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107-508: Sendai is the capital and largest city of Miyagi Prefecture, and the largest city in the Tōhoku region, with other major cities including Ishinomaki , Ōsaki , and Tome . Miyagi Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern Pacific coast and bounded to the west by the Ōu Mountains , the longest mountain range in Japan, with 24% of its total land area being designated as Natural Parks . Miyagi Prefecture

214-427: A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Miyagi, Japan. Workers were then evacuated from the nearby troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility once again, as a tsunami warning was issued for the coastline. Residents were told to flee for inner land at that time. In 2013, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako visited the prefecture to see the progress made since the tsunami. Miyagi Prefecture

321-511: A date. By comparison, 25% of young adult women said they never dated. It is estimated that 5% of married men and women who have had zero dating partners have used konkatsu (short for kekkon katsudo , or marriage hunting, a series of strategies and events similar to finding employment) services to find a spouse. Demographic trends are altering relations within and across generations, creating new government responsibilities and changing many aspects of Japanese social life. The aging and decline of

428-451: A day's travel from Tokyo for the first time in history. Tohoku Imperial University , the region's first university, was founded in Sendai in 1907 and became the first Japanese university to admit female students in 1913. Sendai was incorporated as a city on 1 April 1889, with the post- Meiji restoration creation of the modern municipalities system following the abolition of the han system . At

535-403: A decline in wages and lifetime employment , small living spaces and the high cost of raising a child . Many young people face economic insecurity due to a lack of regular employment. About 40% of Japan's labor force is non-regular , including part-time and temporary workers . Non-regular employees earn about 53 percent less than regular ones on a comparable monthly basis, according to

642-418: A destructive tsunami . Although the Sendai area was inhabited as early as 20,000 years ago, the history of Sendai as a city begins from 1600, when the daimyō Date Masamune relocated. Masamune was not happy with his previous stronghold, Iwadeyama , which was located in the northern portion of his territories and was difficult to access from Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Sendai was an ideal location, being in

749-480: A four times higher virginity rate. According to a 2010 survey, 61% of single Japanese men in their 20s, and 70% of single Japanese men in their 30s, call themselves " herbivore men " (s ōshoku danshi ), meaning that they are not interested in getting married or having a girlfriend. A 2022 survey by the Japanese Cabinet Office found that around 40% of unmarried Japanese men in their 20s have never been on

856-709: A good deal of fishing and agriculture, producing a great deal of rice and livestock, it is dominated by the manufacturing industries around Sendai, particularly electronics, appliances, and food processing. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 4.7% of Japan's rice, 23% of oysters, and 15.9% of sauries . In July 2011, the Japanese government decided to ban all shipments of beef cattle from northeast Miyagi Prefecture over fears of radioactive contamination. This has since been rescinded. According to Japanese census data, Miyagi prefecture experienced its greatest period of growth from 1940 to 1950 and continued to exhibit growth up until

963-522: A historically low birth rate has raised the issue of immigration as a way to compensate for labor shortages . Professor Noriko Tsuya, of Keio University, states that is not realistic to combat Japan's low birthrate with the increase of immigration. The government should keep working to further help women and couples balance their work and family roles in order to boost fertility. While public opinion polls tend to show low support for immigration, most people support an expansion in working-age migrants on

1070-466: A hospital, and 13.4% were visiting a physician. Japan's total fertility rate , or TFR, the number of children born from each woman in her lifetime, has remained below the replacement threshold of 2.1 since 1974, and reached a historic low of 1.26 in 2005. In 2016, the TFR was 1.41 children born per woman. Experts believe that signs of a slight recovery reflect the expiration of a " tempo effect ," arising from

1177-615: A modern phenomenon known as kodoku-shi ( 孤独死 , "solitary death") . During the first half of 2024, the National Police Agency reported that 37,227 individuals living alone were found dead at home, with 70% of these being aged 65 and above, and nearly 4,000 bodies discovered more than a month after death, including 130 that remained unnoticed for at least a year. The disposable income in Japan's older population has increased business in biomedical technologies research in cosmetics and regenerative medicine. The Greater Tokyo Area

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1284-455: A population increase of 3.1% since 2015. The increase is said to arise from day-care centers near or inside train stations, which are without waiting lists, and co-working spaces that include childcare rooms. The population of Akashi in Hyōgo grew 3.6%. This is attributed to a childcare facility with a large indoor playground near the local JR train station built in 2017. A subscription service in

1391-585: A promenade and a few sculptures. It is a place of relaxation. Many events and festivals, such as the Sendai Pageant of Starlight and the Jozenji Street Jazz Festival, take place on Jozenji-Dori and in Kōtōdai Park ( 匂当台公園 ) . Aoba-Dori is the main business road in Sendai. Other major roads in the city include Hirose-Dori ( ginkgo ), and Higashi-Nibancho-Dori. The most famous festival in Sendai

1498-726: A quarter explicitly preferred to remain single (26.5% of men and 25.4% of women). Common reasons for forgoing marriage include the loss of freedom, financial burden, and housework. Hitherto unmarried women cited the burden of housework, childcare and nursing care as major reasons, with men citing financial and job instability. Some women also stated a desire not to change their surname. In 2015, 1 in 10 Japanese adults in their 30s reported having had no heterosexual sexual experiences. After accounting for people who may have had same-sex intercourse, researchers estimated that around 5 percent of people lack any sexual experience whatsoever. The percentage of 18 to 39-year-old women without sexual experience

1605-543: A radical change to its healthcare system by introducing long-term-care insurance in 2000. The government has also invested in medical technologies such as regenerative medicines and cell therapy to recruit and retain more of the older population into the workforce. A range of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have also pioneered new practices for retaining workers beyond mandatory retirement ages, such as through workplace improvements as well as job tasks specifically created for older workers. Japanese companies increased

1712-410: A result, the city's geography is quite diverse. Eastern Sendai is a plains area, the center of the city is hilly, and western areas are mountainous. The highest point in the city is Mount Funagata which stands 1,500 metres (4,921 feet) above sea level . Unique among Japan's large coastal cities, Sendai's city core is built on a terrace at 40–60 m (131–197 ft) elevation. The Sendai basin area

1819-633: A severe regional imbalance in electoral power , where the weight of a single vote depends on where it was cast. Some depopulated districts send three times as many representatives per voter to the National Diet as their growing urban counterparts. In 2014, the Supreme Court of Japan declared that the disparities in voting power violates the Constitution , but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party , which relies on rural and older voters, has been slow to make

1926-410: A shift in the timing of children being born rather than any positive change. A range of economic and cultural factors contributed to the decline in childbirth during the late 20th century: later and fewer marriages , higher education, urbanization , increase in nuclear family households (rather than the extended family), poor work-life balance , increased participation of women in the workforce,

2033-498: A summer camp for children while their parents work during holidays. These initiatives have lured young working parents from Tokyo to Nagareyama. The city's population grew over 20% between 2006 and 2019, with many parents listing childcare as one of the main reasons of the move. 85% of families in the city have more than one child, and young children are expected to outnumber the elderly in the near future. Matsudo city in Chiba has had

2140-445: A temporary basis to maintain Japan's economic status. Comparative reviews show that Japanese attitudes are broadly neutral and place Japanese acceptance of migrants in the middle of developed countries . Japan's government is also trying to increase tourism rates, which helps their economy. The government has also expanded options available for international students, allowing them to begin work and potentially stay in Japan to help

2247-502: Is 30 kilometers from Tokyo . In the early 2000s, Nagareyama experienced an exodus of young people, due to lack of childcare facilities. In 2003, then-mayor Yoshiharu Izaki made investments in childcare centers a primary focus of the city's spending, developing infrastructure such as a transit service at Nagareyama-centralpark Station where parents can drop off their children on their way to work, following which children are shuttled to day-care centers by buses, driven by local seniors, and

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2354-511: Is 939 km (363 sq mi) (the mountainous area is 675 km (261 sq mi), the plain area is 245 km (95 sq mi) and the water body is 20 km (8 sq mi)). The basin consists of urban areas, paddy fields and forests. The mid and upstream areas have forests. The Natori River flows through the area and reaches Sendai Bay after 55 km (34 mi). The Hirose River ( 広瀬川 , Hirose-gawa ) flows 45 kilometres (28 miles) through Sendai. The river

2461-477: Is Tanabata, which attracts more than 2 million visitors every year and is the largest Tanabata Festival in Japan. It is relatively quiet compared to other traditional Japanese festivals, because its main attractions are intricate Tanabata decorations. The Aoba Matsuri Festival follows more typical Japanese festival traditions, with a mikoshi , floats , a samurai parade, and traditional dancing. Local people burn their New Year decorations and pray for health in

2568-545: Is US$ 61.7 billion in 2010. Sendai city by itself has a nominal GDP of approximately US$ 50 billion as of 2015 . The city's economy heavily relies upon retail and services – the two industries provide approximately two thirds of the employment and close to half of the establishments. Sendai is frequently called a branch-office economy , because very few major companies are headquartered in the city. Various authorities are cooperating to alleviate this problem, primarily by encouraging high-tech ventures from Tohoku University , which

2675-756: Is a dance festival, derived from the Yosakoi Festival that takes place in Kōchi . Trees in downtown Sendai are decorated with lights during the Sendai Pageant of Starlights. The event provided the idea for the Festival of Lights annually held in Riverside , Sendai's sister city. In 2005, the streets were lit up with one million miniature bulbs. Sendai is the origin of several foods, including gyūtan (beef tongue, usually grilled), hiyashi chūka (cold Chinese noodles), and robatayaki (Japanese-style barbecue). However, robatayaki

2782-492: Is a major factor in the nation bearing one of the highest public debts in the world at 246.14% of its GDP . The aging and shrinking population has also created serious recruitment challenges for the Japan Self-Defense Forces. From the 1980s onwards, there has been an increase in older-age workers and a shortage of young workers in Japan's workforce , owing to factors such as Japanese employment practices and

2889-524: Is a prefecture that is particularly prone to earthquakes even in Japan, which is an earthquake-prone country. Large earthquakes occur frequently Miyagi offshore, and earthquakes also occur frequently inland. In the 2011 Tohoku earthquake that occurred Miyagi offshore, Miyagi Prefecture suffered the most damage nationwide. Fourteen cities are located in Miyagi Prefecture: These are the towns and villages in each district : Although Miyagi has

2996-519: Is also set in Miyagi Prefecture. 38°21′N 140°58′E  /  38.350°N 140.967°E  / 38.350; 140.967 Sendai Sendai ( 仙台市 , Sendai-shi , [seꜜndai] ) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region . As of 1 August 2023 , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, and

3103-523: Is connected to other highways, such as the Sendai-Nambu Road, Sendai-Tobu Road, Sanriku Expressway (Sendai-Matsushima Road), and Sendai Hokubu Road. Ferries connecting Tomakomai and Nagoya stop at the Port of Sendai. The most well-known streets in Sendai, Jozenji-Dori ( 定禅寺通り ) and Aoba-Dori ( 青葉通り ) , are both lined with Japanese zelkovas . These are symbols of "The City of Trees". Jozenji-Dori has

3210-476: Is estimated that the proportion of young people (under the age of 19) in Japan will constitute only 13 percent in the year 2060, decreasing from 40 percent in 1960. Economists at Tohoku University established a countdown to national extinction, which projects that Japan will have only one remaining child in 4205. These predictions prompted a pledge by Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to set a threshold for population decline at 100 million. Japan's life expectancy

3317-482: Is held. In winter, the trees are decorated with thousands of lights for the Pageant of Starlight ( 光のページェント , Hikari no pējento ) , lasting through most of December. The city is also home to Tohoku University , consistently ranked amongst the top institutions of higher education in Japan. On 11 March 2011, coastal areas of the city suffered catastrophic damage from a magnitude 9.0 offshore earthquake , which triggered

Miyagi Prefecture - Misplaced Pages Continue

3424-502: Is home to Matsushima Islands , a group of islands ranked as one of the Three Views of Japan , near the town of Matsushima . Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu . On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a subsequent major tsunami hit Miyagi Prefecture, causing major damage to the area. The tsunami was estimated to be approximately 10 metres (33 ft) high in Miyagi Prefecture. On April 7, 2011,

3531-479: Is in the central part of Tōhoku , facing the Pacific Ocean , and contains Tōhoku's largest city, Sendai. There are high mountains on the west and along the northeast coast, but the central plain around Sendai is fairly large. Matsushima is known as one of the three most scenic views of Japan , with a bay full of 260 small islands covered in pine groves. Oshika Peninsula projects from the northern coastline of

3638-466: Is later than in most cities in Japan. During this season, cold winds from the Okhotsk air mass, called " Yamase ", blow in and depress daytime highs. See or edit raw graph data . As of 1 March 2023 , the city had an estimated population of 1,097,407 and a population density of 1,397 persons per km . The city's total area was 786.35 km . The 2000 National Census revealed that 88.5% of

3745-484: Is much lower than cities on the Sea of Japan coast, such as Niigata and Tottori . Summers are very warm and much of the year's precipitation is delivered at this time, with an August average of 24.1 °C (75.4 °F). The city is rarely hit by typhoons , and experiences only 6 days with more than 10 centimetres (4 in) of rainfall on average. Sendai's monsoon season usually begins in late April to early October, which

3852-403: Is near several major fishing ports, such as Kesennuma , Ishinomaki , and Shiogama , and the fact that Miyagi Prefecture is a major producer of rice . There are many ramen restaurants in Sendai, and the area is known for a particular spicy miso ramen . Also, Sendai station offers the most types of ekiben of any station in Japan. In autumn, many people organise Imonikai, a sort of picnic by

3959-547: Is one of Japan's 20 designated cities . The city was founded in 1600 by the daimyō Date Masamune . It is nicknamed the City of Trees ( 杜の都 , Mori no Miyako ) ; there are Japanese zelkova trees lining many of the main thoroughfares such as Jōzenji Street ( 定禅寺通 , Jōzenji dōri ) and Aoba Street ( 青葉通 , Aoba dōri ) . In the summer, the Sendai Tanabata Festival , the largest Tanabata festival in Japan,

4066-511: Is similar to other cities in Japan, because the Local Autonomy Law makes all municipalities uniform in terms of organization and power. However, Sendai is a designated city, so it has the same jurisdiction as prefectures in some areas. Sendai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature. The Sendai City Assembly members are elected from 5 elective districts, which correspond to

4173-463: Is to have this system in full-scale implementation in 2025. In addition, child allowances will be raised: The allowance for the first and second children will be 15,000 yen per month for those between the ages of 0 and 3, and 10,000 yen per month for those between the ages of 3 and high school age. For the third and subsequent children, the monthly amount will be 30,000 yen for all children from age 0 to high school age. A net decline in population due to

4280-407: Is transforming into a "super-ageing" society in both rural and urban areas. Japanese citizens largely view Japan as comfortable and modern, with no widespread sense of a "population crisis". The Japanese government has responded to concerns about the stresses demographic changes place on the economy and social services with policies intended to restore the fertility rate as well as increase

4387-430: Is virtually the only locality in Japan to see population growth, mostly due to internal migration from other parts of the country. Between 2005 and 2010, the population of 36 of Japan's 47 prefectures shrank by as much as 5%. Many rural and suburban areas are struggling with an epidemic of abandoned homes, 8 million across Japan in 2015. Masuda Hiroya, a former Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications who heads

Miyagi Prefecture - Misplaced Pages Continue

4494-462: Is well known as a symbol of Sendai, especially because it appears in the lyrics of Aoba-jō Koi-uta (青葉城恋唄; literally, The Aoba Castle Love Song ), a popular song sung by Muneyuki Satō. Aoba Castle was built close to the river to use the river as a natural moat . The river frequently flooded until the 1950s, but dams and levees constructed in the 1960s and 1970s have made such floods rare. Most mountains in Sendai are dormant volcanoes, much older than

4601-498: Is well known for its science and engineering departments. There are also incentives for startups available from the prefectural government. Tohoku Electric Power , a major regional supplier of electric power, has its headquarters in Sendai and also operates the Shin-Sendai Thermal Power Station located within the city. Sendai's economic growth rate has stabilized since the 2011 Japan earthquake. The growth rate

4708-609: The daimyō Date Masamune . The remains of Sendai Castle stand on a hill above the city. Miyagi Prefecture boasts one of Japan's three greatest sights. Matsushima , the pine-clad islands, dot the waters off the coast of the prefecture. The following are also noted as attractions: Miyagi Prefecture is one of the main settings of the manga and anime series Haikyū!! . The most well-known fictional schools located there are Karasuno High School, Aoba Johsai High School, Date Tech High and Shiratorizawa Academy, as well as Sendai City Gymnasium. Another anime series Wake Up, Girls!

4815-512: The kanji to " 仙臺 ", which later became " 仙台 " (literally: "hermit/wizard" plus "platform/plateau" or figuratively, "hermit on a platform/high ground"). The character came from a Chinese poem that praised a palace created by the Emperor Wen of Han China (reigned 180–157 BCE), comparing it to a mythical palace in the Kunlun Mountains . Tradition says that Masamune chose this kanji so that

4922-513: The Labor Ministry . Young men in this group are less likely to consider marriage or to be married. Many young Japanese people also report that fatigue from overwork hinders their motivation to pursue romantic relationships. Although most married couples have two or more children, a growing number of young people postpone or entirely reject marriage and parenthood. Conservative gender roles often mean that women are expected to stay home with

5029-524: The Meiji Restoration , after the feudal Sendai Domain encouraged residents to plant trees in their gardens. As a result, many houses, temples, and shrines in central Sendai had household forests ( 屋敷林 , yashikirin ) , which were used as resources for wood and other everyday materials. In 1925, the Senseki Line to Sendai Station became the first underground railway segment in Japan, preceding

5136-452: The Meiji Restoration . Sendai was also known for its production of Tansu , clothing drawers made from wood with elaborate ironwork. Aging of Japan Japan has the highest proportion of elderly citizens of any country in the world. 2014 estimates showed that about 38% of the Japanese population was above the age of 60, and 25.9% was above the age of 65, a figure that increased to 29.1% by 2022. By 2050, an estimated one-third of

5243-453: The mandatory retirement age from 55 to as high as 65 during the 1980s and 1990s, with many firms allowing employees to work beyond the retirement age. The government has gradually increased the age at which pension benefits begin from 60 to 65. Shortfalls in the pension system have driven many people of retirement age to remain in the workforce, with some elderly individuals being driven into poverty. The retirement age may go even higher in

5350-447: The 1950s. Japan is a well-known example, with close to 30 percent of its population aged 65 years or older. The increase in life expectancy translated into a depressed mortality rate until the 1980s, but mortality has increased again to a historic high, since 1950, of 10.1 per 1000 people in 2013. Factors such as improved nutrition, advanced medical and pharmacological technologies, and improved living conditions have all contributed to

5457-468: The 21st century. Nevertheless, like the majority of Japan , the population of Miyagi has begun to slowly decline. The prefectural capital of Sendai , however, has seen a moderate, but steady rise in population over the past twenty years. The sports teams listed below are based in Miyagi Prefecture. Also, the Sendai Hi-Land Raceway hosts motorsport road races. Sendai was the castle town of

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5564-534: The 9.0 magnitude 2011 Tōhoku earthquake occurred offshore Sendai, resulting in a devastating tsunami. Sendai has five wards ("ku"), which were created when it became a designated city in 1989. The city consciously avoided names that included directions (e.g., north 北 , center 中央 ) when it chose names for the new wards. per km Sendai has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ), which features warm and wet summers, and cool and dry winters. Sendai summers are not as hot as Tokyo to

5671-618: The Miyagi Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Miyagi 1st district and the Miyagi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Sendai is the center of the Tōhoku region's economy, and is the base of the region's logistics and transportation. The GDP in Greater Sendai, Sendai Metropolitan Employment Area (1.6 million people),

5778-488: The Philippines. Since Japan does not generally permit low-skilled workers to enter, many people went through the asylum route instead. This allowed immigrants to apply for asylum and begin work six months after the application. However, it did not allow foreigners without valid visas to apply for work. Japan has expanded its policies on work-life balance with the goal of improving the conditions for increasing birth rate, with

5885-463: The activity of the elderly in society. From 1974 to 2014, the number of Japanese people 65 years or older nearly quadrupled, accounting for 26% of Japan's population at 33 million individuals. In the same period, the proportion of children aged 14 and younger decreased from 24.3% in 1975 to 12.8% in 2014. The number of elderly people surpassed the number of children in 1997. Sales of adult diapers surpassed diapers for babies in 2014. This change in

5992-408: The care of their adult children, and government policies still encourage the creation of sansedai kazoku ( 三世代家族 , "three-generation households") , where a married couple cares for both children and parents. In 2015, 177,600 people between the ages of 15 and 29 were caring directly for an older family member. However, the migration of young people into Japan's major cities, the entrance of women into

6099-518: The castle would prosper as long as a mountain inhabited by an immortal hermit. Masamune ordered the construction of Sendai Castle in December 1600 and the construction of the surrounding castle town in 1601. The grid plan roads in modern-day central Sendai are based upon his plans. The first railway line between Sendai and Tokyo, now the Tōhoku Main Line , opened in 1887, bringing the area within

6206-563: The centre of Masamune's newly defined territories, upon the major road from Edo. Tokugawa Ieyasu gave Masamune permission to build a new castle in Aobayama after the Battle of Sekigahara . The previous ruler of the Sendai area had used a castle located on Aobayama. At this time Sendai was written as 千代 ("a thousand generations"), because a temple with a thousand Buddha statues ( 千体 , sentai ) used to be located in Aobayama. Masamune changed

6313-633: The children rather than work. Between 1980 and 2010, the percentage of the population who had never married increased from 22% to almost 30%, even as the population continued to age, and by 2035 one in four men will not marry during their prime parenthood years. The Japanese sociologist Masahiro Yamada coined the term parasite singles ( パラサイトシングル , parasaito shinguru ) for unmarried women in their late 20s and 30s who continue to live with their parents. A government survey released in June 2022 said that among singles, 46.4% desired to get married, while around

6420-468: The city include Tohoku International School . The city is served by Sendai Airport (located in neighboring Natori ), which has international flights to several countries, and the Port of Sendai. A rail link to Sendai began service on March 18, 2007. JR East 's Sendai Station is the main transport hub for the city. The station is served by seven JR lines and is a major station on the Tōhoku and Akita Shinkansen lines. An underground passage connects

6527-409: The city's 5 wards. The number of assembly members allocated to each ward is based upon population. As of May 2005, the city has 60 assembly members; 17 from Aoba Ward, 11 from Miyagino, 8 from Wakabayashi, 13 from Taihaku, and 11 from Izumi. The City Assembly elects an Assembly Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Sendai has two vice mayors, who are not elected by the populace. Miyagi contributes 24 seats to

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6634-467: The city's population (892,252 people) lived in a 129.69 km area, which is 16.6% of the city's total area. The population density in this area was 6,879.9 persons per km , more than 5 times higher than the city's average population density at that time, 1,286.6 persons per km . Approximately 10,000 people in Sendai were non-Japanese citizens. Sendai had 525,828 households in 2020. The average household had approximately 2.07 members. The average household

6741-492: The city. Sendai has been subject to several major earthquakes in recent history, including the 1978 Miyagi earthquake , which was a catalyst for the development of Japan's current earthquake resistance standards, and the 2005 Miyagi earthquake . Most recently, the coastal area of Sendai, including Sendai Airport , was severely damaged in the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami . The tsunami reportedly reached as far as Wakabayashi Ward Office, 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) from

6848-484: The coastline. Thousands were killed, and countless more were injured and/or made homeless. Sendai's port was heavily damaged and temporarily closed, reopening on 16 April 2011. Sendai is located at lat. 38°16'05" north, long. 140°52'11" east. The city's area is 788.09 km (304.28 sq mi), and stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Ōu Mountains , which are the east and west borders of Miyagi Prefecture. As

6955-542: The decline of Japan's population after reaching a peak of 128.1 million in October 2008. In 2014, Japan's population was estimated to be 127 million. This figure is expected to shrink to 107 million (by 16%) by 2040 and to 97 million (by 24%) by 2050 if this current demographic trend continues. A recent global analysis found that Japan was one of 23 countries that could see a total population decline of 50% or more by 2100. These trends have led some researchers to claim that Japan

7062-414: The demand for more caregivers is high. Nonetheless, family caregivers are preferred in Japan as the main caregiver, and it is predicted that Japanese elderly people can perform activities of daily living (ADLs) with fewer assistance and live longer if their main caregiver is related to them. Many elderly people live alone and isolated. Every year, thousands of deaths go unnoticed for days or even weeks,

7169-538: The demographic makeup of Japanese society, referred to as population aging ( kōreikashakai , 高齢化社会 ), has taken place in a shorter period of time than in any other country. According to population projections based on the current fertility rate, individuals over the age of 65 will account for 40% of the population by 2060, and the total population will fall by one-third from 128 million in 2010 to 87 million by 2060. The proportion of old Japanese citizens will soon level off. However, due to stagnant birth rates, it

7276-514: The economy. Existing initiatives such as the JET Program encourage English-speaking people from across the world to work in Japan as English language teachers. Japan is strict when accepting refugees into their country. Only 27 out of 7,500 refugee applicants were accepted into Japan in 2015. However, Japan provides high levels of foreign and humanitarian aid . In 2016, there was a 44% increase in asylum seekers to Japan from Indonesia, Nepal, and

7383-419: The elderly, in the workforce. Incentives for family formation include expanded childcare avenues, new benefits for those who have children, and a state-sponsored dating service. Policies focused on engaging more women in the workplace include longer maternity leave and legal protections against pregnancy discrimination , known in Japan as matahara ( マタハラ , maternity harassment) . However, "Womenomics,"

7490-483: The event of a child's injury or sickness; limits on the amount of overtime in excess of 24 hours per month based on an employee's request; limits on working late at night based on an employee's request; and opportunities for shorter working hours and flex time for employees. The laws stated aims were to, in the following decade, increase the female employment rate from 65% to 72%, decrease the percentage of employees working 60 hours or more per week from 11% to 6%, increase

7597-586: The future if the proportion of the elderly increases. A study by the UN Population Division in 2000 found that Japan would need to raise its retirement age to 77 (or allow net immigration of 17 million by 2050) to maintain its worker-to-retiree ratio. Consistent immigration into Japan may prevent further population decline, and many academics have argued for Japan to develop policies to support large influxes of young immigrants. Less desirable industries, such as agriculture and construction , face

7704-416: The growing elderly population as well, especially in rural areas, where the government has tried to improve welfare services such as long-term care facilities and other services that can help families at homes, such as daycare or in-home nursing assistance. The Gold Plan was introduced in 1990 to improve these services and has attempted to reduce the burden of care placed on families; long-term care insurance

7811-474: The highest birth rate in Japan for over 40 years since recording began in 1899. In 2018, the prefecture was the only one with a natural population increase, with 15,732 births and 12,157 deaths. While the national average fertility rate that year was 1.42, with Tokyo having the lowest rate of 1.20, Okinawa had a rate of 1.89. The average age of marriage is lower in Okinawa, at 30 years for men and 28.8 years for women;

7918-562: The historic center of the city was burned, with 2,755 inhabitants killed and 11,933 houses destroyed in the city. Following World War II, the city was rebuilt, and Sendai became a vital transportation and logistics hub for the Tōhoku region with the construction of major arteries such as the Tōhoku Expressway and Tōhoku Shinkansen . In the early 1950s, the United States Army, Japan operated Camp Schimmelpfennig and Camp Sendai in

8025-424: The longer-than-average life expectancy. Peace and prosperity following World War II were integral to the massive economic growth of post-war Japan , contributing further to the population's longevity. The proportion of healthcare spending has also dramatically increased as Japan's older population spends more time in hospitals and visiting physicians . On any given day in 2011, 2.9% of people aged 75–79 were in

8132-418: The mid-1980s, the government began to re-evaluate the relative burdens of government and the private sector in health care and pensions , and it established policies to control government costs in these programs. The large share of elderly, inflation-averse voters may hinder the political attractiveness of higher inflation, consistent with empirical evidence that aging leads to lower inflation. Japan's aging

8239-568: The more famous Mount Zaō and Naruko volcanoes in nearby municipalities. However, many hot springs can be found in the city, indicating hydrothermal activity . The Miyagi Oki earthquake occurs offshore Sendai once every 25 to 40 years. The 7.2 magnitude 2005 Miyagi earthquake , which occurred on August 16, 2005, had an epicenter close to the Miyagi Oki earthquake area. However, the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion concluded that it

8346-431: The most severe threats. The average farmer in Japan is 70 years old; while about a third of construction workers are 55 or older, including many expected to retire in the next ten years, only one in ten is younger than 30. The decline in the working population has also caused the nation's military to shrink. The decline in working-aged cohorts may lead to a shrinking economy if productivity does not increase faster than

8453-720: The national average is 31.1 years for men and 29.4 years for women. Reasons for families tending to have more than two children include Okinawan social norms, cheaper costs of living, as well as lower stress, and competition education levels, despite Okinawa having less welfare for children compared to other regions in Japan. The Okinawan culture also emphasises a form of mutual aid called yuimaru , with relatives living close together to help family members with childrearing. Okinawa also has increasing numbers of ikumen ; fathers who are actively involved in parenting. The Japanese government has developed policies to encourage fertility and retain more of its population, especially women and

8560-462: The necessary realignment. The increasing proportion of elderly people has a major impact on government spending and policies. As recently as the early 1970s, the cost of public pensions, healthcare, and welfare services for the aged amounted to only about 6% of Japan's national income . In 1992, that figure increased to 18%, and it is expected to increase to 28% in 2025. Healthcare and pension systems are also expected to come under severe strain. In

8667-664: The new year during the Dontosai Festival, the oldest festival in Miyagi Prefecture. Various contemporary festivals also take place in Sendai, such as the Jōzenji Streetjazz Festival, the Michinoku Yosakoi Festival, and the Sendai Pageant of Starlight. The Jōzenji Streetjazz Festival is one of the largest amateur music festivals in Japan. It began as a jazz festival in 1991, but soon began to accept applications from all genres. The Michinoku Yosakoi festival

8774-611: The opening of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (Asia's first subway line) by two years. The 2nd Infantry Division was known as the "Sendai Division" as it was based in Sendai, and recruited locally. During the Second World War it was involved in many different campaigns, but one of the most important was the Battle of Guadalcanal . During the bombing of Sendai during World War II by the United States on 10 July 1945, much of

8881-464: The passing of the Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, which took effect in June 2010. The law provides parents the opportunity to take up to one year of leave after the birth of a child, with the possibility to extend the leave for another six months if the child is not accepted to a nursery school. It also allows employees with preschool-age children the following allowances: up to five days of leave in

8988-574: The population in 1970 to 14.1% in 1994. The same increase took 61 years in Italy , 85 years in Sweden , and 115 years in France . Life expectancy for women in Japan is 87 years, five years more than that of the U.S. Men in Japan have a life expectancy of 81 years, four years more than that of the U.S. Japan has more centenarians than any other country, 58,820 in 2014, or 42.76% per 100,000 people. Almost one in five of

9095-432: The population in Japan is expected to be 65 and older. Population aging in Japan preceded similar trends in other countries, such as South Korea and China. The aging of Japanese society, characterized by sub-replacement fertility rates and high life expectancy , is expected to continue. Japan had a post-war baby boom between 1947 and 1949, followed by a prolonged period of low fertility . These trends resulted in

9202-473: The prefecture. As of 31 March 2019, 24% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely the Sanriku Fukkō National Park; Kurikoma and Zaō Quasi-National Parks; and Abukuma Keikoku , Asahiyama , Funagata Renpō , Futakuchi Kyōkoku , Kenjōsan Mangokuura , Kesennuma , Matsushima , and Zaō Kōgen Prefectural Natural Parks. In addition, Miyagi Prefecture

9309-556: The private think tank Japan Policy Council, estimated that about half the municipalities in Japan could disappear between now and 2040 due to the migration of young people, especially young women, from rural areas into Tokyo , Osaka , and Nagoya , where around half of Japan's population is currently concentrated. The government is establishing a regional revitalization task force and focusing on developing regional hub cities, especially Sapporo , Sendai , Hiroshima and Fukuoka . Internal migration and population decline have created

9416-449: The professional participation of women . The U.S. Census Bureau estimated in 2002 that Japan would experience an 18% decrease of young workers in its workforce and an 8% decrease in its consumer population by 2030. The Japanese labor market is currently under pressure to meet demands for workers, with 125 jobs for every 100 job seekers at the end of 2015, as older generations retire and younger professionals become fewer. Japan made

9523-727: The rate of Japan's decreasing workforce. The OECD estimates that similar labor shortages in Austria , Germany , Greece , Italy , Spain , and Sweden will depress the European Union 's economic growth by 0.4 percentage points annually from 2000 to 2025, after which shortages will cost the EU 0.9 percentage points in growth. In Japan, labor shortages will lower growth by 0.7% annually until 2025, after which Japan will experience an annual 0.9% loss in growth. The city Nagareyama in Chiba Prefecture

9630-452: The rate of use of annual paid leave from 47% to 100%, increase the rate of child care leave from 72% to 80% for females and .6% to 10% for men, and increase the hours spent by men on childcare and housework in households with a child under six years of age from 1 hour to 2.5 hours a day. Japan's population is aging faster than any other country on the planet. The population of those 65 years or older roughly doubled in 24 years, from 7.1% of

9737-520: The region also includes free deliveries of infant necessities, such as diapers. Western Japan ( Kyushu , Chūgoku region , and Shikoku ) has a higher birth rate than Central and Eastern Japan. 13 of the 15 prefectures with a TFR of 1.45 or higher are all located in the Kyushu, Chugoku regions or Shikoku, with the other two prefectures being Fukui and Saga. Prefectures with a low TFR are concentrated in eastern or northern Japan. Okinawa prefecture has had

9844-738: The river which involves making a potato stew called Imoni . Many crafts from Sendai were originally created under the influence of the Date family during the Edo period . Examples are Sendai Hira, a hand woven silk fabric, Tsutsumiyaki pottery, and Yanagiu Washi paper . However, some crafts, such as umoregi zaiku (crafts created from fossil wood) were developed by low-ranking samurai who needed side jobs to survive. Kokeshi dolls were popularized by hot spring resorts that sold them as gifts. Some relatively recent developments include Sendai Tsuishu lacquerware and Tamamushinuri lacquerware, both of which were developed after

9951-490: The set of policies intended to bring more women into the workplace as part of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's economic recovery plan , has struggled to overcome cultural barriers and entrenched stereotypes. These policies could prove useful for bringing women back into the workforce after having children, but academics have noted that they can also merely encourage productivity among women who opt not to have children. The Japanese government has introduced other policies to address

10058-515: The south, while the winters are much milder than Sapporo to the north, but retains significant seasonal differences in temperature and rainfall. Extremes range from −11.7 to 37.2 °C (10.9 to 99.0 °F). Of Japan's prefectural capitals, Sendai experiences the fewest days of extreme temperatures (highs outside 0–30 °C (32–86 °F)) at 19.6 per year, compared to Tokyo's average of 49. Winters are cool and relatively dry, with January temperatures averaging 1.5 °C (34.7 °F). Snowfall

10165-486: The standard population pyramid , forcing a narrowing base of young people to provide and care for a bulging older cohort, even as they try to form families of their own. In 2014, the age dependency ratio (the ratio of people over 65 to those aged 15–65, indicating the ratio of the dependent elderly population to those of working age) was 40%. This is expected to increase to 60% by 2036 and to nearly 80% by 2060. Elderly Japanese have traditionally entrusted themselves with

10272-499: The station to the Sendai Subway . The subway has two lines— Namboku ("north-south") and Tōzai ("east-west") with a total of 30 stations. When completed in 2015, Yagiyama station became the highest-elevated subway station in the country at 136.4 meters. In addition to the public bus system, a loop bus called Loople runs between tourism hotspots around the city. The Tōhoku Expressway runs north–south through western Sendai, and

10379-483: The time of incorporation, the city's area was 17.45 square kilometres (6.74 sq mi) and its population was 86,000. The city grew, however, through seven annexations that occurred between 1928 and 1988. The city became a designated city on 1 April 1989; the city's population exceeded one million in 1999. Sendai was considered to be one of Japan's greenest cities, mostly because of its great numbers of trees and plants. Sendai became known as The City of Trees before

10486-476: The workforce, and the increasing cost of care for both young and old dependents have required new solutions, including nursing homes , adult daycare centers , and home health programs. Every year, Japan closes 400 primary and secondary schools, converting some of them to care centers for the elderly. In 2008, it was recorded that there were approximately 6,000 special nursing homes available that cared for 420,000 Japanese elders. With many nursing homes in Japan,

10593-430: The working-age population has triggered concerns about the future of the nation's workforce, potential economic growth, and the solvency of the national pension and healthcare services . A smaller population could make the country's crowded metropolitan areas more livable, and the stagnation of economic output might still benefit a shrinking workforce. However, low birth rates and high life expectancy have also inverted

10700-468: The world's centenarians live in Japan, and 87% of them are women. In contrast to Japan, a more open immigration policy has allowed Australia , Canada , and the United States to grow their workforce despite low fertility rates. An expansion of immigration is often rejected as a solution to population decline by Japan's political leaders and people for reasons including the fear of foreign crime and

10807-538: Was 24.6% in 2015, an increase from 21.7% in 1992. Likewise, the percentage of 18 to 39-year-old men without sexual experience was 25.8% in 2015, an increase from 20% in 1992. Men with stable jobs and a high income were found to be more likely to have sex, while low-income men were 10 to 20 times more likely to have had no sex experience. Conversely, women with lower income were more likely to have had intercourse. Men who are unemployed are eight times more likely to be virgins, and men who are part-time or temporary employed had

10914-423: Was 85.1 years in 2016: 81.7 years for males and 88.5 years for females. As Japan's overall population shrinks due to low fertility rates, the proportion of the elderly increases. Life expectancy at birth increased rapidly from the end of World War II — when the average life expectancy was 54 years for women and 50 for men — and the percentage of the population aged 65 years and older has increased steadily since

11021-409: Was becoming smaller every year, because single-member households were increasing. At this time Sendai had more people in their early 50s and in their 20s and early 30s than in other age groups. This is a result of the first and second baby booms in Japan, and university students. The average age in Sendai is 38.4, which makes the city one of the youngest major cities in Japan. Sendai's political system

11128-526: Was introduced in 2000. On June 13, 2023, Kishida's cabinet determined the implementation of the "Strategic Policy for Children's Future" at a meeting in order to implement countermeasures against the declining birthrate under a different angle. Kishida's government intends to establish the "All Children's Daycare System (tentative name), to be carried out through 2024. This system will allow fathers to flexibly take vacational leaves that can be used flexibly on hourly bases, regardless of working conditions. The aim

11235-413: Was later introduced to Kushiro , which developed and popularized the dish. As a result, many people believe Kushiro is the origin of Robatayaki. Zundamochi (ずんだ餅, mochi balls with sweet, bright green edamame paste), and sasakamaboko (笹かまぼこ, kamaboko shaped like bamboo leaves) are also considered to be Sendai specialties. Sendai is also known for good sashimi , sushi , and sake . This is because Sendai

11342-403: Was not the Miyagi Oki earthquake, saying "...the recent event is not thought to be this earthquake. This is because the magnitude of the earthquake was small, and the source area, which was estimated from the aftershock distribution and seismic waves, didn't cover the whole expected source region. Although, the recent event ruptured a part of the focal region of the expected earthquake." In 2011,

11449-508: Was only 0.4% in 2011 after the quake created economic turmoil in coastal areas. The year after, in 2012 the rate spiked to 10.4% after reconstruction efforts. It has since fallen to a closer trend to what is expected of 3.7% in 2013. Tourism in 2016 attracted an estimated 2.229 million visitors to Sendai. Sendai is sometimes called an "Academic City" ( 学都 , gakuto ) because the city has many universities relative to its population. Universities located within Sendai include: Schools in

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