Akashi, Hyōgo
| Akashi 明石 |
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| — Special city — | |||
| 明石市 | |||
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 Akashi
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| Coordinates: 34°39′N 135°0′E / 34.65°N 135°ECoordinates: 34°39′N 135°0′E / 34.65°N 135°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Prefecture | Hyōgo | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Fusaho Izumi (since May 2011) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 49.22 km2 (19.00 sq mi) | ||
| Population (April 1, 2011) | |||
| • Total | 290,776 | ||
| • Density | 5,907.68/km2 (15,300.8/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City symbols | |||
| - Tree | Sweet Osmanthus | ||
| - Flower | Chrysanthemums | ||
| Phone number | 078-912-1111 | ||
| Address | 1-5-1 Nakasaki, Akashi-shi, Hyogo-ken 673-8686 |
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| Website | Akashi | ||
Akashi (明石市 Akashi-shi) is a city located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe.
As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 290,776, with 117,392 households, and a population density of 5,907.68 persons per km². The total area is 49.22 km².
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[edit] History
Akashi was an important city during Japan's pre-modern period due to the presence of Akashi Castle, headquarters of the Akashi Domain. The city, in its current form, was founded on November 1, 1919.
On 21 July 2001, 11 people were killed and 247 injured in a pedestrian stampede after a fireworks show. Five city and civil officials were subsequently convicted for negligence for not preventing the disaster.[1]
[edit] Geography
Akashi Municipal Planetarium stands on the meridian of 135 degrees east longitude, and is used to determine Japan Standard Time. Contrary to the name, the terminus of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge that connects Honshu to Awaji Island (and thereby to Shikoku) is not in Akashi but in Tarumi-ku, Kōbe.
The remains of Akashi Castle are located just north of Akashi Station and are visible from the station platform.
[edit] Politics and government
Akashi is governed by Mayor Hiroto Kitaguchi, an independent. The city assembly has 31 elected members and is dominated by independents.
[edit] Culture
Akashi is well known for Akashiyaki, a kind of takoyaki particular to the region. Small pieces of octopus (tako) are placed inside a ball-shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs and this is then fried. Akashiyaki is often eaten by dipping in a thin soup. Akashi is the site of the Uontana (Uo-no-Tana, 魚の棚, lit."fish-shelf") Fish Market where local fishermen display an array of fresh seafood caught in the Akashi strait.
[edit] Gallery
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This section looks like an image gallery. Wikipedia policy discourages galleries of random images of the article subject; please improve or remove the section accordingly, moving freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons if not already hosted there. (November 2011) |
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Port of Akashi
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Old town area
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Uontana
[edit] References
- ^ Kyodo News, "Ex-cop pleads not guilty in fatal '01 Akashi crush", Japan Times, 20 January 2012, p. 1.
[edit] External links
Media related to Akashi, Hyogo at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (Japanese)
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