Izumizaki



Intro

History
There have been people in the Izumizaki area longer than there has been a Japan. Because of this, the area has archeological significance, with burial mounds, structural ruins, and ancient pottery having been found here. The most well-known is Sekikazuhisa Kanga (関和久官衙遺跡), which is a designated national landmark and has remains of old storehouse structures from the 8th century. Izumizaki is also known as the place where the oldest depiction of a sumo wrestler has been found, dating the early 6th century.

Although people had lived in the area for long before, the area now known as Izumizaki was officially founded in the Shirakawa domain of the Mutsu province around 646 CE. It quickly became a major producer of rice for the Shirakawa domain, and many storehouses were located there. During the Meiji Restoration following the Boshin War, the area underwent many name changes, as it was combined with surrounding villages until 1954, when it took its current name and shape.

Izumizaki is also steeped in local folklore, with many stories told about horse-stealing kappas and mystical foxes who practice dentistry.

By Train
Izumizaki has a station on the JR Tohoku Line, Izumizaki station (泉崎駅). The nearest shinkansen station is Shin-Shirakawa (新白河) three stops away.

By Car
Izumizaki can be reached by Japan's Rikuu Highway (known as Route 4). It is mainly centered around prefectural road 75.

The nearest highway interchange is Yabuki-chuo on the Abukuma toll road. Izumizaki is also located about 10 minutes from the Yabuki interchange for the Tohoku expressway.

Schools
Izumizaki teaches English with ALTs in the classroom at all of its schools, from ages 3-14. In addition, it holds a yearly village-only recitation contest to prepare for the prefectural recitiation contest in the fall.

Kindergarten (Yochien 幼稚園)
Izumizaki has one kindergarten which services kids aged 3-5. The current enrollment is 192 children.

Elementary (Shogakko 小学校）
Izumizaki has two elementary schools named Dai-ichi and Dai-ni (meaning number 1 and number 2 respectively).

Junior High (Chugakko 中学校)
Izumizaki has one junior high school. The school has baseball, boys and girls basketball, soft tennis, volleyball, table tennis, soccer, and cycling teams.