city, Hokkaido, Japan, on the lower Ishikari River. It originated as a colonial farm village settled by 10 families from the island of Honshu in the early Meiji period (1868–1912). It is a satellite city of Sapporo with a well-planned residential area and industries, including food processing, metal, pottery, and paper manufacturing. Important factors of its industrial growth are abundant water and a large hydroelectric power plant on the Ishikari River. Pop. (2005) 125,601.