Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ōhira has remained relatively stable over the past 70 years.

History

The area of present-day Ōhira was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. Per the Shoku Nihongi, following an earthquake in the year 715 AD, a large number of people migrated to this area from the southern Kantō region, forming numerous fortified settlements. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The village of Ōhira was created within Kurokawa District, Miyagi Prefecture after the Meiji restoration on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Government

Ōhira has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village of 11 members. Ōhira, together with the rest of Kurokawa District and the city of Tomiya collectively contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Miyagi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Ōhira is largely based on agriculture, primarily the cultivation of rice. Toyota opened a new assembly plant in Ōhira on February 17, 2011, its first new plant in Japan in 18 years. The plant, (belonging to Central Motors), employing 900 people, assembles the Toyota Yaris and Corolla for both the domestic market and North America, with a capacity of 120,000 vehicles a year.

Education

Ōhira has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

Ōhira does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

  • - Ōhira IC

Local attractions

  • Site of Ōhira Castle
  • Ōhira Hachiman Jinja

Notable people

  • Tomiko Satō

References

  • Official Website