Sōsa
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Sōsa
匝瑳市 | |
|---|---|
| File:Sunset over Chiba.JPG | |
 Location of Sōsa in Chiba Prefecture | |
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| Coordinates: Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Chiba |
| First official recorded | 90 BC |
| As city settled for Yōkaichiba | July 1, 1954 |
| As current city's name changed | January 23, 2006 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yasunori Ohta |
| Area | |
• Total | 101.78 km2 (39.30 sq mi) |
| Population (October 2020) | |
• Total | 35,674 |
| • Density | 350.50/km2 (907.79/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Symbols | |
| -tree | Podocarpus macrophyllus |
| • Flower | Tulip |
| • Bird | Japanese bush-warbler |
| Phone number | 0479-73-0084 |
| Address | 793-2 Yōkaichiba Sasakawa Sōsa-shi, Chiba-ken 285-8510 |
| Website | Official website |
Sōsa (匝瑳市, Sōsa-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2020[update], the city had an estimated population of 35,674 in 14,688 households and a population density of 350 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 101.78 square kilometres (39.30 sq mi).
Geography
[edit | edit source]Sōsa is located in far northeastern Chiba Prefecture. It is bordered to the north by the Pacific Ocean on the southwest. The land is mostly flat, and much is from 40 to 50 meters above sea level in average elevation.
The northern section, a mixture of valleys, ports and rice fields, consists of a plateau made up of complicated terrain and features. The southern half consists of flat terrain facing Kujūkuri Beach.
Through the center of the city runs both the Japan Railways (JR) Sōbu Main Line and Japan National Route 126, which run east-west. To the west of the center of Sosa is Japan National Route 296, which runs north-south.
Neighboring municipalities
[edit | edit source]Chiba Prefecture
Climate
[edit | edit source]Sōsa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sōsa is 15.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1557 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.1 °C.[2]
Demographics
[edit | edit source]
| Sōsa City and National Population | Sōsa City Population |
|---|---|
| Distribution by Age (2005) | Distribution by Gender (2005) |
| ■ = Sōsa City | ■ = Male |
|---|---|
| ■ = Japan (National) | ■ = Female |
Census statistics
[edit | edit source]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 35,188 | — |
| 1930 | 37,399 | +6.3% |
| 1940 | 38,790 | +3.7% |
| 1950 | 48,924 | +26.1% |
| 1960 | 44,568 | −8.9% |
| 1970 | 40,186 | −9.8% |
| 1980 | 41,160 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 42,261 | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 42,914 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 39,814 | −7.2% |
| 2020 | 35,040 | −12.0% |
| Source: Source: Japan Statistics Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications / National Census (translated), citypopulation.de[3] | ||
History
[edit | edit source]Sōsa was founded on January 23, 2006 as a result of the merger between the former city of Yōkaichiba, and the former town of Nosaka (from Sōsa District).
Events
[edit | edit source]- 1 June 1897 – Yōkaichiba Station opened.
- 9 October 1946 – Service on Narita Railway Tako Line was discontinued.
- 1 April 1970 – Japan National Route 296 was opened.
- 23 January 2006 – Yōkaichiba City and Nosaka Town were merged to form Sōsa City.
Government
[edit | edit source]Sōsa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Sōsa contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
[edit | edit source]Sōsa is a regional commercial center whose economy is primarily agricultural. Sōsa is well known for growing trees that are sold all over Japan.
Major retail
[edit | edit source]Shopping
[edit | edit source]
- Cainz Home Super Center, Yōkaichiba (Includes Beisia supermarket)
- Ocean Mart 126 (shopping mall)...closed due to The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake
Financial institutions
[edit | edit source]- Chiba Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
- Chiba Industrial Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
- Choshi Credit Union, Yōkaichiba Branch
- Keiyo Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
Education
[edit | edit source]High schools
[edit | edit source]- Keiai University Yōkaichiba High School
- Sōsa Prefectural Public High School, Chiba Prefecture
Junior high schools
[edit | edit source]- Nosaka Public Junior High School
- Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 1
- Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 2
Elementary schools
[edit | edit source]- Chinkai Public Elementary School
- Heiwa Public Elementary School
- Iidaka Public Elementary School
- Kyoko Public Elementary School
- Noda Public Elementary School
- Sakae Public Elementary School
- Sosa Public Elementary School
- Suka Public Elementary School
- Toyosaka Public Elementary School
- Toyowa Public Elementary School
- Yōkaichiba Public Elementary School
- Yoshida Public Elementary School
Transportation
[edit | edit source]Railway
[edit | edit source]File:JR logo (east).svg JR East – Sōbu Main Line
.svg){kind=link}
Bus transportation
[edit | edit source]Municipal bus routes
[edit | edit source]- Purple Line (to Toyosaka, Yoshida)
- Pink (to Idaka, Sosa)
- Orange (to Toyowa, Chinkai)
- Yellow (to Heiwa, Kyoko)
- Light Green (to Noda, Eastern-Suka)
- Light Blue (to Sakae, Western- Suka)
Major bus companies
[edit | edit source]Highway bus
[edit | edit source]Yōkaichiba Bus Route (Tokyo Station – Sōsa City Hall)
[edit | edit source]Bus stops at the following areas:
- Tokyo Station (Departing from Tokyo Station: Yaesu Entrance, Arriving at Tokyo Station: Nihonbashi Entrance)
- Tomisato Bus Terminal
- Tomisato Nanae Square
- Radisson Hotel
- Sanrizuka Park
- Jitaku (Residential) Entrance
- Kuko Hakubutsukan (Aviation Museum)
- Shiromasu
- Somei
- Tako
- Tako Michi no Eki (Road Station)
- Yoshida
- JR Bus- Yōkaichiba Branch
- JR Yōkaichiba Station
- Sōsa City Hall
Choshi-Chiba-Makuhari Route
[edit | edit source]Bus stops at the following areas:
- License (Menkyo) Center
- JR Kaihimmakuhari Station
- Chiba Minato Station (Monorail)
- Chiba Central Station (Keisei)
- JR Chiba Station
- Chuo 3 Chome (Central District 3)
- Matsuo-Yokoshiba IC (Highway Interchange)
- Matsuo
- Yokoshiba
- Iigura
- Yokaichiba
- Sosa City Hall
- JR Higata Station
- Asahi
- Unakami
- Iioka Health and Welfare Center
- Iioka
- Kousoku Yagi
- Kousoku Obama
- Kousoku Misakicho
- Toshiba
- Jinyacho
Roadways
[edit | edit source]National highways
[edit | edit source]- File:Japanese National Route Sign 0126.svg National Route 126
- File:Japanese National Route Sign 0296.svg National Route 296
Prefectural roads
[edit | edit source]Main artery roads
[edit | edit source]- Chiba Prefectural Road 16, Sawara – Yōkaichiba Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 30, Iioka – Ichinomiya Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 45, Yōkaichiba – Yachimata Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 48, Yōkaichiba – Nosaka Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 49, Yōkaichiba – Sakae Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 74, Tako – Sasamoto Line
General roads
[edit | edit source]- Chiba Prefectural Road 104, Yokaichiba – Idono – Asahi Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 106, Yokaichiba – Sawara Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 109, Yokoshiba Depot – Yoshida Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 114, Yokaichiba – Yamada Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 122, Iioka – Katakai Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 149, Yōkaichiba – Fuma Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 212, Yōkaichiba Depot Line
- Chiba Prefectural Road 299, Heiwa – Kyoko Line
Farm road
[edit | edit source]- Toso Region Farm Roads
Area highways, toll roads
[edit | edit source]Choshi Renraku Road
[edit | edit source]- Currently the above road is not within city limits, but according to plans, the Yōkaichiba IC (Interchange) is planned for construction. The plan is to extend the road from Yokoshiba-Hikari IC area toward the city of Choshi.
Places and events
[edit | edit source]Locations
[edit | edit source]- Chōfuku Temple (in Kawamukai area)
- Shingon-Chisan, Buddhist Sect (Setsubun Buddhist Mass is held every new year)
- Chōtoku Temple
- Iidaka Temple (known locally as “Iidaka Danrin (ato)”)
- Oio Shrine which dates back to Emperor Sujin Era, Year 7 (258 AD)
- Suka Eastern Orthodox Church
Exhibition and community areas
[edit | edit source]- Fureai Koen (Park)- Yōkaichiba
- Formally named the “Municipal and Agricultural Exchange Terminal Community Park of Yōkaichiba”, Sosa City established and controls this institution for the promotion of activity in local industry with the intention of exchange between the municipal and the agricultural parts of the city.
- Horikawa-hama (Beach) Swimming Area
- At a shoreline of roughly 150m, this beach area's waves are calm compared to nearby Kujukuri Beach.
- Matsuyama Art Museum
Festivals
[edit | edit source]- Odaka Hadaka Matsuri (early January)
- Jinkumi Lion Dance (every January)
- Yōkaichiba Bon Festival Dance
- (Yaegaki Shrine) Gion Festival (every August 4 & 5)
- Yokappe Festival (every October)
Notable people of Sōsa
[edit | edit source]- Yumiko Kobayashi (voice actress)
- Nichirō (Buddhist prelate, Kamakura Era)
References
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- ^ Sōsa climate data
- ^ Sōsa Population statistics
External links
[edit | edit source]
- Official Website (in Japanese)
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