Fukushima (city)
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Fukushima
福島 | |
|---|---|
| 福島市 · Fukushima City | |
 Fukushima City | |
 Flag | |
 Location of Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Fukushima Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takanori Seto |
| Area | |
| • Total | 746.43 km2 (288.20 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2007[1]) | |
| • Total | 289,483 |
| • Density | 387.82/km2 (1,004.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Zelkova serrata [1] |
| - Flower | Peach [1] |
| - Bird | Great tit [1] |
| Phone number | 024-535-1111 |
| Address | 3-1 Gorōuchimachi, Fukushima-shi, Fukushima-ken 960-8601 |
| Website | City of Fukushima |
Fukushima (福島市, Fukushima-shi, meaning "good-fortune island") is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan.[citation needed]
It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai. Although the city is located inland, the prefecture has several Pacific ports such as Onahama and Sōma. Fukushima Airport is located in nearby Sukagawa.
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 290,866 and the density of 389.68 persons per km². The total area is 746.43 km².
History
Fukushima was once called "Shinobu-no-sato," the village of Shinobu. In the 12th century Suginome Taro built Suginome Castle and the village began to develop as a castle town surrounding Fukushima Castle. During the Edo period, Fukushima began to grow prosperous from the production of silk and its name became well-known even in Kyoto. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 a prefectural office was established in Fukushima and the Bank of Japan established an office in the city. This was the first national bank in the Tōhoku Region.[2] The city was founded on April 1, 1907. On July 1, 2008 Iino, from Date District, was merged into the city of Fukushima.
After the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami, Fukushima City suffered a great deal of earthquake damamge, including issues with water shortages and gasoline rationing. Although the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma is some 50 miles away from Fukushima City, due to the development of a large evacuation zone around the plant, many residents were evacuated to nearby localities, including Fukushima City. Radiation levels near the plant peaked at 400 millisieverts after the earthquake and tsunami, due to damage received. This resulted in increased recorded radiation levels across Japan.[3]
Notes
References
- Takeda, Toru; Hishinuma, Tomio; Kamieda, Kinuyo; Dale, Leigh; Oguma, Chiyoichi (August 10, 1988), Hello! Fukushima - International Exchange Guide Book (1988 ed.), Fukushima City: Fukushima Mimpo Press
External links
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