Akita, Akita

Akita
秋田
—  Core city  —
秋田市 · Akita City
Skyline of Downtown Akita

Flag
Location of Akita in Akita prefecture
Akita is located in Japan
Akita
Coordinates: 39°43′N 140°6′E / 39.717°N 140.1°E / 39.717; 140.1
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Akita prefecture
Government
 - Mayor Norihisa Satake
Area
 - Total 905.67 km2 (349.7 sq mi)
Population
(January 1, 2010)		 325,905
 - Density 359.8/km2 (931.9/sq mi)
City Symbols
 - Tree Japanese zelkova
 - Flower Satsuki azalea
Website www.city.akita.akita.jp
Phone number 018-863-2222
Address

Akita-shi,
Sanno 1 chome, 1-1
010-8560

Akita (秋田市 Akita-shi?) is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.

As of June 1, 2007, with the merger of the former Kawabe District (including the former towns of Kawabe and Yūwa), the city has an estimated population of 336,250 and density of 364.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (944.3 /sq mi). The total area is 905.67 square kilometres (349.68 sq mi).

While the modern city was officially founded on April 1, 1889, Akita has been one of the most important cities in the Tohoku region since the medieval period. The Ashina and Satake daimyo clans established their capital in present-day Akita.

Contents

Economy

Akita is within proximity of the most important oil fields in Japan. Oil refining, woodworking, metalworking, and the production of silk textiles are the main industries. Akita is also home to two regional banks that serve Akita prefecture and the greater Tohoku region: Akita Bank and Hokuto Bank.

History

Historically, Akita has seen changes throughout at least four historical Japanese periods; Edo, Meiji, Showa and Heisei. The first beginnings were of Akita were in the Edo period. A settlement, known as Kubota Castle Town, was formed which would later become the center of Akita. Construction is dated to 1604.

Meiji

Progress in the Meiji era included the renaming of the Taihei School (太平学校), Akita Normal School (師範学校) April 12, 1878. In July, the school system was divided into 2 systems, the Kitaakita and Minamiakita districts. A year later, on April 1, 1889, Akita was officially established. In July the city hall of Akita is located inside the former Minamiakita District office. Transportation by horsecar began in July from Shindaikumachi to Tsuchizaki. This later became the Akita City Rail service. In May the first bank opened.

Showa

War devastated the city on August 14, 1945. 137 people were killed in an air raid of 134 B-29s, attacking the city from midnight to the early dawn of August 15. A Nippon Company oil refinery in the Tsuchizaki area was targeted. This was reportedly the farthest-range and also the last bombing mission in World War II, coming only hours before Japan announced its surrender.[1]

Heisei Era

On April 1, 1997 Akita was designated as a core city in Japan. In August 2001 The World Games were held in Akita, with the opening ceremony held in the Yabase Track and Field Stadium. In 2004, the city celebrated its 400th anniversary and its beginnings as Kubota Castle town.

Merger with Kawabe District

On January 11, 2005, the city added the towns of Kawabe and Yūwa to become the new city of Akita. The merger celebration was held at AL☆Ve.

The location of Akita City Hall did not change, and former Kawabe and Yūwa Town Halls are used as the civilian center.

Go to the city of Akita's website for more info

Geography

Rivers and canals

  • Omono River
  • Akita-unga Canal (Formerly Omono-gawa River)
  • Asahi-kawa River
  • Iwami-gawa River

Neighboring cities

Climate

Climate data for Akita
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 14
(57)		 13
(55)		 21
(70)		 25
(77)		 30
(86)		 34
(93)		 35
(95)		 36
(97)		 34
(93)		 27
(81)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 36
(97)
Average high °C (°F) 2
(36)		 3
(37)		 6
(43)		 13
(55)		 18
(64)		 23
(73)		 26
(79)		 28
(82)		 24
(75)		 18
(64)		 11
(52)		 4
(39)		 15
(59)
Average low °C (°F) -5
(23)		 -5
(23)		 -2
(28)		 4
(39)		 8
(46)		 14
(57)		 18
(64)		 19
(66)		 15
(59)		 8
(46)		 3
(37)		 -2
(28)		 6
(43)
Record low °C (°F) -19
(-2)		 -24
(-11)		 -19
(-2)		 -7
(19)		 -2
(28)		 4
(39)		 10
(50)		 9
(48)		 3
(37)		 -2
(28)		 -4
(25)		 -19
(-2)		 -24
(-11)
Precipitation mm (inches) 142
(5.59)		 104
(4.09)		 104
(4.09)		 109
(4.29)		 112
(4.41)		 127
(5)		 198
(7.8)		 188
(7.4)		 211
(8.31)		 188
(7.4)		 191
(7.52)		 178
(7.01)		 1,852
(72.91)
Source: BBC Weather [2] 2009-12-07

Education

Akita University

Akita Prefectural University, a public university, is located in the city.

Akita International University is a private college outside of town, taught solely in English.

North Asia University

Akita Nutrition Junior College

Misono Gakuen Junior College

Open University of Japan Akita learning center

Akita Rocket Launch Site

At 39.57148N and 140.05785 E between 1956 and 1990 81 sounding rockets of Japanese type Kappa were launched. Hereby heights up to 343 kilometres were reached. In 1990 several Russian sounding rockets of M-100 type were launched. Source: http://www.astronautix.com/sites/akita.htm

Marian apparitions

Our Lady of Akita is the title of Marian apparitions reported in 1973 by Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa in the remote area of Yuzawadai, near the city of Akita. The apparitions were approved by the Holy See in 1988.[3] The 1988 approval was issued by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.

Sister / Friendship Cities

International Sister / Friendship Cities

Domestic Sister Cities

Transportation

Rail

  • East Japan Railway Company
    • Akita Shinkansen: Akita
    • Ōu Main Line: Ōbarino, Wada, Yotsugoya, (Akita Service Center), Akita, (Akita Freight Station), (Akita General Service Center: Adjacent to Tsuchizaki, branches to the right hand side before the station), Tsuchizaki, Kami-Iijima, Oiwake
    • Oga Line: Oiwake
    • Uetsu Main Line: Katsurane, Araya, Ugo-Ushijima, Akita
  • Akita Rinkai Railway (Freight)
    • Tsuchizaki—Port of Akita
      • North Line: Port of Akita—North Port of Akita
      • South Line: Port of Akita—Mukaihama
  • Akita District Forest Service
    • Nibestu Shinrin Railway (Abolished)

Road

  • Expressways
    • Akita Expressway: Akita North Interchange, Akita Chūō Interchange, Akita South Interchange
    • Japan Sea-Tōhoku Expressway: Akita Airport Interchange
    • Kawabe Junction：Akita Expressway, Japan Sea-Tōhoku Expressway
  • Akita Central Highway (Under construction)
  • National Highways (Ordinary)
    • Highway 7
    • Highway 13
    • Highway 341

Bus

  • Akita Shiei Bus (Planned to cease operations April 1, 2006)
  • Akita Chūō Kōtsū

Air

Boat

  • Port of Akita (designated port)
    • North Port of Akita (Akita Ferry Terminal)
    • South Port of Akita

Notes

  1. ^ Reyher, Charles. Memoirs of a B-29 Pilot, page 146 (Lulu.com 2008): “This superfortress strike unwittingly collapsed a coup in progress at the Japanese Imperial Palace and saved Tokyo from a nuclear strike and ended World War II.”
  2. ^ "Average Conditions Akita, Japan". BBC Weather. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT002450. Retrieved December 7, 2009. 
  3. ^ EWTN on AKita approval

External links


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This page was last modified on 22 January 2010 at 07:22.

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