Kawauchi has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kawauchi is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1431 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.7 °C.[2]
Climate data for Kawauchi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Kawauchi has declined steadily over the past 60 years and is now less than half what it was a century ago.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
5,573
—
1930
4,275
−23.3%
1940
4,540
+6.2%
1950
5,930
+30.6%
1960
5,966
+0.6%
1970
4,709
−21.1%
1980
4,132
−12.3%
1990
3,933
−4.8%
2000
3,384
−14.0%
2010
2,821
−16.6%
2020
2,044
−27.5%
History
The area of present-day Kawauchi was part of Mutsu Province. After the Meiji restoration, on April 1, 1889, the village of Kawauchi was created within Futaba District, Fukushima with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.
Kawauchi suffered moderate damage from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. However, the eastern portion of the village is located within the nominal 20-kilometer exclusion zone of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and as a result of wind patterns following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the entire population of the village was evacuated by government order by May 2011. A portion of the village was re-opened in March 2012.[6][7]
In August 2014, the government divided the remaining portion of the village into two zones, and projected a lifting of the evacuation order for 275 residents in one of the zones in October.[8]
The ambient radiation dose was lower than that of the surrounding municipalities, and as of 2012, the average exposure dose among residents was reported to be below 1 millisievert per year.[9] By 2017, more than 80% of the villagers had returned, but many were older and the younger generation had a lower return rate than the whole.[10] It was reported that lifestyle-related diseases after the earthquake were increasing with the aging of the population.[11] More than 100 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium has been detected in 76% of wild mushrooms collected between 2016 and 2019.[12]
Economy
The economy of Kawauchi was formerly heavily dependent on agriculture.
Education
Kawauchi had two high schools (one public, one private), one junior high school, two elementary schools, and a kindergarten in March 2011. After the evacuation and re-opening of the town both high schools were closed. The junior high school, 1 elementary school, and kindergarten remain open.
Transportation
Railway
Kawauchi is not served by any train stations.
Bus
Kawauchi is served by bus, taking you both east and west.[13]
