Town in Hokkaido, Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biratori (平取町, Biratori-chō) (Ainu: ピラ・ウトゥル, romanized: pira-utur[1]) is a town located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The name of the town means 'between the rocky cliffs' in the Ainu language.[2]
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Biratori
平取町 | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Biratori Town hall | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Biratori in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture) | |
 Biratori Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 42°35′N 142°8′E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture) |
| District | Saru |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yoshiteru Nakamichi |
| Area | |
• Total | 743.16 km2 (286.94 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2020) | |
• Total | 4,776 |
| • Density | 6.4/km2 (17/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 28, Honchō, Biratori-chō, Saru-gun, Hokkaidō 055-0192 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Great spotted woodpecker |
| Flower | Lily of the Valley |
| Mascot | Bilicky (ビラッキー) |
| Tree | Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) |
As of October 2020, the town has an estimated population of 4,776 and a density of 6.4 persons per km2. The total area is 743.16 km2.
The Nibutani Dam was constructed in Nibutani (二風谷) district on the Saru River, though there was a strong objection due to a sacred meaning of the place for indigenous Ainu people. Nibutani is the site of the Ainu Cultural center. Nibutani's best known son is perhaps Shigeru Kayano, a 20th-century advocate for the Ainu people and Ainu language and culture. The cultural landscape along the Saru, consisting of Ainu traditions and modern settlement within Biratori, has been designated an Important Cultural Landscape.[3]
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Biratori has declined over the past half-century.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10,770 | — |
| 1980 | 8,494 | −21.1% |
| 1990 | 7,352 | −13.4% |
| 2000 | 6,503 | −11.5% |
| 2010 | 5,596 | −13.9% |
| 2020 | 4,776 | −14.7% |
Biratori is primarily an agricultural town, growing many different kinds of fruits and vegetables for people and livestock. Tomatoes are one of the top products of the town. It was also known for its lumber industry.
Some noteworthy attractions in Biratori:
Biratori's mascot is Bilicky (ビラッキー, Birakkī). His name is a pun on "be lucky". He is a tomato with a horn and hooves of a bull, a pig's nose and a lily of a valley on his back. His birthday is 12 September.[5][6]
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