Tomakomai

City in Hokkaido, Japan

Aerial view of Tomakomai

Tomakomai city hall

Lake Utonai

Tomakomai (苫小牧市, Tomakomai-shi) is a city and port in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture, and the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. As of 31 July 2023, it had an estimated population of 167,372, with 83,836 households, and a population density of 298 persons per km² (770 persons per mi²). The total area is 561.57 km² (216.82 sq mi).

The city is known for its high catch of Arctic surf clams.

History

The name of Tomakomai is derived from Ainu words "to" and "makomai", meaning "Marsh" and "River which goes into the depths of the mountain", respectively.^[1][2]

• 1879: Yūfutsu branch of Hokkaidō Development Commission was transferred into Tomakomai (Foundation anniversary).
• 1902: Tomakomai became second class village.
• 1918: Tomakomai village became Tomakomai town.
• 1948: Tomakomai town became Tomakomai city.
• 1963: Tomakomai Port (West) was opened.
• 1980: Tomakomai Port (East) was opened.
• 6 September 2018: Tomakomai City is the nearest city from the epicenter of the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.

Geography

Mount Tarumae is located in the northwest of Tomakomai and belongs to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.

Climate

Tomakomai has a humid continental climate typical of Hokkaido.

Transportation

Airport

• New Chitose Airport

Rail

• Muroran Main Line: Nishikioka - Itoi - Aoba - Tomakomai - Numanohata
• Chitose Line: Numanohata - Uenae
• Hidaka Main Line: Numanohata - Yūfutsu

Road

• Hokkaidō Expressway
• Hidaka Expressway

Seaport

• Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal: connected with regular ferry services by MOL Ferry, Taiheiyō Ferry, K Line Kinkai.

Education

University

• Hokuyou University

College

• National Institute of Technology, Tomakomai College

High schools

Public

• Hokkaido Tomakomai Higashi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Minami High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Nishi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Technical High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Sogokeizai High School

Private

• Tomakomai Chuo High School
• Komazawa University Tomakomai High School

Sports

Arctic surf clam curry, which the city is known for

In 2014, Tomakomai hosted the World Broomball Championships.^[5]

Sister cities and friendship city

Sister cities

• Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan (since 1973)^[6]
• Napier, Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand (since 1980)
• Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (since 1982)

Friendship city

• Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China (since 1998)

Notable people from Tomakomai

• Tsutomu Kawabuchi, ice hockey player and coach, member of the IIHF Hall of Fame^[7]
• Asami Kimura, singer in Hello! Project and former Country Musume member and leader
• Eiichi Kudo, film director
• Junko Misaki, enka singer
• Kei Sanbe, manga artist^{[citation needed]}
• Naoki Sano, professional wrestler
• Takuya Onodera, professional wrestler best known as T-Hawk
• Hisayoshi Sato, swimmer^[8]
• Ippei Mizuhara, Interpreter for Major League Baseball
• Yushiroh Hirano, ice hockey player, Adirondack Thunder^[9]

References

1. The outline of Tomakomai
2. The history of Tomakomai
3. 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
4. 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
5. "2014 – IFBA World Broomball Championship, Tomakomai, Japan (December Update)". IFBA. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
6. Sister cities and friendship city of Tomakomai
7. "Mr. Kawabuchi died, 88 years old Tomakomai comes from the international hall of fame with ice hockey". 47news (in Japanese). 2014-01-20. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
8. "Hisayoshi Sato". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
9. "Yushiroh Hirano Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)