Shiogama

Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value). is a city in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The city was seriously affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. However, between 1 March and 31 August 2011, less than 1% of the people left the city.[1]

塩竈市
Shiogama montage.JPG
Flag of Shiogama
Official seal of Shiogama
Location of Shiogama in Miyagi Prefecture
Location of Shiogama in Miyagi Prefecture
Coordinates: 38°18′51.7″N 141°01′19.1″E / 38.314361°N 141.021972°E / 38.314361; 141.021972Coordinates: 38°18′51.7″N 141°01′19.1″E / 38.314361°N 141.021972°E / 38.314361; 141.021972
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureMiyagi
Area
 • Total17.37 km2 (6.71 sq mi)
Population
 (June 30, 2017)
 • Total54,926
 • Density3,162/km2 (8,190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeShiogama Sakura
- FlowerWhite Chrysanthemum
Phone number022-364-1111
Address1-1 Asahimachi, Shiogama-shi, Miyagi-ken 985-8501
Websitehttp://www.city.shiogama.miyagi.jp/

Geography

Shiogama is in the central part of Miyagi Prefecture. It is between Sendai and Matsushima. The city is surrounded by water and mountains: Matsushima Bay is on one side and Matsushima Hills on the other.

The flat areas of the city are mainly reclaimed land. About 60 percent of the urban area is on reclaimed land and 40 percent on hills. People living in the town are crowded into a narrow area. Not much land is good for stripmalls.

Writing the name of the city

The Japanese language has several writing systems. One of them is kanji. Different kanji may have the same pronunciation. Some kanji are similar in form and meaning. There are two ways to write the name of the city. Both ways have the basic meaning "a pot for boiling salt". Both sound the same, but have slightly different meanings.

One way is to write 塩釜. The other way is 塩竈. The first way to write the city name is often used, such as on the post office, train station, many brand names, and on signs.

The second way comes from the history and an important landmark in the city. Shiogama shrine is at the top of a hill in the city. It is an important Shinto shrine in the Tohoku region. The city got its name from the shrine, but the shrine is written 鹽竈神社. The first character, 鹽, is an old character for salt. It has been replaced in the list of kanji for general use by a simpler character, 塩. The second character, 竈, or kamado/kama, means a large cooking area made of earth. The newer name uses 釜, which means an iron pot.

Transportation

Train stations

Major roads

  • National Highways
  • Miyagi Prefectural Highways
    • 3 Shiogama—Yoshioka
    • 10 Shiogama—Watari
    • 11 Shiogama-kō (Shiogama—Shiogama-kō)
    • 23 Sendai—Shiogama
    • 35 Izumi—Shigoama
    • 58 Shiogama—Shichigahama—Tagajō

Culture

Festivals

Visitor attractions

Shiogama-city Community Center (Fureai ESP Shiogama)

Notable people from Shiogama

Shiogama Media

References

  1. "図録▽東日本大震災被災市町村の被災後の人口変化 (Population Changes by Locality after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster: Illustrated)". Honkawa Data Tribune. Retrieved 2011-10-13.

Other websites