Ishinomaki (石巻市, Ishinomaki-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 2 February 2022, the city has an estimated population of 138,538, and a population density of 250 persons per km2 in 61,919 households. The total area of the city is 554.55 square kilometres (214.11 sq mi).
The fishing port of Ayukawa (鮎川) is one of the homes of Japan's controversial whaling fleet, and whale (鯨 or くじら, kujira) is a local speciality served in many restaurants. Ethics aside, few locals are enamored with the stuff: in addition to tasting like fishy meat, it's commonly associated with wartime deprivation and school lunches.
Ishinomaki was one of the towns hardest hit by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, with the tsunami reaching up to 5 km inland and some 3,400 people killed.
