Obama, Fukui

city in Fukui prefecture, Japan

Obama (小浜市, Obama-shi) is a city in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

Obama
小浜市
Obama City Hall
Obama City Hall
Flag of Obama
Official seal of Obama
Obama in Fukui Prefecture
Obama in Fukui Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionChūbu
Prefecture Fukui
Government
 • MayorKōji Matsuzaki
Area
 • Total233.1 km2 (90.0 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2020)
 • Total28,991
 • Density124.4/km2 (322/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code
917-8585
Area code18204-4
Phone number0770-53-1111
Address6-3 Ōtechō, Obama-shi,
Fukui-ken
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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In the pre-modern period, Obama was the main port and capital of Wakasa Province.

In the Edo period, Obama was the capital of the Obama Domain.

In 1871, the Obama Domain become Obama prefecture after the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures. Later, the merger was repeated and in 1951 the present city of Obama was established.[1]

Geography

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Surrounding municipalities

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Climate

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Obama has a humid subtropical climate with warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Obama is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2005 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.8 °C.[2]

Population

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From Japanese census data,[3]

1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
33,496 33,295 32,182 31,340 29,670 28,991

Specialities

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Traditional Crafts

  • Wakasa-nuri (Wakasa Lacquer Ware)

Wakasa Lacquer uses a "polishing" technique that involves coating on many layers of lacquer. Wakasa Lacquer made over several months’ time by coating the finest lacquer some ten-odd times, applying a pattern with shells, eggshells, and gold leafs, and polishing it with stones and charcoal.

  • Wakasa-menouzaiku (Wakasa Agate Work)

Wakasa agate work is the root of precious stone work of Japan. Wakasa agate works carved through unique technique is the greatest of precious stone arts. Wakasa agate work is made by applying heat to the rough stone to make it red, and deciding the shape of carving taking into consideration the scratches on the natural stone and long-lasting polishing work.

[4]

Foods

  • Heshiko

Since Obama is facing the sea of Japan, it has a lot of fish. Heshiko is a traditional dish that uses a salted blue-skin fish, and it can be preserved for a long time.

  • Yopparaisaba

Yopparaisaba uses mackerel that was raised on sake lees. [5]

Omizuokuri

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Omizuokuri is an event that is held on every March second by Jinguji-Temple. In this event, they put purified water in the depth of Unose.Ten days after this event, an event called Omizutori is held in Nigatsu-do Hall in Nara Prefecture, and the water comes from Jinguji-Temple is drew up on Nigatsu-do Hall. [6]

References

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  1. 小浜市議会史
  2. "小浜市、日本における年間の平均的な気候 - Weather Spark". ja.weatherspark.com. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  3. Obama population statistics
  4. "OBAMA City Website | English Page". www1.city.obama.fukui.jp. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  5. https://www1.city.obama.fukui.jp/obm/yopparaisaba/
  6. "お水送り(おみずおくり)". 小浜市観光「おばまナビ」 若狭おばま観光協会 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-19.

Other websites

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