Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Oga peaked in the 1950s and has been in decline since then.

History

The area of present-day Oga was part of ancient Dewa Province, dominated by the Satake clan during the Edo period, who ruled Kubota Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. The village of Funagawa was established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 and became the town of Funagawaminato on October 24, 1894. The city of Oga was created on March 31, 1954, by the merger of the town of Funagawaminato with the four neighboring villages of Wakimoto, Iriai, Ogatanaka and Toga.

On March 22, 2005, the town of Wakami was merged into Oga.

Government

thumb|Oga City Hall

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

Economy

The economy of Oga is based on commercial fishing, tourism and agriculture.

Education

Oga has six public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

20px East Japan Railway Company – Oga Line

  • – – –

Highway

Bus

  • Akita Chūō Kōtsū

Seaports

  • Port of Funagawa

Local attractions

thumb|Akagami Shrine

  • Godzilla Rock
  • Namahage Museum
  • Nyūdōzaki Lighthouse – one of the "50 Lighthouses of Japan"
  • Oga Athletic Stadium
  • Oga Aquarium Gao
  • Oga Onsen
  • Wakimoto Castle, National Historic Site

Culture

Oga is famous for its Namahage Festival, a traditional event held on New Year's Eve in which groups of men dressed as ogre-like deities called "Namahage" with masks and straw raincoats visit houses at night.

Sister cities

  • Livingston, California, United States, since August 18, 1984

Noted people from Oga

  • Kenya Kodama, footballer
  • Kazuo Nakamura (basketball), basketball coach
  • Shokichi Natsui, judoka
  • Shōji Nishimura, admiral
  • Hiromitsu Ochiai, baseball player and manager
  • Yoshihito Yoshida, rugby union footballer
  • Yu Yoshimoto, basketball player

References

  • Official Website