Editing Yuza

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Yuza
| native_name             = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|遊佐町}}}}
| native_name_lang        = ja
| settlement_type         = [[Towns of Japan|Town]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Sakae-basi, Yuza, Akumi, Yamagata.jpg
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Sakae Bridge in Yuza
| image_flag              = Flag of Yuza Yamagata.svg
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = Emblem of Yuza, Yamagata.svg
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=260|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| image_map1               = Yuza in Yamagata Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of Yuza in Yamagata Prefecture
| pushpin_map             = Japan
| pushpin_label_position  = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates             = {{coord|39|00|53|N|139|54|32|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       = [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Akumi District, Yamagata|Akumi]]
<!-- 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          = 208.39
| 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        = 12,719
| population_as_of        = March 31, 2023
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_est          = 
| pop_est_as_of           = 
| population_demonym      = <!-- demonym, ie. 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&nbsp;number
| blank_info_sec1        = 0234-72-3311
| blank1_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank1_info_sec1 = 211 Banchi, Yuza Aze Maizuru, Yuza-machi, Akumi-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-8301
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2         = 
| blank_info_sec2         = 
| blank1_name_sec2        =
| blank1_info_sec2        = 
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{Official|1=http://www.town.yuza.yamagata.jp/}} 
| footnotes               = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Pinus thunbergii|Japanese Black Pine]]
 | flower = [[Arenaria (plant)|Arenaria]]
 | bird = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish =
}}
}}
[[File:Yuza town office, Yamagata.JPG|right|270px|thumb|Yuza town hall]]
[[File:Yuza High School 130429.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Yuza High School with Mount Chōkai in background]]
{{Nihongo|'''Yuza'''|遊佐町|Yuza-machi}} is a [[Towns of Japan|town]] located in [[Yamagata Prefecture]], Japan. {{As of|2023|03|31}},  the town had an estimated [[population]] of 12,719 in 4926 households,<ref name="Yuza-hp">{{cite web |url=http://www.town.yuza.yamagata.jp/ |title= Yuza town official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 61 persons per km². The total area of the town is {{convert|208.38|km²|0|abbr=out}}.

==Geography==
Yuza is located in the extreme northwest of Yamagata Prefecture, bordering on [[Akita Prefecture]] to the north and the [[Sea of Japan]] on the west. It is situated at the northern end of the Shōnai Plain, with the Gekkō River running across the town. [[Mount Chōkai]], which has the second highest elevation in the Tohoku region, is on the northern border. Sandy beaches stretch along the coastline in the southern part of the town, whereas the northern coastline is more rugged due to reefs formed by lava flows from Mt. Chōkai. Part of the town is within the borders of the [[Chōkai Quasi-National Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.yamagata.jp/ou/seikatsukankyo/050011/joureikaisei/kouentouichizu.pdf |title=Natural Parks of Yamagata Prefecture |language=ja |publisher=[[Yamagata Prefecture]] |access-date=29 February 2012}}</ref>

===Neighboring municipalities===
Akita Prefecture
*[[Nikaho, Akita|Nikaho]]
*[[Yurihonjō]]
Yamagata Prefecture
*[[Sakata, Yamagata|Sakata]]

===Climate===
Nakayama has a [[Humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Nakayama is 11.9&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1906&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 0.3&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/yamagata/yuza-1017648/ Yuzaclimate data]</ref>

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-yamagata.php Yuza population statistics]</ref> the population of Yuza peaked around the year 1950 and has been declining steadily since. It is now less than it was a century ago.

{{Historical populations
| percentages = pagr
| align = none
| cols = 1
| graph-pos = bottom
| 1920 | 18,863
| 1930 | 19,556
| 1940 | 19,596
| 1950 | 25,726
| 1960 | 23,928
| 1970 | 21,224
| 1980 | 20,412
| 1990 | 19,705
| 2000 | 18,037
| 2010 | 15,480
| 2020 | 13,032
| footnote = 
}}

==History==
The area of present-day Yuza was part of ancient [[Dewa Province]]. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and the [[Koyamazaki Site]] containing the traces of a [[Jomon period]] settlement dating to more than 7500 years ago is a [[Monuments of Japan|National Historic Site]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/00004090|title=小山崎遺跡 |language=Japanese |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |accessdate=}}</ref> During the late [[Heian period]], the area was the location of Yuza-sō, a ''[[shōen]]'' landed estate, and during the [[Nanboku-chō period]], Yuza clan were vassals of the [[Hatakeyama clan]] and served as ''[[shugodai]]'' in a number of provinces. In the [[Edo Period]], the area became part of the domains of the [[Sakai clan]] of [[Shōnai Domain]]. After the start of the [[Meiji period]], the area became part of [[Akumi District, Yamagata|Akumi District]], Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Yuza was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1941. On August 1, 1954, it absorbed the neighboring villages of Inagawa, Nishi-Yuza, Warabioka, Fukura, and Takase. In 2003, it joined discussions with regards to a possible merger with the neighboring city of Sakata; however, the merger discussions were closed on October 6, 2004 with Yuza electing to remain independent.

==Economy==
The economy of Yuza is based on agriculture and [[commercial fishing]].

==Education==
Yuza has one public  elementary school, one public middle school operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

==Transportation==
===Railway===
[[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]] [[East Japan Railway Company]] -  [[Uetsu Main Line]]
* {{STN|Yuza|x}} - {{STN|Fukura|x}} - {{STN|Mega|x|Yamagata}}

===Highway===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E7|dab1=N}} – Yuza Interchange
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|7}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|345}}

==Local attractions==
* Chokaizan Omoimi Jinja
* [[Jūroku Rakan Iwa]]
*[[Koyamazaki Site]], National Historic Site

==International relations==
{{see also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

===Sister cities===
*{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Szolnok]], Hungary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://info.szolnok.hu/alap.php?mid=443&aktid=452|title=Twinning relationships: Yuza (Japan)|work=Welcome to Szolnok|publisher=Szolnok city government|language=en|access-date=17 December 2015}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.town.yuza.yamagata.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Yamagata}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Yamagata Prefecture]]
[[Category:Yuza]]