Oshu-shi was born on February 20, 2006!

Since February 20, 2006, the towns of Esashi, Mizusawa, Maesawa, Isawa and Koromogawa have become wards of the new city Oshu. Oshu means the far country, based on a former name of the famous city of Hiraizumi.

The official website of Oshu-shi is: http://www.city.oshu.iwate.jp (sorry in Japanese only...)