205938X.
  5. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 1 February 2018.
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