Akabira


Akabira is a city located in central Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The name comes from the Ainu language but the meaning is uncertain; possibly it means "mountain ridge" or "cliff".
As of January 2024, the city has a population of 8,709 people living in 5,333 households. The total area is 129.88 km2. The city was once a prosperous coal-mining city, its population reaching 59,430 in 1960. The population has been gradually declining. There have been efforts to create tourism around the city's coal mining heritage and other sights in order to strengthen the local economy. Other than that, there are also hot springs and campsites.

History

  • 1891 - Settlement begins.
  • 1918 - Moshiri Coal Mine opens.
  • 1922 - Second-class municipality Akabira Village split off of first-class municipality Utashinai.
  • 1929 - Akabira becomes a First-Class municipality.
  • 1937 - Shōwa Denkō Toyosato Mine opened.
  • 1938 - Sumitomo Coal Mine, Hokkaido Coal Mine Railroad and Akama Coal Mine opened.
  • 1943 - Akabira Village becomes Akabira Town.
  • July 1, 1954 - Akabira Town becomes Akabira City.
  • 1967 - Shōwa Denkō Toyosato Mine closed.
  • 1969 - Moshiri Coal Mine closed.
  • 1973 - Akama Coal Mine closed.
  • 1994 - Sumitomo Coal Mine closed.
  • 2003 - Mid-Sorachi Merger Committee established.
  • 2007 - A major elementary school in Akabira closed down. It once had about 5000 students but has dropped rapidly after the closure of the coal mines.
  • 2008 - Hokkaido provides the city with a low-interest loan to support the city
  • February 28, 2015 - Guinness World Record for number of snowmen made in an hour for the filming of the drama Fuben na Benriya.

    Geography

Akabira is located in the central region of the Hokkaido Sorachi Subprefecture jurisdiction. The Sorachi River flows through the city limits from east to west. Originally, development stretched from Utashinai to Mojiri, but now is an urban region along the Sorachi River.

Mountains

  • Mt. Irumukeppu
  • Mt. Akabira
  • Mt. Kamui

    Rivers

  • Sorachi River
  • Horokura River
  • Akamazawa River
  • Katsura River

    Neighborhoods

  • Akabira
  • Izumachi, Blocks 1-4
  • Erumuchō
  • Oomachi, Blocks 1-4
  • North Bunkyōchō, Blocks 1-5
  • Kyowachō
  • Saiwaichō, Blocks 1-7
  • Sakuragichō, Blocks 1-5
  • Shōwachō, Blocks 1-6
  • Sumiyoshichō
  • Toyookachō, Blocks 1-3
  • Toyosato
  • Nishikimachi, Blocks 1-3
  • West Toyosatochō
  • West Bunkyōchō, Blocks 1-5
  • East Oomachi, Blocks 1-3
  • East Toyosatochō
  • East Bunkyōchō, Blocks 1-4
  • Hyakkochō East, Blocks 1-5
  • Hyakkochō West, Blocks 1-6
  • Hyakkochō North
  • Hiragishikatsurachō
  • Hiragishishinkōchō, Blocks 1-9
  • Hiragishinakamachi, Blocks 1-6
  • Hiragishihigashimachi, Blocks 1-6
  • Hiragishinishimachi, Blocks 1-6
  • Hiragishiminamimachi
  • Hiragishiakebonochō, Blocks 1-6
  • Hōeichō, Blocks 1-5
  • Horookachō
  • Honchō, Blocks 1-3
  • Misonochō, Blocks 1-5
  • Miyashitachō, Blocks 1-5
  • Mojiri
  • Mojiriasahimachi, Blocks 1-3
  • Mojirikasugachō, Blocks 1-3
  • Mojirisakaemachi, Blocks 1-5
  • Mojirishinkasugachō, Blocks 1-2
  • Mojirishinmachi, Blocks 1-5
  • Mojirichūōchō South, Blocks 1-6
  • Mojirichūōchō North, Blocks 1-2
  • Mojirihonchō, Blocks 1-4
  • Mojirimiyashitachō
  • Mojirimotomachi South, Blocks 1-5
  • Mojirimotomachi North, Blocks 1-6
  • Wakakichō East, Blocks 1-9
  • Wakakichō West, Blocks 1-6
  • Wakakichō South, Blocks 1-5
  • Wakakichō North, Blocks 1-8

    Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Akabira has declined precipitously in recent decades.

Transportation

Education

Junior high school

  • Akabira junior high school

    Elementary schools

  • Akama elementary school
  • Toyosato elementary school
  • Mojiri elementary school

    In popular culture

A climactic scene in the 2021 Academy Awards winning film Drive My Car was shot in Akabira, leading to interest from visitors.

Friendship cities