Iino (飯野町, Iino-machi) was a town located in Date District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. On July 1, 2008, Iino was merged into the expanded city of Fukushima. As of 2020, the area of the former town had an estimated population of 5,201 and a population density of 270 persons per km².
Iino
飯野町 | |
|---|---|
 UFO Museum in Iino | |
.svg) Flag .svg) Seal | |
 Location of Iino in Fukushima Prefecture | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Fukushima |
| District | Date |
| First established | January 1, 1955 |
| Merged with Fukushima City | July 1, 2008 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.31 km2 (8.23 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2020) | |
| • Total | 5,201 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (630/sq mi) |
| - Tree | Red pine |
| - Flower | Cherry blossom |
| - Bird | Japanese tit |
Iino is famous for UFOs.[1] Japan's first-ever "UFO lab" for study and observation was opened here in 2020.[2] The UFO Fureaikan museum is also located nearby, close to Senganmori mountain.[3]
Geography edit
Iino is located near the center of Fukushima Prefecture in the northern hills of the Abukuma Highlands. The Abukuma River flows on the Western side of the town. Senganmori mountain, one of the town's symbols Prior to the merger, it was the third smallest municipality in Fukushima after the villages of Yugawa and Nakajima.
Demographics edit
Per Japanese census data, the population of Iino has declined steadily since 1955.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 9,485 | — |
| 1960 | 9,016 | −4.9% |
| 1970 | 8,016 | −11.1% |
| 1980 | 7,650 | −4.6% |
| 2000 | 6,773 | −11.5% |
| 2010 | 6,031 | −11.0% |
| 2020 | 5,201 | −13.8% |
| https://www.e-stat.go.jp/en | ||
See also edit
- List of mergers in Fukushima Prefecture
- Nakadōri—Central region of Fukushima Prefecture
- Roswell, New Mexico—American city with similar UFO culture
References edit
- ^ Montgomery, Hanako (15 January 2022). "This Small Japanese Town Is A UFO Hotspot" (Video). YouTube. VICE News. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
In a small Japanese town with desolate streets and shuttered storefronts, aliens are said to be frequent visitors.
- ^ Montgomery, Hanako (16 January 2022). "Inside a Dying Japanese Town Obsessed With Aliens". VICE World News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
In September 2020, Japan launched protocols to analyze aerial phenomena, encouraging Iino's alien believers to open in June the country's first-ever lab aiming to observe UFOs ... The center accepts international reports of alien life, then investigates each claim with the sources provided to determine whether it is credible.
- ^ Montgomery, Hanako (16 January 2022). "Inside a Dying Japanese Town Obsessed With Aliens". VICE World News. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
Long before Iino's alien research lab was created in 2020, the town had established the UFO Fureaikan in 1992, a museum documenting alleged extraterrestrial life. The town received funding from the Japanese government, which distributed grants between 1988 and 1989 to revitalize languishing regions. Inside, the museum displays statues of various human conceptions of aliens and literature about such creatures, and screens a film about alien lore.
External links edit
- City of Fukushima official website (in Japanese)
- Iino International UFO Lab official website (in Japanese)
- Iino UFO Fureaikan museum official website (in Japanese)
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