Watari, Miyagi 2.25

Watari is a town located in Watari District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2014, the town had an estimated population of 33,105 and a population density of 452 persons per km². The total area was 73.21 km².GeographyWatari is located in the southeastern Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Abukuma River fows through the town, forming its western border.Neighboring municipalitiesMiyagi PrefectureIwanuma, MiyagiKakuda, MiyagiYamamoto, MiyagiShibata, MiyagiHistoryThe area of present-day Watari was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and the place name of “Watari” appears in the Nihon Shoki chronicles dated 718 AD.Watari Town was established on April 1, 1889 with the start of the municipalities system. It merged with the neighboring town of Arahama and villages of Yoshida and Okuma on February 1, 1955.Watari was severely damaged by a tsunami caused by an earthquake on 11 March 2011. Hundreds of people were stranded in a school but were airlifted from the roof by Japanese military helicopters. The tsunami covered 47% of the town’s area and 305 residents were reported killed or missing.