Sunagawa, Hokkaido
# Sunagawa, Hokkaido

Sunagawa (砂川市, Sunagawa-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population of 17,589 and a population density of 220 people per $km^2.$ The total area is 78.69 $km^2.$

## Name

Name of Sunagawa is derived from an Ainu word "Ota-ushi-nai", meaning the river near sandy shore.

## History

* 1890 - Nae Village founded.
* 1895 - Nae Village Office opened.
* 1897 - Utashinai Village splits off .
* 1902 - Nae becomes a Second Class Municipality.
* 1903 - Nae Village becomes Sunagawa Village.
* 1907 - Sunagawa becomes a First Class Municipality.
* 1923 - Sunagawa Village becomes Sunagawa Town.
* 1944 - Naie Village splits off.
* 1949 - Kamisunagawa Town splits off.
* July 1, 1958 - Sunagawa Town becomes Sunagawa City.

## Education

### High school

* Hokkaido Sunagawa High School.

## Transportation

* Hakodate Main Line : Toyonuma - Sunagawa
* Hokkaidō Expressway : Naie-Sunagawa IC (Naie) - Sunanaga SA - Takikawa IC (Takikawa)

## Notable people from Sunagawa, Hokkaido

* Junichi Watanabe (1933–2014), Japanese writer and doctor
* Mitsuya Nagai (born 1968), Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler (Real Name: Hirokazu Nagai, Nihongo: 長井 弘和, Nagai Hirokazu)
