Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kitaakita has been decreasing rapidly over the past 60 years.

History

thumb|right|Isedotai Ruins

The area of present-day Kitaakita was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture in 1878 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The city of Kitaakita was established on March 22, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Aikawa, Ani, Moriyoshi and Takanosu (all from Kitaakita District).

Government

thumb|Kitaakita City Hall

Kitaakita has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes two members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Kitaakita is based on agriculture, forestry, manufacturing of clothing and electronic components, and seasonal tourism.

Education

  • Akita University – Kitaakita branch campus
  • Kitaakita has seven public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airport

  • Odate–Noshiro Airport

Railway

  • 20px JR East – Ōu Main Line
  • – –
  • Akita Nairiku Jukan Tetsudo – Akita Nairiku Line
  • – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Highway

Local attractions

  • Isedōtai Ruins – a Jōmon period archaeological site and National Historic Monument
  • Yasu Falls – one of the Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls
  • Mount Moriyoshi Ani Ski Resort

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Yasu Falls U 202010.jpg|Yasu Falls

Tsuzureko odaiko 2019715.jpg|Tsuzureko Traditional Drum Festival held on every July 15

Great Drum Museum 2017.jpg|Tsuzureko Traditional Drum Museum

Soma Onsen.jpg|Soma Onsen

Mount Moriyoshi Ani Ski Resort 01.jpg|Mount Moriyoshi Ani Ski Resort

Kuzoguro no himatsuri kamakura 2018-2-18 a.jpg|Kuzoguro Kamakura Festival held in February

</gallery>

Sister cities

  • Fengcheng, Liaoning, China, friendship city since September 11, 1997

Notable people

  • Kinya Abe, fencer
  • Takekaze Akira, sumo wrestler
  • Norihito Kobayashi, Olympic ski jumper
  • Yūsuke Minato, Olympic ski jumper
  • Satoshi Nakajima, baseball player
  • Tamezō Narita, musician
  • Fuyuko Suzuki, Olympic Biathlon athlete
  • Yuki Suzuki, volleyball player
  • Daito Takahashi, Olympic ski jumper
  • Kieko Watanabe, novelist

References

  • Official Website