Obama, Fukui

Obama 小浜市
City
Obama City Hall
Flag Seal
Obama in Fukui Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Fukui
Government
• Mayor	Kōji Matsuzaki
Area
• Total	233.1 km2 (90.0 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	28,991
• Density	124.4/km2 (322/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code	917-8585
Area code	18204-4
Phone number	0770-53-1111
Address	6-3 Ōtechō, Obama-shi, Fukui-ken
Website	Official website

Obama (小浜市, Obama-shi) is a city in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

History

In the pre-modern period, Obama was the main port and capital of Wakasa Province.

In the Edo period, Obama was the capital of the Obama Domain.

In 1871, the Obama Domain become Obama prefecture after the abolition of domains and establishment of prefectures. Later, the merger was repeated and in 1951 the present city of Obama was established.

Geography

Surrounding municipalities

• Fukui Prefecture
  • Ōi
  • Wakasa
• Shiga Prefecture
  • Takashima

Climate

Obama has a humid subtropical climate with warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Obama is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2005 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.8 °C.

Population

From Japanese census data,

1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020
33,496	33,295	32,182	31,340	29,670	28,991

Specialities

Traditional Crafts

• Wakasa-nuri (Wakasa Lacquer Ware)

Wakasa Lacquer uses a "polishing" technique that involves coating on many layers of lacquer. Wakasa Lacquer made over several months’ time by coating the finest lacquer some ten-odd times, applying a pattern with shells, eggshells, and gold leafs, and polishing it with stones and charcoal.

• Wakasa-menouzaiku (Wakasa Agate Work)

Wakasa agate work is the root of precious stone work of Japan. Wakasa agate works carved through unique technique is the greatest of precious stone arts. Wakasa agate work is made by applying heat to the rough stone to make it red, and deciding the shape of carving taking into consideration the scratches on the natural stone and long-lasting polishing work.

Foods

• Heshiko

Since Obama is facing the sea of Japan, it has a lot of fish. Heshiko is a traditional dish that uses a salted blue-skin fish, and it can be preserved for a long time.

• Yopparaisaba

Yopparaisaba uses mackerel that was raised on sake lees.

Omizuokuri

Omizuokuri is an event that is held on every March second by Jinguji-Temple. In this event, they put purified water in the depth of Unose.Ten days after this event, an event called Omizutori is held in Nigatsu-do Hall in Nara Prefecture, and the water comes from Jinguji-Temple is drew up on Nigatsu-do Hall.

Other websites

• Official website