Onagawa, Miyagi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Onagawa 女川町
Town
Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant
Flag Seal
Location of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture
Onagawa Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Miyagi
District	Oshika
Area
• Total	65.35 km2 (25.23 sq mi)
Population  (October 10, 2020)
• Total	6,430
• Density	98.39/km2 (254.84/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0225-54-3131
Address	136-banchi Onagawa Onagawahama, Onagawa-chō, Oshika-gun, Miyagi-ken 986-2292
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Bird Black-tailed gull Fish Skipjack tuna Flower Sakura Tree Cryptomeria

Onagawa (女川町, Onagawa-chō) is a charming town located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It's a place known for its beautiful coastline and strong community spirit. As of April 30, 2020, about 6,319 people lived here in 3,110 homes. The town covers an area of 65.35 square kilometers (25.23 square miles).

Exploring Onagawa's Unique Geography

Onagawa is nestled along the rugged Sanriku Coast in the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture. To its west, you'll find the Kitakami Mountains, and the city of Ishinomaki surrounds it from other directions. A large part of Onagawa is inside the beautiful Sanriku Fukkō National Park.

This town is famous for its natural deep-water port. It's a perfect spot for commercial fishing because two big ocean currents meet here. You can also find the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant on the southern side of Onagawa Bay.

Nearby Towns and Cities

Onagawa's only direct neighbor in Miyagi Prefecture is the city of Ishinomaki.

Onagawa's Weather and Climate

Onagawa experiences a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild summers and cold winters, sometimes with heavy snowfall. The average temperature throughout the year is about 11.1°C (52°F). September is usually the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 1213 mm (47.7 inches) per year. August is the warmest month, averaging around 23.6°C (74.5°F), while January is the coldest, with temperatures around -0.1°C (31.8°F).

Onagawa's Population Story

Like many towns, Onagawa's population has changed over the years. According to official Japanese records, the number of people living in Onagawa has decreased quite a bit over the last 60 years.

A Glimpse into Onagawa's Past

The land where Onagawa stands today has a long history. It was once part of an ancient region called Mutsu Province. People have lived here since at least the Jōmon period, including the Emishi people. Later, during the Heian period, the Northern Fujiwara family ruled the area.

During the Sengoku period, different samurai families fought for control. Eventually, the powerful Date clan from Sendai Domain took over during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The village of Onagawa officially began on June 1, 1889, when Japan created its modern town system.

Onagawa's port has always been very important. Its deep, sheltered harbor was useful for both trade and military purposes. During the final days of World War II, on August 9, 1945, the port experienced an air raid that caused some ships to sink. A special memorial was built in 1989 to remember Robert Hampton Gray, a Canadian pilot who bravely served during that attack. Onagawa officially became a town on April 1, 1956.

The 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami

On March 11, 2011, Onagawa was severely impacted by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami waves were incredibly powerful, reaching over 15 meters (49 feet) high. They swept about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) inland, causing widespread destruction. Sadly, 827 lives were lost, and 70% of the town's buildings were destroyed.

Many designated evacuation spots were flooded. Even the town's hospital, located on a hill, had its first floor extensively flooded by the 18-meter (59-foot) high waves. Six strong concrete buildings, up to four stories tall, were knocked over by the force of the water and debris. Onagawa Station and its railway tracks were also destroyed.

View of Onagawa one month after the tsunami (April 10, 2011).

There's a touching story about Mitsuru Sato, a fish company director. He risked his own life to make sure all his workers, including 20 young women from China, safely reached higher ground.

Cars moved by the tsunami in Onagawa.

It's important to know that while the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant faced serious issues after the tsunami, the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant, which was even closer to the earthquake, survived without major damage. It even became a safe place for the local community during the emergency.

Onagawa had experienced tsunamis before, like one caused by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake. The town has long had systems in place, like warning systems and evacuation drills, to help protect its residents from these powerful waves.

Rebuilding Onagawa: A Story of Resilience

After the 2011 tsunami, the people of Onagawa worked incredibly hard to rebuild their town. Their efforts, often led by local business owners, moved faster than in many other affected areas. Within days, private construction machines cleared roads. A wholesale fish market reopened on April 1, and a reconstruction advisory group was quickly formed. Residents also set up small grocery stores and food shops in temporary market buildings.

The town's plans for rebuilding were carefully thought out with input from many people in the community.

On March 21, 2015, the rebuilt Onagawa Station reopened, bringing the entire Ishinomaki Line back into service. The new station building is special because it includes a community center and a public bathing facility on its upper floors.

The rebuilt Onagawa Station.

The Seapal Pia shopping area in Onagawa.

To serve both locals and visitors, a pedestrian-friendly shopping area called Seapal Pia opened in December 2015.

Many Onagawa residents lived in temporary homes for several years after the tsunami. Now, new homes are being built on higher hillsides. Soil from these projects is used to raise industrial and commercial areas closer to the water, about 4.5 meters (15 feet) above sea level, for better protection.

Reconstruction received support from the government and many private groups. For example, the Qatar Friendship Fund gave US$24 million to build a new fish processing and storage facility. Also, Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Shigeru Ban and his team designed temporary housing and the new Onagawa Station building.

How Onagawa is Governed

Onagawa Town Hall.

Onagawa has a local government led by a directly elected mayor and a town council with 12 members. This is called a mayor-council system. Onagawa, along with the city of Ishinomaki, sends five representatives to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. For national politics, the town is part of the Miyagi 5th district in the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Onagawa's Economy: Fishing and More

The main part of Onagawa's economy comes from commercial fishing. The town is a key place for processing and distributing various seafood. It's especially known for coho salmon, pacific saury, and the farming of oysters. The Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant was once a major source of income for the town. It has remained offline since the 2011 earthquake.

Schools in Onagawa

Onagawa has one public elementary school and one public junior high school, both run by the town government. The town does not have a high school. The old high school, Miyagi Prefecture Onagawa High School, closed in 2014 because it only had 47 students.

Getting Around Onagawa

Railway

JR East

• ■Ishinomaki Line
  • Urashuku - Onagawa

Highway

• National Route 398

Ferry

• Kinkasan Ferry

Fun Facts About Onagawa

The town is proud to have beaches with "squeaking sand." These special beaches make a sound when you walk on them, and they are becoming quite rare in Japan due to environmental changes.

Famous Faces from Onagawa

• Masatoshi Nakamura, a well-known actor.

See also

In Spanish: Onagawa (Miyagi) para niños