Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Iwanuma is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Iwanuma is at the convergence of two ancient roads, the Tōkaidō and the Rikuzen-Hama Kaidō.

Geography Iwanuma is in the east-center Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is also located at the mouth of the Abukuma River.

Neighboring municipalities Miyagi Prefecture • Natori • Shibata • Murata • Watari.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Iwanuma has recently plateued after a long period of growth.

History The area of present-day Iwanuma was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the Takekoma Inari Shrine claims to have been founded in 842 AD. Mention of “Iwanuma Castle” appears in early Muromachi period documents. The area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Iwanuma was established on June 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The village of Okuma merged with Iwanuma on January 11, 1947, followed by Sengan and Tamaura on April 1, 1955. Iwanuma was raised to city status on November 1, 1971.

The city was seriously affected by the tsunami associated with the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, which resulted in 180 deaths.

Government Iwanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Iwanuma contributes one seat to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Miyagi 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education

Iwanuma has four public elementary school and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefectural also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line/Jōban Line • Iwanuma.

Transport: Road • Sendai-Tōbu Road – Iwanuma IC • National Route 4 • National Route 6.

Media • Iwanuma Community FM Station.

Local attractions • Takekoma Inari Shrine, - claiming to be the second oldest Inari shrine.