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{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name = Mobara
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|茂原市}}}}
| official_name =
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = MobaraCityOffice20120819.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Mobara City Hall
| image_flag = Flag of Mobara, Chiba.svg
| flag_alt =
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Mobara, Chiba.svg
| blank_emblem_type = Emblem
| nickname =
| motto =
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Mobara in Chiba Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Mobara in Chiba Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|35|25|42.7|N|140|17|17|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) -->
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kantō region|Kantō]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
<!-- established -->
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat =
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric -->
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 99.92
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m =
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 88330
| population_as_of = December 1, 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_demonym = <!-- demonym, i.e. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool -->
| population_note =
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1 = +9
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code =
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = Phone number
| blank_info_sec1 = 0475-33-2111
| blank1_name_sec1 = Address
| blank1_info_sec1 = 1 Dōbyō, Mobara-shi, Chiba-ken 297-8511
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official|1=http://www.city.mobara.chiba.jp/}}
| footnotes =
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| tree = [[Azalea]]
| flower = [[Cosmos (plant)|Cosmos]]
| bird =
| flowering_tree =
| butterfly =
| fish =
| other_symbols =
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Mobara'''|茂原市|Mobara-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Chiba Prefecture]]. {{As of|2020|12|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 88,330 in 40,869 households and a [[population density]] of 880 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Mobara-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.mobara.chiba.jp |title= Mobara city official statistics|location= Japan|language= Japanese|accessdate=}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|99.92|sqkm|sqmi}}
==Geography==
Mobara is located in an inland area of north-central [[Bōsō Peninsula]], about 25 kilometers from the prefectural capital at [[Chiba (city)|Chiba]] and 50 to 60 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. Most of the city is the Kujukuri Plain, and the mountains in the western part of the city are formed by the [[Bōsō Hill Range]]. The elevation of the city is about 8 to 9 meters above sea level in the lowlands of the southeast, about 11 meters in the city, and 20 to 100 meters in the west, with a maximum of 117.7 meters. In some areas, [[land subsidence]] due to human factors such as pumping of surface groundwater and natural gas brackish water has become a problem, and subsidence of up to about 10 cm has been observed.
===Surrounding municipalities===
Chiba Prefecture
*[[Chōnan, Chiba|Chōnan]]
*[[Ichihara, Chiba|Ichihara]]
*[[Midori-ku, Chiba|Midori-ku]]
*[[Nagara, Chiba|Nagara]]
*[[Ōamishirasato, Chiba|Ōamishirasato]]
*[[Shirako, Chiba|Shirako]]
===Climate===
Mobara has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mobara is {{cvt|15.7|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1683.6|mm}} with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|26.8|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|5.2|C}}.<ref name=normals/>
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Mobara (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
|Jan record high C = 21.5
|Feb record high C = 25.7
|Mar record high C = 26.0
|Apr record high C = 29.8
|May record high C = 34.9
|Jun record high C = 35.4
|Jul record high C = 37.9
|Aug record high C = 39.9
|Sep record high C = 38.3
|Oct record high C = 34.0
|Nov record high C = 26.6
|Dec record high C = 24.8
|Jan record low C = -7.4
|Feb record low C = -7.8
|Mar record low C = -3.4
|Apr record low C = -1.2
|May record low C = 5.0
|Jun record low C = 9.7
|Jul record low C = 14.0
|Aug record low C = 15.6
|Sep record low C = 9.8
|Oct record low C = 2.8
|Nov record low C = -1.0
|Dec record low C = -5.3
|Jan high C = 10.7
|Feb high C = 11.2
|Mar high C = 14.3
|Apr high C = 19.1
|May high C = 23.2
|Jun high C = 25.7
|Jul high C = 29.9
|Aug high C = 31.5
|Sep high C = 27.8
|Oct high C = 22.6
|Nov high C = 17.9
|Dec high C = 13.1
|Jan mean C = 5.2
|Feb mean C = 6.0
|Mar mean C = 9.3
|Apr mean C = 14.1
|May mean C = 18.4
|Jun mean C = 21.5
|Jul mean C = 25.4
|Aug mean C = 26.8
|Sep mean C = 23.4
|Oct mean C = 18.1
|Nov mean C = 12.8
|Dec mean C = 7.7
|Jan low C = 0.3
|Feb low C = 1.1
|Mar low C = 4.3
|Apr low C = 9.2
|May low C = 14.0
|Jun low C = 18.0
|Jul low C = 22.0
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 20.0
|Oct low C = 14.3
|Nov low C = 8.3
|Dec low C = 2.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 85.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 75.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 140.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 131.8
|May precipitation mm = 142.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 181.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 144.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 107.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 229.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 265.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 107.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 74.4
|year precipitation mm = 1683.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 6.9
|Mar precipitation days = 11.1
|Apr precipitation days = 10.7
|May precipitation days = 10.1
|Jun precipitation days = 11.6
|Jul precipitation days = 9.7
|Aug precipitation days = 7.4
|Sep precipitation days = 11.2
|Oct precipitation days = 11.8
|Nov precipitation days = 8.9
|Dec precipitation days = 6.6
|Jan sun = 181.5
|Feb sun = 161.0
|Mar sun = 163.1
|Apr sun = 175.6
|May sun = 179.6
|Jun sun = 130.1
|Jul sun = 164.6
|Aug sun = 200.1
|Sep sun = 137.7
|Oct sun = 126.0
|Nov sun = 144.1
|Dec sun = 163.6
|year sun = 1925.4
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=45&block_no=0381&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 2, 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=45&block_no=0381&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 2, 2022}}</ref>}}
==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-chiba.php Mobara population statistics]</ref> the population of Mobara peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.
{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 29,397
| 1930 | 31,014
| 1940 | 33,110
| 1950 | 45,753
| 1960 | 50,471
| 1970 | 58,203
| 1980 | 71,521
| 1990 | 83,437
| 2000 | 93,779
| 2010 | 93,015
| 2020 | 86,782
|align = none
| footnote =
}}
==History==
===Early history===
Mobara was settled from the earliest times, as evidenced by archaeological sites and [[midden|shell mounds]] dating from the [[Jōmon period]] and [[Yayoi period]]s. The city also has examples of ''[[kofun]],'' or burial mounds, from the [[Kofun period]]. The area was the location of at least two ''[[shōen]]'' estates, the Mobara-sō and the Tachibana-sō, in the [[Heian period]]. At the beginning of the [[Edo period]], in 1591, an extensive land survey was carried out by the [[Tokugawa clan]].
===Modern history===
The town of Mobara was created during the early [[Meiji period]] establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 in [[Chōsei District, Chiba|Chōsei District]]. The Bōsō Tetsudo, now the JR [[Sotobō Line]], was established in 1897 between [[Ichinomiya, Chiba|Ichinomiya]] and [[Ōami Station]] in present-day [[Ōamishirasato, Chiba|Ōamishirasato]]. [[Mobara Station]] was one station established on the line, thus connecting Mobara to the wider rail network. In 1909 a [[handcar]] system ran from Mobara Station and Chōnan. The handcar railroad was constructed and operated by the prefecture.
===World War II===
A base for the [[252 Air Group]] of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN), a [[fighter aircraft]] unit, was established in Mobara.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201908300004.html|title=Man searches in Chiba for crash sites of Japanese warplanes|last=INADA|first=HIROKAZU|date=30 August 2019|work=The Asahi Shimbun|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> In 1941, by order of the IJN, 100 residences and their associated farmland, schools, town halls, police substations, temples, and shrines were forcibly confiscated without warning to build the base. [[Mobara Airfield]] was completed using a ''kinrō dōin'' group that consisted of the forced labor of [[Koreans in Japan|Korean residents]] in Japan and students from Chōsei Middle School students in 1943. The airfield was located on the east banks of the small Aku River, directly to the east of [[Mobara Station]] along the present-day [[East Japan Railway Company|JR East]] [[Sotobō Line]], and consisted of a runway and 20 structures, some of them concealed underground. ''Tokubetsu kōgekitai'', or [[kamikaze]] units, were sent from Mobara Airfield to the IJN Kokubu Air Corps in present-day [[Kirishima, Kagoshima|Kirishima]], [[Kagoshima Prefecture]] to attack American forces off [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]. The United States confiscated the airfield shortly after the [[surrender of Japan]] in 1945. Remains of the [[runway]], approximately ten airfield structures, and a tunnel are now on the property of the [[Mitsui Chemicals]].<ref name="imao">{{cite book | last = Imao | first = Keisuke | title = Chizu de yomu sensō no jidai: egakareta Nihon, egakarenakatta Nihon | year = 2011 | publisher = Hakusuisha | location = Tokyo | language = Japanese | isbn = 9784560081181 | oclc = 709666060 | page = 240}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.warbirds.jp/ansq/6/F2000414.html | title= 414: Sensō no hi no 1945-nen 8-gatsu 15-nichi gozen [...] | accessdate = 2012-05-22}}</ref>
===Post-war history===
[[file:茂原公園桜風景.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Mobara Park]]
At the end of World War II, the [[113th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|113th Cavalry Regiment]] of the [[United States Army]] occupied the Mobara Airfield. The [[Japan Self-Defense Forces]] attempted to reoccupy the base in 1954, but after organized efforts by residents, agricultural organizations, the town and prefectural governments, the plans were abandoned the following year. The site was used to build Mobara Middle School for the rapidly expanding population of the town.<ref name="imao"/>
On April 1, 1952, Mobara Town expanded by annexation of neighboring villages of Tōgō, Toyoda, Ninomiya-Hongō, Tsurue, and Gogō and was elevated to city status. On April 1, 1955, Mobara annexed the town of Chōnan. On May 1, 1972, Mobara merged with the neighboring town of Honnō. On December 11, 1990, the city was hit by an [[Fujita scale|F-3]] [[tornado]], which killed one person, injured 78, and damaged or destroyed 1,747 homes in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/data/bosai/tornado/1990121104/list.html | title= 1990/12/11 19:13 千葉県茂原市で発生した竜巻 | publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency | location = Tokyo | language = Japanese | accessdate = 2012-05-21}}</ref>
==Government==
Mobara has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 22 members. Mobara contributes two members to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of [[Chiba 11th district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].
==Economy==
Mobara serves as a regional commerce center for surrounding [[Chōsei District, Chiba|Chōsei District]]. The economy of Mobara is dominated by electronics manufacturing. [[Futaba Corporation]], a major manufacturer of [[radio control]] models and toys, is headquartered in Mobara.<ref>"[http://www.futaba.co.jp/en/corporate/Network.html Network]." [[Futaba Corporation]]. Retrieved on 2015-03-29.</ref> Natural gas production is also important to the city; Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd. and Otaki Gas Co., Ltd. have headquarters here. Chemical production, centered on [[Mitsui Chemicals]], is the largest producer of [[iodine]] in Japan. 40% of the total world production of [[iodine]] is produced in Mobara. Much land in Mobara is still used for rice production. Additionally, ''negi'', or the ubiquitous [[Welsh onion]] of [[Japanese cuisine]], is an important agricultural product.
==Education==
Mobara has 14 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.
==Transportation==
===Railway===
[[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]] [[JR East]] – [[Sotobō Line]]
* {{STN|Honnō}} - {{STN|Shin-Mobara}} - {{STN|Mobara}}
===Highway===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|C4}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|128}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|409}}
==Local attractions==
*[[Nyoirin-ji]] - a [[Nichiren Buddhism|Nichiren Buddhist]] temple
*Tachibana Jinja - a [[Shintō shrine]] connected with the [[Yamatotakeru]] mythology, the ''[[Ninomiya (shrine)|ninomiya]]'' of [[Kazusa Province]]
===Tanabata festival===
A popular annual event in Mobara is the ''[[Tanabata]]'' festival, during which a wide array of stalls and parades dominate much of the city's central shopping district. While the rest of Japan usually celebrates ''Tanabata'' on July 7, the Mobara festival is held in late July so as to coincide with school holidays.
==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Salisbury, South Australia]], Australia, since May 25, 2002<ref name=International>{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=12&n=Chiba%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|language=English|accessdate=21 November 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204202/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=12&n=Chiba%20Prefecture|archivedate=4 March 2016|df=}}</ref>
==Notable people from Mobara==
*[[Naoki Kawano]], actor and musician
*[[Ishii Kikujirō]], prewar diplomat and cabinet minister
*[[Michitaka Kobayashi]], voice actor
*[[Yuko Ogura]], gravure idol
*[[Yōko Shōji]], manga artist
==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite encyclopedia| encyclopedia = Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系 “Compendium of Japanese Historical Place Names”)| title = Mobara-shi| url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/| accessdate = 2011-10-19| year = 2011| publisher = Netto Adobansusha| location = Tokyo| date = | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/| archivedate = 2007-08-25| url-status = dead}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Mobara, Chiba}}
*[http://www.city.mobara.chiba.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Chiba}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Mobara| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Chiba Prefecture]]
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