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Tsuchiura

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Template:Japanese city Tsuchiura (土浦市, Tsuchiura-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki prefecture, in Japan. It is situated along the western shores of Lake Kasumigaura, the second largest lake in Japan. The Tokyo metropolis lies about 60 km to the south, and Tsukuba science city borders Tsuchiura to the west.

Demographics

As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 144,399 and a density of 1,268.66 persons per km². The total area of the city is 113.82 km². About 2000 residents are non-Japanese, including a large proportion of Brazilians, Koreans and Chinese.

Government

The city is managed together by the mayor’s office and the city council, essentially a mayor-council government. The mayor is elected through a citywide election and the city council are elected from their respective districts. The mayor’s office is made up of the Mayor, Kiyoshi Nakagawa (中川　清), Deputy Mayor, Hiroyuki Takigasaki (瀧ヶ崎　ひろゆき), and Treasurer, Hideaki Goto (五頭　英明). And the 46-member city council is headed by Chairperson, Akira Orimoto (折本　明). Tsuchiura’s political system is similar to other cities in Japan, as the Local Autonomy Law makes all municipalities uniform in terms of power and organization.

History

Pre-Jōmon period and Jōmon period

  • Hunter-gatherers inhabited the coastal area of the Pacific Ocean (now Lake Kasumigaura) forming large shell middens, examples of which can be seen at the Kamitakatsu Archeological Site.

Yayoi period

Kofun period

  • Burial mounds were used for burying important individuals. The site at Mushazuka held ancient treasures, such as accessories, swords and stone pillows (石枕）.The human bones found at this site have revealed the ancient ‘’Mizura’’ hairstyle.

Asuka period

  • Buddhist influence begins to arrive in the area.

Nara period

  • During this period Japan came to be controlled by the central government under the Taihō Code. At that time Hitachi province (now Ibaraki prefecture) was divided into 11 districts. The Tsuchiura area covered parts of four districts.

Heian period

  • The Samurai class begins its rise to power. In 939, Taira no Masakado leads an uprising against the central government by attacking the provincial capital at Ishioka, a few kilometers to the north of Tsuchiura.

Kamakura period

  • Under the rule of the samurai Daimyo (lord), Haruhisa Oda, Buddhism flourished in Tsuchiura. Evidence of this can still be seen today at the Hannyaji Temple, with its large copper bell (one of the 3 ancient copper bells from Hitachi province). It is also during this time that the name ‘’Tsuchiura’’ appeared in historical text possessed by the Tō-ji Temple in Kyōto.

Muromachi period

  • This was a time of intense warfare in Japan, and the katana was a sign of power, position and prosperity. Examples of these can be seen at the Tsuchiura City Museum. Architecture from this period can also be seen at the Daisho-ji temple.

Edo period

  • Under the Tokugawa Shogunate Japan experienced peaceful times. Daimyo Tsuchiya encouraged commerce in Tsuchiura and in 1604 the trade road between Mito and Tōkyō was completed. In addition, a channel connecting Lake Kasumigaura to Edo bay was also completed around this time. This made Tsuchiura an important transportation hub and consequently the city developed rapidly.

Meiji period

  • During the restoration provinces and fiefdoms were changed into prefectures. In 1871, Ibaraki prefecture was established and in 1895 railroad service was started in Tsuchiura. The Gothic architecture of the old junior high school from this period can be seen at the Daiichi high school.

Shōwa period

  • Tsuchiura became a city when the towns of Manabe and Tsuchiura merged on November 3, 1940.
  • The city suffered damages during an air raid on June 10, 1945 in World War II.
  • On September 1, 1951 Tsuchiura absorbed parts of the village of Asahi (on the shores of Arakawa) and merged with the village of Towa.
  • The city merged with the village of Kamiotsu on November 1, 1954.

Heisei period

Transportation

Tsuchiura is serviced by the Jōban Line of the East Japan Railway Company. There are three stations in the city, Arakawaoki Station, Tsuchiura Station and Kandatsu Station running roughly from south to north. The city also has a major expressway running through it, the Jōban Expressway, which is operated by the East Nippon Expressway Company. Furthermore, many national highways criss-cross through Tsuchiura, such as Route 6. There is also an excellent local public bus system centered around Tsuchiura Station. In addition, operating to and from the station are many highway buses connecting the city to other cities and Narita International Airport.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tsuchiura, Ibaraki.
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