Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Tome peaked in the 1950s and has declined steadily over the past 70 years.

History

The area of present-day Tome was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. During the later portion of the Heian period, the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara. 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 town of Tome was established on June 1, 1889, within Tome District, Miyagi with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The city of Tome was established on April 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Hasama, Ishikoshi, Minamikata, Nakada, Toyoma, Towa, Toyosato, Tsuyama, and Yoneyama (all from Tome District), and the town of Tsuyama (from Motoyoshi District). Tome District was dissolved as a result of his merger.

2011 earthquake and tsunami

Tome was one of several cities severely affected by an earthquake and tsunami on Friday, 11 March 2011, with as many as 6,000 people left homeless. On 15, 2011, authorities announced that German and Swiss teams with search dogs would be deployed to the city to aid in search and recovery efforts. Other search and rescue team came from Australia and New Zealand. Early reports suggest that many residents of the nearby town of Minamisanriku, which was one of the hardest hit by the tsunami, had evacuated to Tome.

Government

Tome has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. Tome contributes two seats to the Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, after the abolishment of the Miyagi 6th district in 2022, the city is part of Miyagi 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Tome is largely based on agriculture.

Education

Tome has 21 public elementary schools, one combined public elementary/middle school, nine public junior high schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Miyagi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line

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22px East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Kesennuma Line

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Highway

  • : (Tsukidate and Wakayanagi interchanges)
  • : (Monou-Toyosato, Toyoma (Tome), Towa/Mitakido, and Monou-Tsuyama interchanges)

Local attractions

  • Toyoma Education Museum
  • Naganuma Futopia Park

Sister cities

Tome is twinned with:

  • Nyūzen, Japan
  • Southlake, United States
  • Vernon, Canada

Noted people from Tome

  • Maruyama Gondazaemon, sumo
  • Shotaro Ishinomori, manga artist
  • Katsuhiro Otomo, manga artist
  • Kouzou Sasaki, politician
  • Shio Satō, manga artist
  • Shinobu Sugawara, Japanese professional wrestler

References

  • Official Website