Editing Gobō, Wakayama

{{short description|City in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}
{{For|the root vegetable called ''gobō'' in Japanese|burdock}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Gobō
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|御坊市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang   = ja
| settlement_type    = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name         = <!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline      = Gobou cityhall.JPG
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Gobō City Hall
| image_flag         = Flag of Gobo, Wakayama.svg
| image_seal         = 
| seal_type          = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->| image_map          = Gobo in Wakayama Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Gobō in Wakayama Prefecture
| pushpin_map        = Japan
| pushpin_relief     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|53|N|135|9|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Japan
| subdivision_type1  = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3  = <!-- established -->
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| extinct_title      = Now part of
| extinct_date       = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = <!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type          = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat               = <!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1       = <!-- display settings -->
| total_type         = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref          = Metric
<!-- area -->| area_magnitude     = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2     = 43.91
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note          = <!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m        = <!-- population -->
| population_footnotes = <ref name=pop />
| population_total   = 21,260
| population_as_of   = May 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1          = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1        = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code          = <!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1    = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1    = 350 Sono, Gobo-shi, Wakayama-ken 644-0002
<!-- website, footnotes -->| website            = {{Official|1=http://www.city.gobo.wakayama.jp/}}
| footnotes          = 
| module             = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Ilex rotunda|Kurogane Holly]]
 | flower =[[Hibiscus|Hibiscus hamabo]]
 | bird = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
}}
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Gobo, Wakayama.svg
| blank_emblem_alt   = Emblem
| blank_emblem_size  = 50px
}}
[[file:Honganji Hidaka-betsuin01n3200.jpg|right|thumb|270px|Hongan-ji Hidaka-betsuin]]
{{nihongo|'''Gobō'''|御坊市|Gobō-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Wakayama Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2024|5|}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 21,260 in 10,801 households and a [[population density]] of 480 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=pop>{{cite web |title=住民登録人口及び世帯数{{!}}御坊市ホームページ |url=https://www.city.gobo.lg.jp/sosiki/somu/kikaku/tanto/shisei/toukei/1385108649651.html |website=www.city.gobo.lg.jp |access-date=6 July 2024 |language=ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|43.91|sqkm|sqmi}}.

==Geography==
Gobō is located at the mouth of the Hidakagawa River, almost in the center of the coastline of Wakayama Prefecture. The terrain is long from north to south, and the part facing the [[Kii Channel]] is almost flat, but the east side of the city is mountainous. Due to the influence of the [[Kuroshio Current]], the city enjoys a mild climate.

===Neighboring municipalities===
Wakayama Prefecture
*[[Inami, Wakayama|Inami]]
*[[Hidaka, Wakayama|Hidaka]]
*[[Hidakagawa, Wakayama|Hidakagawa]]
*[[Mihama, Wakayama|Mihama]]

==Climate==
Gobō has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.  The average annual temperature in Gobō is 15.9&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1878&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 6.1&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/wakayama-prefecture/gobo-5159/ Gobō climate data]</ref> The area is subject to [[typhoon]]s in summer.

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-wakayama.php Gobō population statistics]</ref> the population of Gobō has been declining steadily over the past 40 years.

{{Historical populations
| 1960 | 30700
| 1970 | 30573
| 1980 | 30393
| 1990 | 29133
| 2000 | 28034
| 2010 | 26106
| 2020 | 23481
|align       = none
| footnote = Source: <ref name=pop />
}}

==History==
The area of the modern city of Gobō was within ancient [[Kii Province]]. The village of Gobō was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It took its name from a branch temple of [[Nishi Hongan-ji]], the Hidaka-Gobō, which had been built at this location in 1528, and which was known locally as "Gobō-sama". The village was raised to town status on February 1, 1897. Gobō merged with the villages of Fujita, Noguchi, Nada and Shioya to form the city of Gobō on April 1, 1954.

==Government==
Gobō has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 14 members. Gobō contributes one member to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of [[Wakayama 3rd district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

==Economy==
In ancient times, Gobō developed as a distribution center for timber transported by the Hidaka River and as a fishing port. [[Commercial fishing]], especially for [[horse mackerel]], [[abalone]] and [[spiny lobster]] remains important, as does agriculture, especially the production of cut flowers. Gobō's slogan is "''Hanamaru Gobō''", linking the city with flowers. The city's greenhouses produce a wide range of blooms, supplying the Japanese market, and its official flower is the ''[[Hibiscus|Hibiscus hamabo]]'', a kind of [[hollyhock]] growing up to {{Convert|3|to|5|m|ft}} in height, and bearing yellow flowers in the summer. The hibiscus are found at the mouth of the Hidaka River with its warmer [[microclimate]]. In terms of industry, Hidaka Port corporate site and Gobo Industrial Park in the Shioya district in the southern part of the city, forming the industrial area. This includes the production of [[mahjong]] tiles by Taiyo Kagaku, which has a near monopoly on the Japanese domestic market. The [[Kansai Electric]] [[Gobō Thermal Power Plant]] is located in Gobō.

==Education==
Gobō has six public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and four public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education. The city also has one private/middle school. The prefecture also operates one vocational education school.

==Transportation==
===Railway===
[[File:JR logo (west).svg|20px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[Kisei Main Line]]
*{{STN|Dōjōji|x}} - {{STN|Gobō|x}} 
[[File:Kishu Railway logo.png|30px]] [[Kishū Railway]] - [[Kishū Railway Line]]
*{{STN|Gobō|x}} - {{STN|Gakumon|x}} - {{STN|Kii-Gobō|x}} - {{STN|Shiyakusho-mae|x|Wakayama}} - {{STN|Nishi-Gobō|x}}

===Highway===
* [[File:JP Expressway E42.svg|30px|link=|alt=]] [[Hanwa Expressway]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|42}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|425}}

== Local attractions ==
Gobō has "Gobō Synthesis Sport Park". This park has a baseball ground and multipurpose ground, training place and more. It is a popular relaxation spot among the locals.

== Notable people ==
* [[Kimurayama Mamoru]] (1981–2024), [[sumo wrestler]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=元幕内・木村山の岩友親方が42歳で死去、引退後は名古屋場所の担当親方を長く務める【大相撲】：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ |url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/923762 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ |language=ja |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706081235/https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/923762 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Gobo, Wakayama|Gobō, Wakayama}}
* {{Official website|http://www.city.gobo.wakayama.jp/|Gobō City official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Official website|http://www.kyomedia.com/GoboCity/GoboCity.html|Gobō City official website}} {{in lang|en}}

{{Wakayama}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gobo, Wakayama}}
[[Category:Cities in Wakayama Prefecture]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Gobō, Wakayama]]


{{Wakayama-geo-stub}}