Tsubata is located near the middle of Ishikawa Prefecture. It plays an important role as a crossroads between the Kaga region, the Noto region, and Toyama Prefecture. To the east, valleys and dales branch out through the low hills, while a flat plain 2-3 kilometers in width spreads out to the west. Natural features of Tsubata are Mount Sangoku, Kohokugata Lake and the Tsubata and Omi rivers. The town has a humid continental climate characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsubata is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2512 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.0 °C.
Neighbouring municipalities
Ishikawa Prefecture
*Kanazawa
*Kahoku
*Uchinada
*Hōdatsushimizu
Toyama Prefecture
*Oyabe
*Takaoka
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Tsubata has grown over the past 40 years. Tsubata's total population increase and population growth rate were the highest in the prefecture per the year 2000 census.
Census Year
Population
1970
21,541
1980
23,682
1990
26,078
2000
34,304
2010
36,940
History
The area around Tsubata was mostly part of ancient Kaga Province, with a small region in its northeastern side as part of Noto Province. The area became part of Kaga Domain under the Edo periodTokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Kahoku District, Ishikawa. The town of Tsubata founded on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The town merged with neighbouring villages of Nakajo, Kasatani, Inoue and Agata on March 31, 1954, and the village of Kaaidani on May 16, 1954, followed by the village of Kurikara on February 1, 1957.
Economy
Commerce and light manufacturing are important to the local economy.
Makomo-nage（マコモ投げ), an annual event, where people throw bunches of long makomo leaves like javelins, trying to be the one who achieves the greatest distance. The makomo is a relative of wild rice, though it's cultivated not for the grains, but for the base of the stalk, which has a mild flavor and a texture similar to bamboo shoots. Makomo is in season in October.
Town Symbols
Tsubata has four town mascots: Yoshinaka-kun, Tomoe-chan, Ka-kun and Mo-chan, Genji general Kiso Yoshinaka is said to have defeated a large Heike army by driving bulls with flaming torches attached to their horns into the enemy camp in the dead of night, causing the Heike to panic and flee. The battle is called the Battle of Kurikara. Tomoe Gozen was one of Yoshinaka's wives and a female samurai. The town crest is a stylized rendition of the characters for “Tsuba”. The shape of a flying bird signifies Tsubata's soaring industrial and cultural development, while the figure in the center, its feet firmly planted on the earth, represents stability. The circle represents harmony and peace. The town logo is warm and soft, expressing Tsubata's familiarity and friendliness. Overlaying the brightly shining sun, “1-2-3” signifies Tsubata's progress. Beneath the words are three lines. The green like symbolizes the richness of the greenery that grows throughout Tsubata. The dark blue line represents Tsubata's bright blue sky, while the light blue line stands for the pure water that Tsubata's rich natural environment provides.
