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Ōtaki, Chiba

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Ōtaki
大多喜町
Town
Ōtaki Castle
Ōtaki Castle
Flag of Ōtaki
Flag
Official seal of Ōtaki
Seal
Location of Ōtaki in Chiba Prefecture
Location of Ōtaki in Chiba Prefecture
Country Japan
RegionKanto
PrefectureChiba Prefecture
DistrictIsumi District
Area
 • Total129.87 km2 (50.14 sq mi)
Population
 (December 1, 2015)
 • Total9,676
 • Density74.5/km2 (193/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeSakura
Phone number0470-82-2111
Address93 Ōtaki, Ōtaki-machi, Chiba-ken 298-0292
WebsiteOfficial website

Ōtaki (大多喜町, Ōtaki-machi) is a town located in Isumi District, Chiba, Japan, occupying the center of the Bōsō Peninsula. The town is known for its association with Edo period general Honda Tadakatsu and its prominent castle. As of December 2015, the town had an estimated population of 9,676 and a population density of 74.5 persons per km². The total area the town was 129.87 square kilometres (50.14 sq mi), making it the largest of Chiba Prefecture's towns and villages.

Etymology

The name of the town of Ōtaki in the Japanese language is composed of three kanji characters: the first, ō (大), meaning "large", the second, ta (多), meaning "many", and the third, ki (喜), meaning "happiness".

Geography

Ōtaki is a landlocked town in the center of the Bōsō Peninsula. The southwest area of Otaki is mountainous, with altitudes gradually lowering towards the northeast of the town. 70% of Ōtaki is covered by forest. The Isumi River flows through the town to the northeast, and in the western part of the town the Yōrō River flows to the north.

Surrounding municipalities

Chiba Prefecture

History

Early history

Ōtaki was settled in prehistoric times, as evidenced by the Jōmon period remains in Oikawa. In the Asuka period the Ōtaki region became part of Kazusa Province at the western end of the Tōkaidō region, which was formed as a result of the Taika Reform of 654. In the Sengoku period Ōtaki was established as a castle town, which successively controlled by different regional clans, most notably the Takeda clan and the Toki clan. The Ōtaki region ultimately came under the control of the powerful Awa Province-based Satomi clan in 1544.

Edo Period

In 1590 Tokugawa Ieyasu took control of all of Kazusa Province. Ieyasu granted Ōtaki to his famed general Honda Tadakatsu, and established the Ōtaki Domain as a 100,000 koku feudal domain. Tadakatsu built Ōtaki Castle on the site of the earlier castle and laid out a large-scale castle town. Honda Tadakatsu's placement at Ōtaki was a strong buffer against the military power of the Satomi clan to the south. The ownership of the castle changed hands many times after Honda Tadakatsu's control, but from 1703 the Matsudaira clan held the castle for nine generations. Despite the Matsudaira clan's control of the castle, the majority of the Ōtaki region was controlled as tenryō territory by hatamoto in direct service to the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1609 a Spanish Galleon, the San Francisco, ran aground near Ōtaki . The survivors were housed in Ōtaki Castle, and later, the sailors were given a ship by the Tokugawa Shogunate to return to Mexico. One of the survivors was Governor General of the Philippines Rodrigo de Vivero, who was subsequently granted an audience with Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.[1]

Modern Period

After the Meiji Restoration the administrative structure of the region changed frequently. Ōtaki was successively part of Ōtaki Prefecture, then Kisarazu Prefecture, before becoming part of the present-day Chiba Prefecture. In 1889, under the same administrative reforms, the four villages of Oikawa, Nishihata, Fusamoto, Kamitaki and the town of Ōtaki were formed. The five were brought together to become present-day town of Ōtaki on October 5, 1954.

Ōtaki Town Hall

Economy

The economy of Ōtaki was based largely on rice production, forestry, and traditional charcoal production, but after World War II all three industries have declined. The town produces shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots as special agricultural products. Tourism has increased as a result of visits to Ōtaki Castle, the Ōtaki Prefectural Forest, and various scenic spots. Golf courses were developed in Ōtaki, but have caused problems with flooding and deforestation.[2]

Transportation

Railways

Roads and highways

Local attractions

Yōrō Ravine

Castle Festival

Ōtaki hosts the Oshiro-matsuri, or castle festival, in September, which involves a parade and various plays and demonstrations on the grounds of one of the town's elementary schools. Representatives from Ōtaki's sister city, Cuernavaca, Mexico, often visit to attend the festival.

List of attractions

  • Ōtaki Castle, built in 1521 and demolished in 1871. While the stone base of the current structure is the base of the original castle's donjon, the present building is a reproduction of the original castle tower. It houses the Ōtaki Branch of the Chiba Prefectural Museum.
  • Herb Island
  • Ōtaki Prefectural Forest
  • Yōrō Ravine
  • Awamata Waterfall
  • Ryōgen-ji
  • Myōhōshō-ji
  • Watanabe Historical Residence
  • Central Bōsō Railroad Center

Education and community centers

Universities

High schools

  • Ōtaki Prefectural High School

Junior high schools

  • Ōtaki Junior High School
  • West Ōtaki Junior High School

Elementary schools

  • Oikawa Elementary School
  • Nishihata Elementary School
  • Fusamoto Elementary School
  • Ōtaki Elementary School
  • Kamitaki Elementary School

Community institutions

  • Ōtaki Central Community Center
  • Ōtaki Public Library
  • Marine Center
  • Ōtaki Sports Park
  • Ōtaki Elderly Welfare Center
  • Ōtaki Elderly Nursing Home

Sister city relations

References

  1. ^ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2010) Japan-Mexico Relations
  2. ^ "Ōtaki-machi". Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系 “Compendium of Japanese Historical Place Names”). Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  3. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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