Kofu, Yamanashi

Encyclopedia : K : KO : KOF : Kofu, Yamanashi

Kofu (甲府市; Kōfu-shi) is the capital city of Yamanashi, Japan.

As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 193,795 and the density of 1,127.50 persons per km². The total area is 171.88 km².

Kofu has been reputed through the years as a center where politics, economics, and culture have flourished. Rich in historical landmarks related to Takeda Shingen, the city also boasts museums, cultural centers, the famed and historic Yumura Onsen, and precious gem museums which display many examples from Kofu's world famous jewelry industry. The city is well-known for its natural splendor; two-thirds of the city area is comprised of mountains and forests.

Contents

1 History
2 Sister cities
3 Famous Places
4 Sport
5 Famous people
6 External links

History

Kofu's name means "capital of Kai Province." During the Sengoku period, it was the stronghold of Takeda Shingen.

The origin of the name of Kofu City is related to the ancestral name of Yamanashi Prefecture, as well as to the city's geographical location. Centuries ago, the area which today is referred to as Yamanashi Prefecture, was once known as Kai. At that time, the geographical denominations of ken (prefecture), were not yet in use, and instead, the area was categorized as a fu. Located in the center of Kai, Kofu's name was derived from a combination of kanji used in both Kai and fu. Alternate pronunciation of the characters resulted in the modern name of Kofu.

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kofu City area dating back as far as 8000 years. However, the town of Kofu was not formally established until 1519.

Sister cities

Cheongju, a city of South Korea.
Chengdu, a city of southwest China.
Des Moines, the capital city of the State of Iowa, USA.
Lodi, a city in San Joaquin County, California, USA.
Pau, a city of southwestern France.
Yamatokoriyama, a city of Japan. It is famous for a goldfish.

Famous Places

Yumura Spa
Kai-Zenkou temple

Sport

A J-League football team, Ventforet Kofu is based in Kofu. They currently play in the top division, called the J1.

Famous people

Hidetoshi Nakata, Japanese football player who currently plies his trade with Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.
Naoko Takeuchi, Creator of Sailor Moon and other comics.

External links

() [Kofu official website]

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