era, and Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida also had a residence in Ōiso to which he retired after leaving politics. The former Itō, Yoshida and Shimazaki residences have been preserved as memorial museums. Ōiso merged with neighbouring town Kōzu on 1 December 1954. Government Ōiso has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Ōiso, together with neighboring Ninomiya, contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 15th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy The local economy of Ōiso is based primarily on seasonal tourism, agriculture and commercial fishing. The town is also a bedroom community for both Tokyo/Yokohama and Odawara Education Ōiso has one public elementary schools and one public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private elementary school, middle school and high school. The private Seisa University has a campus at Ōiso. Transportation Railway JR East - Tōkaidō Main Line Highway (from Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka) Seishō Bypass Sister city relations - Komoro, Nagano, since September, 1968 - Yamaguchi, Nagano, since April, 1973 - Racine, Wisconsin, United States - Dayton, Ohio, United States Local Attractions There are several tourist attractions. Shigitatsu-an Sagichō Fire Festival Wildlife Terugasaki in Ōiso is known as location where the White-bellied green pigeons come to drink saltwater. Notable people from Ōiso Tatsuo Satō, director Soeda Azenbō, street musician of the 19th century Eijiro Ozaki, actor Miki Sawada, benefactor and social worker References External links Official Website Towns in Kanagawa Prefecture Populated coastal places in Japan Ōiso