Akita, Akita
Encyclopedia : A : AK : AKI : Akita, Akita
Akita (秋田市; Akita-shi) is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.
As of January 11, 2005 with the merger of the former Kawabe District (including the former towns of Kawabe and Yuwa), the city has an estimated population of 336,250 and density of 371 persons per km². The total area is 905.67 km².
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 und Satake daimyo clans established their capital in present-day Akita.
Demographics
- Population: 333,058 (As of December 1, 2005)
- *Population density: 367.74 people/k㎡
City Symbols
- City tree: Zelkova
Mayor
Economy
Akita is within proximity of the most important oil fields in Japan. Oil refining, wood, 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.
Geography
Rivers and Canals
- Omono-gawa River
- Akita-unga Canal (Formerly Omono-gawa River)
- Asahi-kawa River
- Iwami-gawa River
Neighboring Cities
- Kita-Akita
- Katagami
- Yurihonjō
- Daisen
- Minami-Akita District: Gojōme, Ikawa
- Kita-Akita District: Kamikoani
- Senboku District: Nishiki
History
- 1604: Kubota Castle Town, which would later become the center of Akita, is constructed.
- April 1, 1889: Akita is officially founded
- August 14, 1945: 137 people are killed in an air raid of 134 B-29s, attacking the city from midnight to the early dawn of August 15.
- April 1, 1997: Designated as a core city
- August 16-26, 2001: World Games are held in Akita, opening ceremony is held in the Yatsuhashi Track and Field Stadium
- 2004: 400th anniversary of the foundation of Akita (as Kubota Castle Town)
Mergers
- April 1, 1924: Ushijima
- April 1, 1926: Kawajiri
- March 14, 1933: Asahigawa
- April 1, 1941: Tsuchizakiminato, Terauchi, Hiroyamada, Araya
- October 1, 1954: Taihei, Sotoasahigawa, Iijima, Shimoshinjō, Kamishinjō, Hamada, Toyoiwa, Niita, Yotsugoya, Kamikitate, Simokitate, Shimohama
- January 1, 1955: Kanāshi
- January 11, 2005: Kawabe, Yura (this merger placed the former Kawabe District in Akita)
Sister / Friendship Cities
International Sister / Friendship Cities
- August 5, 1982: Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
- April 8, 1984: Passau, Germany
- January 22, 1992: Kenai, United States of America
- June 29, 1992: Vladivostok, Russia
Japanese Sister Cities
- Hitachiōta, Ibaraki
- Daigo, Kuji District Ibaraki
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
External links
- [Official website] in Japanese with links to versions in other languages
- [English version] of official website
| |||
| Cities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Akita (capital) | Daisen | Katagami | Kazuno | Kitaakita | Nikaho | Noshiro | Oga | Odate | Senboku | Yokote | Yurihonjo | Yuzawa | |||
| Districts | |||
| Kazuno | Kitaakita | Minamiakita | Ogachi | Senboku | Yamamoto | |||
|
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.