Yanagawa, Fukushima
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Yanagawa
梁川町 | |
|---|---|
Former municipality | |
 Interactive map of Yanagawa | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Fukushima Prefecture |
| Merged | January 1, 2006 (now part of Date) |
| Area | |
• Total | 82.93 km2 (32.02 sq mi) |
| Population (January 1, 2003) | |
• Total | 20,626 |
| • Density | 248.72/km2 (644.2/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | wagtail |
| Flower | cherry blossom |
| Tree | persimmon |
Yanagawa (梁川町, Yanagawa-machi) is one of five neighborhoods within the city of Date, Fukushima, along with the former towns of Date, Hobara, Ryōzen and Tsukidate (all from Date District). Until 2006, it was an independent castle town located in Date District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 20,626 and a density of 248.72 persons per km2. The total area is 82.93 km2.
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Yanagawa was under the control of the Date Clan from 1189, when Date Tomomune received the land, until Date Masamune forfeited it to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590. In 1598, the entire Fukushima Basin (Shintatsu Plain) became the territory of Uesugi Kagekatsu and Suda Nagayoshi became the lord of Yanagawa Castle.[1]
By 1960, the town of Yanagawa had merged with the villages of Awano, Sekimoto, Shirane, Ooeda, Isazawa, Tomino, and Yamafunyuu. The town's symbol was established in 1965, and in 1983, cherry blossoms, persimmon trees, and wagtails were designated as the town's official flower, tree, and bird, respectively.[2]
A whole body skeleton of Paleoparadoxia was excavated in Yanagawa on August 21, 1984. The skeleton is named the “Yanagawa Specimen”.[1]
In 2006, Yanagawa merged with the towns of Date, Hobara, Ryōzen and Tsukidate, creating Date City.
