Oirase

Oirase (おいらせ町, Oirase-chō) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the town had an estimated population of 25,225 in 10789 households, and a population density of 350 persons per km². The total area of the town is 71.96 square kilometres (27.78 sq mi).

Oirase おいらせ町
Town
Oirase Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Oirase in Aomori Prefecture
Oirase
Coordinates: 40°35′57″N 141°23′51.8″E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Aomori
District	Kamikita
Area
• Total	71.96 km2 (27.78 sq mi)
Population  (January 31, 2023)
• Total	25,225
• Density	350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0178-56-2111
Address	Naka-Shimoda 135-2, Oirase-machi, Kitakami-gun, Aomori-ken 039-2192
Website	Official website
Symbols
Bird	Swan
Flower	Sakura
Mascot	Oira-kun
Tree	Ginkgo biloba

Geography

Oirase is located on the eastern coastline of Aomori Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The land is mostly flat or slightly hilly. The Oirase River, which is the origin of the town's name, flows from west to east, with Lake Towada as its source.

Neighbouring municipalities

Aomori Prefecture

• Gonohe
• Hachinohe
• Misawa
• Rokunohe

Climate

The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Oirase is 10.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1158 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.6 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Oirase has steadily increased over the past 40 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1950	15,958	—
1960	17,709	+1.05%
1970	17,036	−0.39%
1980	17,637	+0.35%
1990	19,120	+0.81%
2000	23,220	+1.96%
2010	24,188	+0.41%
2020	24,273	+0.04%

History

During the Edo period, the area around Oirase was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain, becoming part of the territories of Shichinohe Domain in the latter half of the Edo period. In the post-Meiji Restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, the villages of Momoishi and Shimoda were created. Monoishi was elevated to town status on April 20, 1929 and Shimoda on August 1, 1969. The town of Oirase was established by the merger of the former towns of Momoishi and Shimoda, on March 1, 2006. The town was named after the Oirase River.

Government

Oirase has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Oirase is part of Kamikita District which contributes four members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Oirase is heavily dependent on agriculture, with main crops including rice, strawberries, Japanese yam and carrots. The town has become commercially more vibrant with the construction of AEON Group, Jusco Shopping center in 1995 and the spin-off retailing this has attracted. The major local industry is Momokawa Brewing, Inc, a nationally-known sake brewer. Oirase also serves as a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Misawa and Hachinohe.

Education

Oirase has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Aoimori Railway Company - Aoimori Railway Line

• Shimoda - Mukaiyama

Highway

• Momoishi Road
• Second Michinoku Toll Road
• National Route 45
• National Route 338

Local attractions

• Akōbō Kofun Cluster, a Kofun period National Historic Site

Noted people from Oirase

• Shingo Mimura, politician

External links

Media related to Oirase, Aomori at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)