Ōgata, Akita

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ōgata has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.

History

Following the conclusion of the Pacific War, the government sought to create new farmland in order to secure a stable domestic supply of rice. The Hachirōgata lagoon was the second largest lake in Japan and an ideal candidate for extensive land reclamation due its shallow waters. Land reclamation work began at Hachirōgata in April 1957. Over the next twenty years, with the help of Dutch engineers, around seventeen thousand hectares of new farmland were created. Ōgata village was founded on this newly reclaimed land on October 1, 1964. Between 1967 and 1974 about 580 settlers took up residence in the new village of Ōgata, bringing their families with them.

Government

Ōgata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 12 members. Ōgata, together with the other municipalities of Minamiakita District contributes one member to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Akita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Ōgata is based on agriculture, mostly on the cultivation of rice.

Education

Ōgata has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school. Akita Prefectural University Ogata Campus is located here.

Transportation

Ōgata is not served by any railways or highways. The nearest train stations are Kado Station (northeast) and Hachirōgata Station (southeast) on the JR East Ōu Main Line, which runs east of the village area, and Funakoshi Station on the JR East Oga Line, which runs on the southwest side.

Local attractions

Cherry and Rapeseed Blossom Road
Ground Golf Course
Hachirōgata Reclamation Monument
Hotel Sun Rural Ogata
KATA Farmer's Market
Latitude and Longitude Intersection Monument
The NHK Ōgata Transmitter (used for transmissions on 774 kHz with a power of 500 kW)
Ogata Fuji
Ogata Moor Onsen
Polder Museum of Ogata-mura
Seitaikei Park
South Pond Park (Minami no Ike)
South Pumping Station
Wild Bird Observation Station

Local events

Akita Prefectural Rowing Competition - Summer Regatta

thumb|Waterway in Ogata Village

Regatta held in July at the Ogata Rowing Course for village locals. The winning team qualifies for the national regatta.

The village hosted the Danish national rowing team for Tokyo Olympic Games in July 2021.

thumb|Ogata Fuji

Hachirogata Reclamation Memorial Ekiden Relay Race

A relay race held at the beginning of September every year to commemorate the reclamation ceremony of September 15, 1964.

New Rice Harvest Festival in Ogata

Rice tasting and sale of rice and other agricultural products.

Ogata Arts and Culture Festival

The artistic and cultural groups of Ōgata display their works or perform.

thumb|40°N and 140°E Crossing Point

Ogata Shrine Reitaisai Festival

Shinto festival, which takes place every year on September 10 to pray for a good harvest. The procession makes its way around the village on its way to the shrine.

World Econo Move

Annual solar and electric vehicle race held in August at the Ōgata Solar Sports Line since 1993.

The village is known internationally for these Solar-car and Eco-car races.

Oga Peninsula and Ogata Geopark

In September 2011, Ōgata and Oga City were approved as a joint member of the Japan Geopark Network.

Approximately 30 km on each side, the relatively compact geopark contains the history of the earth spanning 70 million years into the past, observable complete stratum in near succession, including the separation of the Japanese archipelago from the continent, the formation of the Sea of Japan, and environmental changes due to large-scale climate change that continue through the present day. Also, born from "Hachirogata" the former largest lagoon in Japan, Ōgata is Japan's largest land reclamation.