Sanagōchi (佐那河内村, Sanagōchi-son) is a village located in Myōdō District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022, the village had an estimated population of 1983 and a population density of 47 persons per km².The total area of the village is 42.28 square kilometres (16.32 sq mi). Sanagōchi is the only village remaining in Tokushima Prefecture.

Sanagōchi
佐那河内村
Sanagochi village hall
Sanagochi village hall
Flag of Sanagōchi
Official seal of Sanagōchi
Map
Location of Sanagōchi in Tokushima Prefecture
Location of Sanagōchi
Sanagōchi is located in Japan
Sanagōchi
Sanagōchi
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°0′N 134°27′E / 34.000°N 134.450°E / 34.000; 134.450
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureTokushima
DistrictMyōdō
Area
 • Total42.28 km2 (16.32 sq mi)
Population
 (June 30, 2022)
 • Total1,983
 • Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address71-1, Nakahen, Sanagochi-son, Myōdō-gun, Tokushima-ken 771-4195
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush warbler
FlowerRhododendron
TreeSudachi
Okawahara Plateau

Geography edit

Sanagōchi is located in northern part of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is 9.5 kilometers from east-to-west and 4.5 kilometers from north-to-south. The area is known for its spelunking caves.

Neighbouring municipalities edit

Tokushima Prefecture

Climate edit

Sanagōchi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sanagōchi is 14.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2128 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.9 °C.[1]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Sanagōchi has been declining over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 4,316—    
1930 4,055−6.0%
1940 4,228+4.3%
1950 5,225+23.6%
1960 4,744−9.2%
1970 3,955−16.6%
1980 3,828−3.2%
1990 3,467−9.4%
2000 3,016−13.0%
2010 2,588−14.2%
2020 2,058−20.5%

History edit

As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Sanagōchi was part of ancient Awa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. The village of Sanagōchi was established within Myōdō District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889.

Government edit

Sanagōchi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Sanagōchi, together with the city of Tokushima, contributes ten members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Tokushima 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

The economy of Sanagōchi is agricultural. The village is famous for producing momo ichigo (ももいちご, 桃苺) (literally "peach strawberry"), a type of strawberry which is renowned for its juiciness and hence retails for very high prices – a large strawberry can sell for upwards of 500 yen (over $6 at 2011 exchange rates). Various sweets are made using it, such as chocolate and mochi-covered strawberries, and Häagen-Dazs Japan sells Momo Ichigo ice cream.[3]

Education edit

Sanagōchi has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation edit

Railway edit

Sanagōchi is not served by any passenger railway station. The nearest station is Tokushima Station on the JR Shikoku Kōtoku Line and Mugi Line.

Highways edit

References edit

External links edit