Akita City

Akita
Akita; 秋田
	— Core city —
秋田市 Akita City
	Central Akita
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Akita in Akita prefecture
	Akita
	Coordinates: 39°43′N 140°6′E / 39.717°N 140.1°ECoordinates: 39°43′N 140°6′E / 39.717°N 140.1°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Akita prefecture
	Government
• Mayor	Norihisa Satake
	Area
• Total	905.67 km2 (349.68 sq mi)
	Population (October 1, 2011)
• Total	323,310
• Density	360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Japanese zelkova
- Flower	Satsuki azalea
Phone number	018-863-2222
Address	Akita-shi,; Sanno 1 chome, 1-1; 010-8560
Website	www.city.akita.akita.jp

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

As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District (including the former towns of Kawabe and Yūwa), the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of 356.98 inhabitants per square kilometre (924.6 /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.

[edit] History

Historically, Akita has seen changes throughout at least four historical Japanese periods; Edo, Meiji, Showa and Heisei. The beginnings 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.

[edit] Meiji

Progress in the Meiji era included the renaming of the "Taihei" School (太平学校) to "Akita Normal" School (師範学校) on April 12 of 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.

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Merger with Kawabe District

On January 11, 2005, the city added the towns of Kawabe and Yūwa to become the new city of Akita. This incorporated what remained of Kawabe District, thus dissolving the district. 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 civic centers.

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

[edit] Geography

[edit] Rivers and canals

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

[edit] Neighboring cities

[edit] Climate

Akita has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with cold, very snowy, winters, and very warm, humid summers. Monthly means range from −0.1 °C (31.8 °F) in January to 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) in August. Due to its location near the Sea of Japan coast, it receives heavy snowfall, with just above 409 centimetres (161 in) per season, with accumulation occurring mostly from December to March. Precipitation is well-distributed and significant throughout the year, but is greater in the latter half.

Climate data for Akita City (1971-2000)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.7 (56.7)	19.8 (67.6)	21.0 (69.8)	28.0 (82.4)	31.8 (89.2)	33.7 (92.7)	37.9 (100.2)	38.2 (100.8)	35.4 (95.7)	28.9 (84.0)	23.3 (73.9)	21.4 (70.5)	38.2 (100.8)
Average high °C (°F)	2.7 (36.9)	3.1 (37.6)	6.9 (44.4)	13.6 (56.5)	18.5 (65.3)	22.8 (73.0)	26.4 (79.5)	28.6 (83.5)	24.2 (75.6)	18.2 (64.8)	11.6 (52.9)	5.8 (42.4)	15.2 (59.4)
Average low °C (°F)	−2.7 (27.1)	−2.7 (27.1)	−0.5 (31.1)	4.8 (40.6)	9.9 (49.8)	15.1 (59.2)	19.4 (66.9)	20.9 (69.6)	16.0 (60.8)	9.3 (48.7)	3.7 (38.7)	−0.2 (31.6)	7.8 (46.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−24.6 (−12.3)	−19.5 (−3.1)	−7.2 (19.0)	−1.4 (29.5)	4.1 (39.4)	8.9 (48.0)	9.0 (48.2)	3.1 (37.6)	−1.4 (29.5)	−5.4 (22.3)	−18.7 (−1.7)	−24.6 (−12.3)
Precipitation mm (inches)	114.4 (4.504)	92.0 (3.622)	93.0 (3.661)	117.6 (4.63)	122.8 (4.835)	127.5 (5.02)	178.1 (7.012)	181.9 (7.161)	177.9 (7.004)	160.7 (6.327)	183.5 (7.224)	163.8 (6.449)	1,713.2 (67.449)
Snowfall cm (inches)	142 (55.9)	120 (47.2)	51 (20.1)	2 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	13 (5.1)	79 (31.1)	409 (161)
% humidity	73	72	68	68	72	76	79	77	76	73	72	73	73
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm)	24.0	20.0	17.5	13.2	12.5	11.2	13.6	11.0	13.6	15.6	19.8	23.6	195.6
Avg. snowy days	27.1	23.7	16.9	2.2	0	0	0	0	0	0.1	6.6	20.7	97.3
Sunshine hours	44.6	65.6	135.7	175.0	191.4	178.0	171.5	200.4	154.9	148.1	84.7	47.6	1,597.4
Source no. 1: Japan Meteorological Agency
Source no. 2: 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

[edit] Akita Kanto Festival

This festival began 350 years ago, which is consistent with the Tanabata and lunar basins events and is the most representative summer festival in Japan. This festival features participants who balance 15 meter poles with 230 lanterns on their chins; the main event is held during the evening and night hours, between the 3rd and 6th of August every year. This style of festival is also seen in Hamburg, Germany in 1988, Honolulu, Hawaii in 2002, London, England in 2004, and opening event in World Games in 2001. During the festival, Kanto stunt events are held in Chiaki Park during daylight hours and involved many amateur participants section. This event was first held in 1931 and every subsequent year, except during disruption between 1935 to 1946 and in 1953 and 1965.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Economy

A sunset in the northern outskirts of Akita City

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.

[edit] Education

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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.^[2] The 1988 approval was issued by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.

[edit] Sister / friendship cities

[edit] International sister / friendship cities

August 5, 1982: Lanzhou, People's Republic of China
April 8, 1984: Passau, Germany
July 15, 1987: Malabon City, Philippines
January 22, 1992: Kenai, Alaska, United States of America
1993: St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States of America (with Yūwa, Akita, which merged into Akita, Akita)
June 29, 1992: Vladivostok, Russia

[edit] Domestic sister cities

Hitachiōta, Ibaraki
Daigo, Kuji District Ibaraki

[edit] Transportation

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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
National Highways (Ordinary)
- Highway 7
- Highway 13
- Highway 341

[edit] Bus

Akita Chūō Kōtsū

[edit] Air

Akita Airport

[edit] Boat

Akita port landmark tower

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

[edit] Famous personages

[edit] Notes

^ 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."
^ EWTN on AKita approval

[edit] External links

Official website in Japanese with links to versions in other languages
English version of official website

[0] 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."

[1] EWTN on AKita approval

[1]

[2]

Akita City

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