Kesen District, Iwate
Encyclopedia
is a district
located in Iwate Prefecture
, Japan
. Kesen consists of the cities of Ōfunato
and Rikuzentakata
and the town of Sumita
. The area of Sanriku, home to Kitasato University of Fishery Sciences, was an independent town within Kesen until 2001, when it amalgamated with Ofunato.
Ofunato is a port town for both fishing and trade. Cargo ships, mostly from other Asian countries, dock weekly. Ofunato has a sizable squid, oyster and scallop industry. During the fall a large number of pacific saury
are caught, culminating with an annual "sanma matsuri" where a large number of these fish are grilled and served. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 41,757. Ofunato boasts a scenic rocky coast, Goishi Kaigan, which is a popular tourist destination. Ofunato is also the birthplace of MOS Burger
founder
Rikuzentakata, like Ofunato, is also a fishing town. It is made up of many smaller former villages (now neighborhoods), including Takata-chō, Kesen-chō, Yonesaki-chō, Otomo-chō, Hirota-chō, Yokota-chō and Yahagi-chō. Rikuzentakata has a large, sandy beach popular with the local population. The Kesen river empties into the Pacific Ocean near the beach. The current population (2008) is estimated at 23,687 people. Rikuzentakata is host to several local festivals. In August, several "tanabata matsuri" (Star Festival) are held. One in particular, in Kesen-chō, is famous for its 'Kenka (fighting) Tanabata', in which decorated floats with large logs protruding from the front are gently rammed into each other. In October of each year, Rikuzentakata hosts a taiko
festival which draws both performers and spectators from all over Japan.
Sumita is fairly small community comparatively. Nearly 80 percent of the area of Sumita is forested. The economic base is largely agricultural and forestry-related. Its current population (2008) is estimated at 6,452 people.
As of 2007, Kesen District has an estimated population
of 71,896. The total area is 334.83 km².
Districts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
located in Iwate Prefecture
Iwate Prefecture
is the second largest prefecture of Japan after Hokkaido. It is located in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Kesen consists of the cities of Ōfunato
Ofunato, Iwate
is a coastal city located in Iwate, Japan.It was founded on April 1, 1952.On November 15, 2001, the town of Sanriku, from Kesen District, was merged into Ōfunato....
and Rikuzentakata
Rikuzentakata, Iwate
is a city in Iwate, Japan.In the quinquennial census of 2010, the city had a population of 23,302 . With a total area of 232.29 km² the density is 100 persons per km². The city was founded on January 1, 1955. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to the city.- Politics...
and the town of Sumita
Sumita, Iwate
is a town located in Kesen District, Iwate, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 6,196 with a density of 18.5 persons per km². The total area is 334.83 km².-External links:*...
. The area of Sanriku, home to Kitasato University of Fishery Sciences, was an independent town within Kesen until 2001, when it amalgamated with Ofunato.
Ofunato is a port town for both fishing and trade. Cargo ships, mostly from other Asian countries, dock weekly. Ofunato has a sizable squid, oyster and scallop industry. During the fall a large number of pacific saury
Pacific saury
The Pacific saury, Cololabis saira, is a member of the family Scomberesocidae. This saury, which is a food source in some East Asian cuisines, is also known by the name mackerel pike.- Name :...
are caught, culminating with an annual "sanma matsuri" where a large number of these fish are grilled and served. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 41,757. Ofunato boasts a scenic rocky coast, Goishi Kaigan, which is a popular tourist destination. Ofunato is also the birthplace of MOS Burger
MOS Burger
, doing business as , is a fast-food restaurant chain that originated in Japan. It is now the second-largest fast-food franchise in Japan after McDonald's, and owns numerous overseas outlets over East Asia, including Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and until 2005, Hawaii...
founder
Rikuzentakata, like Ofunato, is also a fishing town. It is made up of many smaller former villages (now neighborhoods), including Takata-chō, Kesen-chō, Yonesaki-chō, Otomo-chō, Hirota-chō, Yokota-chō and Yahagi-chō. Rikuzentakata has a large, sandy beach popular with the local population. The Kesen river empties into the Pacific Ocean near the beach. The current population (2008) is estimated at 23,687 people. Rikuzentakata is host to several local festivals. In August, several "tanabata matsuri" (Star Festival) are held. One in particular, in Kesen-chō, is famous for its 'Kenka (fighting) Tanabata', in which decorated floats with large logs protruding from the front are gently rammed into each other. In October of each year, Rikuzentakata hosts a taiko
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
festival which draws both performers and spectators from all over Japan.
Sumita is fairly small community comparatively. Nearly 80 percent of the area of Sumita is forested. The economic base is largely agricultural and forestry-related. Its current population (2008) is estimated at 6,452 people.
As of 2007, Kesen District has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 71,896. The total area is 334.83 km².
Merger
- On November 15, 2001 the town of Sanriku merged into the city of ŌfunatoOfunato, Iwateis a coastal city located in Iwate, Japan.It was founded on April 1, 1952.On November 15, 2001, the town of Sanriku, from Kesen District, was merged into Ōfunato....
.