Ashoro, Hokkaido


Ashoro is a town located in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 5,772 in 3130 households, and a population density of 4 people per km2. The total area of the town is.

Geography

Ashoro is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the northeastern part of the Tokachi Subprefecture. Its boundaries are roughly the middle reaches of the Tobetsu River, which flows from Rikubetsu to the north, and its tributaries, the Ashoro River and Misatobetsu River basins. The northwestern part is dominated by the Ishikari Mountains, and the eastern edge is home to Mount Meakan, giving it a high elevation. Lake Onnetō is a major attraction of the town and is a part of Akan National Park. The central southern part is flat along the Tobetsu River valley, and it is here that the urban center is located. It was the largest municipality in Japan until the merger of Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture on February 1, 2005.
Some 83 percent of the town's land is forested. Ashoro is also known for its large butterbur that can grow up to three meters tall and have a diameter of 10 cm. Butterbur plays such a significant role that the town mascot, Ayumi-chan, carries a piece of butterbur. Rawan butterbur is nationally renowned and has been designated as a Hokkaido Heritage.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Ashoro has a humid continental climate. It has large temperature differences, including large annual and daily temperature ranges. It receives a lot of snow, and is designated as a heavy snow area. In winter, temperatures of around -25°C are not uncommon, making it extremely cold. On average Ashoro receives 846.5 mm of rain with August being the wettest month, 151 mm of precipitation and February being the driest, 4.5 mm of precipitation. On average temperatures vary from 23.2 degrees Celsius in August and dropping to -8 in January.

Demographics

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

History

The first known Japanese settler arrived in the Ashoro area in 1879. Ashoro became a second-class village in 1923. It once belonged to Kushiro Province, but due to poor transportation access, its was transferred to Tokachi Province in 1948. It merged with the village of Nishiashoro on April 1, 1955 to form the town of Ashoro.

Government

Ashoro has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Ashoro, as part of Tokachi Subprefecture, contributes four members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Agriculture and forestry are the key industries in Ashoro. Wheat, sugar beets and beans are the representative crops. As of 2011 there are approximately 30,000 beef and dairy cows in Ashoro. That is over three times the population of Ashoro. Dairy cows make up 32% of all cattle and Wagyu cattle 37% respectively. In 2004 Ashoro issued the "Declaration of a Town that Promotes Pasture-Based Dairy Farming" to utilize the large expanses of grassland which can be found in the hilly and mountainous areas. 83% of the towns land is forested and the local Japanese larch wood is used for new public buildings. This beautiful wood can be seen in the Town Hall and the Ashoro Junior High.

Biomass

The town government plans to build a local system that provides biomass resources and ways to use them. Ashoro produces wood pellets from untapped wood and promotes biogas plants that use livestock manure.

Education

Ashoro has four public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town. The town has one public high school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education. The Kyushu University Faculty of Agriculture's Hokkaido Experimental Forest is located in the town.

Transportation

Railways

Ashoro has not had any passenger railway services since the closure of the Furusato Ginga Line in April 2006. The old rail station has now become a tourist landmark celebrating the town's history and significant figures.

Highways

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Sister city relations

  • Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, since 1990 "...to facilitate cross-cultural friendship and good will between the citizens of the city of Wetaskiwin, Alberta and the citizens of Ashoro, Japan. In so doing, the society will encourage cultural exchanges, will promote and understanding of Japanese culture, and will facilitate the exchange of information and fellowship between groups and individuals in our respective communities." Since 1992, the Town of Ashoro has sent a student study tours to Wetaskiwin every second year but starting in 2013 all grade 10 students attending Ashoro High School have partaken in the exchange. The motive behind sending all grade 10 students was to curb declining enrollments at Ashoro High School. Starting in 1994 Wetaskiwin has sent a student study tour, every second year, to Ashoro with a brief lapse between 2000 and 2009. Ashoro has also hired a Coordinator of International Relations, since 1992, from the City of Wetaskiwin. The Coordinator of International Relations position was created to ease communications between Wetaskiwin and Ashoro. As well responsibilities are; assisting and teaching English to students aged 2–16, facilitating student exchanges, organizing and assisting with after school and weekend programs, editing documents, and acting as a cultural liaison.

Local attractions

  • Ashoro Museum of Paleontology - This museum is dedicated to fossils found around Ashoro and Japan. It has a unique program that allows visitors to excavate a genuine fossil or crystal. It also offers educational programs to the youth of Ashoro.

Notable people from Ashoro

Mascot

Ashoro's official town mascot character is named Ayumi-chan, selected to promote the town in 1989. There are two generations of the mascot, and both are used today for town events.
The first generation of the mascot was used around 1990. Due to his peculiar appearance, he was unpopular with children. He can be described as a large pink right foot with large toes, and a smiling face on the shortened sole/torso with a concerned looking unibrow. He has arms, long legs, and is wearing dark blue mittens and shoes. He is also holding a giant butterbur stalk.
Right foot Ayumi-chan was stored in a warehouse when the second generation was created. He was put away in the late 2000s and was brought back out in April 2021 when characters that are creepy/cute started gaining popularity in popular culture.
Second generation Ayumi-chan is a left foot, and is characterized as cute, friendly, and gentle. Since her appearance in the early 2010s, she has been very popular with children.
Her appearance can be described as a large, more proportionate pink foot, with sparkling eyes, a friendly looking smiling face, short legs, and arms. She is wearing green gloves and boots, also holding a giant butterbur stalk.
Both versions of Ayumi-chan are considered to be athletic and take part in different town sporting events. They also make an appearance during other cultural town events and have an active role in the town's social media pages.
In 2021, the town released Ayumi-chan LINE stickers of both characters for Japan's commonly used messaging app.