Futaba, Fukushima

Futaba 双葉町
Town
Futaba Town Hall Futaba Town Hall
Flag of Futaba Flag Official seal of Futaba Seal
Location of Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture Location of Futaba in Fukushima Prefecture
Futaba
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
District	Futaba
Area
• Total	51.40 km2 (19.85 sq mi)
Population (December 2014)
• Total	6,113
• Density	119/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Melia azedarach
• Flower	Sakura
• Bird	Green pheasant
Phone number	0246-84-5200
Address	Shinzan Maeoki 28, Futaba-machi, Futaba-gun, Fukushima-ken 979-1495
Website	Official website

Futaba (双葉町, Futaba-machi) is a Town located in Futaba District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of December 2014, the town had an official registered population of 6,113 and a population density of 119 persons per km². The total area was 51.40 square kilometres (19.85 sq mi). However, as of March 2011 the entire population was evacuated as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Since 2013, only 4% of the town has been open to visitors.

Geography

Futaba is located on the Pacific Ocean coastline of central Fukushima. The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, owned by the Tokyo Electric Power Company, is located on the southern border of Futaba in the neighboring town of Ōkuma.

Surrounding municipalities

• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Namie
  • Ōkuma

History

The area of present-day Futaba was part of Mutsu Province. The remains of Kofun period burial mounds have been found in the area. During the Nara period, it was the center of ancient Futaba District within Iwaki Province During the Edo period, it was originally part of Sōma Domain, ruled by the Sōma clan until the Meiji restoration. The area was the site of the Battle of Iwaki during the Boshin War. On April 1, 1889, the villages of Shinzan and Nagatsuka were created within Naraha District, Fukushima, which subsequently became Futaba District in April 1896. Shinzan was raised to town status on February 1, 1913. Shinzan merged with Nagatsuka on April 1, 1951 becoming the town of Shineha, which changed its name to Futaba on April 1, 1956.

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

See also: Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

Futaba was severely affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Besides sustaining considerable damage from the earthquake, and the tsunami (which devastated the coastal area), the town was evacuated en masse on the morning of March 12 as it is located well within the 20 kilometer exclusion radius around the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant On March 28, 2013, the central government rezoned the town into two areas according to different levels of radiation, with residents permitted to return to one of the zones for daytime visits, but would continue to be prohibited from entering the other zone due to dangerously high levels of radiation for at least another four years. However, only 4 percent of the town area zone is opened to daytime return of residents, and the town remains uninhabitable.

Economy

The economy of Futaba was formerly heavily dependent on commercial fishing and agriculture. Raising of carnations was formerly a major industry.

Education

Futaba formerly had one high school, one middle school and two elementary schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Jōban Line
  • Futaba

Highway

• Jōban Expressway – Tomioka IC
• Japan National Route 6
• Japan National Route 288

Noted residents

• Kazunari Watanabe – Olympic cyclist

External links

• (Japanese)