Hitachi, Ibaraki
| Hitachi 日立市 |
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| — City — | |||
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 Hitachi
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| Coordinates: 36°36′N 140°39′E / 36.6°N 140.65°ECoordinates: 36°36′N 140°39′E / 36.6°N 140.65°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kantō | ||
| Prefecture | Ibaraki | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Chiaki Kashimura | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 225.55 km2 (87.09 sq mi) | ||
| Population (January 2008) | |||
| • Total | 195,844 | ||
| • Density | 868/km2 (2,250/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City symbols | |||
| - Tree | Japanese zelkova | ||
| - Flower | Sakura | ||
| - Bird | Japanese Cormorant | ||
| - Fish | Giant Pacific Octopus | ||
| Phone number | 0294-22-3111 | ||
| Address | 1-1 Sukegawa-chō, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki-ken 317-8601 |
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| Website | Hitachi City | ||
Hitachi (日立市 Hitachi-shi) is a city located on the Pacific Ocean in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Its name could be directly translated as "sunrise", but probably more appropriately adapted to "prosperous wealth" (the historical kanji name for the area is 常陸).
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[edit] Demographics
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 195,844 and the density of 868 persons per km². The total area is 225.55 km².
[edit] History
Hitachi was officially designated a city on September 1, 1939. On November 1, 2004 the neighboring town of Jūō, from Taga District, was merged into Hitachi.
The name Hitachi is well known throughout the world due to Hitachi company founded in the city in 1910 by Namihei Odaira. Today, Hitachi company is one of the world's largest manufacturing and consumer electronics companies.
[edit] Urban Development
Being a predominantly industrial city Hitachi was badly damaged in World War II, including shelling by the Iowa, and very few older buildings now remain in the downtown area. Industry continued after the war, and Hitachi was a small urban center for northern Ibaraki. Some factories have since closed, and Hitachi is now losing population, like much of Japan. Moreover, the downtown area, especially Ginza Dori, a busy pedestrianized shopping street into the 1990s, has experienced urban decay due to supermarkets and big box stores being built outside of downtown. Because of the increasing car traffic related to the urban sprawl, a bypass around central Hitachi was built, destroying a local beach.
Nevertheless, the city is not without interesting local sites. Like many Japanese cities, many of the public spaces are dedicated to symbolising the struggle for peace in the post-war world. It is in this spirit that one must consider Heiwa Dori (Peace Street), considered Hitachi's prettiest street. Every April there is a major procession down the broad tree-lined boulevard to celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossom season (Sakura Matsuri). Giant colourful floats called furyumono are carried by the local people. Hitachi also has a small zoo on the nearby Mount Kamine and an impressive Civic Center complex near the main station.
[edit] Transportation
Hitachi is located on the Joban Line and Joban Expressway which connect it to Tokyo, Mito and Iwaki. The closest airport is Ibaraki Airport while Fukushima Airport is also close.
[edit] Sister cities
Birmingham, Alabama
Tauranga, New Zealand [1]
[edit] References
- ^ "Sister Cities". Tauranga City Council. http://www.tauranga.govt.nz/knowledgebase/tabid/624/qid/1125/tctl/1332_ViewQuestion/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hitachi, Ibaraki |
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