Oshu City (Iwate Prefecture, Japan)

奥州市

Last modified: 2026-07-25 by zachary harden
Keywords: iwate | oshu |
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image by Tomislav Šipek, 17 October 2014

• The Flag
• Esashi
• Isawa
• Koromogawa
• Maesawa
• Mizusawa

• Iwate Prefecture
• Japanese Subdivisions
• Japan

The Flag

The flag of the city of Oshu is white with mark.
Source: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/view.rbz?cd=1000
Tomislav Šipek, 17 October 2014

The city emblem was adopted on Feb 20th 2006 but there is no flag law. The white flag has a blue and a green two color city emblem in the center. The city emblem is a stylized kanji 奥 inside and O and S outside. The blue color stands for River Kitakami and a clear sky,the green color for the main industry agriculture and forestry. It represents images of the city and the citizen who is improving and developing into the dreamful future.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 October 2014

Esashi City / 江刺市

image by Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The flag of the former city of Esashi was white with mark. The city is now, from 2006, part of the city of Oshu.
Source: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/gappei/
Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The design is based on the katakana character for“E” エ; the circle symbolizes harmony, while the wings represent rapid growth.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 20 June 2026

Isawa Town / 胆沢町

image by Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The flag of the former town of Isawa was white with mark. The town is now, from 2006, part of the city of Oshu.
Sources: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/gappei/
http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~pstation/album/album32.htm
Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The hiragana character for “i” い has been stylized; the circular shape symbolizes the town's harmony and unity, while the font conveys dynamism and growth.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 20 June 2026

Koromogawa Village / 衣川村

image by Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The flag of the former village of Koromogawa was green with mark. The village is now, from 2006, part of the city of Oshu.
Source: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/gappei/
Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The kanji character for“clothing” 衣 koromo has been stylized to symbolize harmony among the villagers, while the calligraphy represents the village's history, culture, and development.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 June 2026

Maesawa Town / 前沢町

image by Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The flag of the former town of Maesawa was blue with mark. The town is now, from 2006, part of the city of Oshu.
Source: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/gappei/
Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The design is based on the katakana character for “Ma,” マ with the arrow symbolizing progress and representing a new town characterized by harmony and unity.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 21 June 2026

Mizusawa City / 水沢市

image by Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

The flag of the former city of Mizusawa was blue with mark. The city is now, from 2006, part of the city of Oshu.
Sources: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp/gappei/
http://stream01.maoi-net.jp/nendai/2006.htm
Tomislav Šipek, 24 October 2014

A blue flag featuring the city emblem—a stylized version of the kanji character for “water” 水 mizu within a circle—in the center.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 22 June 2026