Akishima, Tokyo

Akishima 昭島市
City
Akishima City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Akishima in Tokyo Metropolis
Akishima
Coordinates: 35°42′20.4″N 139°21′12.7″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Government
• Mayor	Joichi Kitagawa (since October 2000)
Area
• Total	17.34 km2 (6.70 sq mi)
Population  (February 2016)
• Total	111,449
• Density	6,430/km2 (16,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Tree	Osmanthus
Flower	Azalea
Phone number	042-544-5111
Address	1-17-1 Tanaka-cho, Akishima-shi, Tokyo-to 196-8511
Website	www.city.akishima.lg.jp

Akishima (昭島市, Akishima-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 111,449, and a population density of 6430 persons per km². Its total area is 17.34 square kilometres (6.70 sq mi).

Geography

Akishima is in the foothills of the Okutama Mountains of western Tokyo, along the bank of the Tama River at an elevation between 76 and 171 meters above sea level. It is located approximately 35 kilometers from central Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Tachikawa
  • Fussa
  • Hachiōji
  • Hino

History

The area of present-day Akishima was part of ancient Musashi Province, and a center for sericulture. In the post–Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Kitatama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. Haiji, Nakagami, and Sotoyatsu villages were created on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of municipalities law. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. The latter two villages merged on January 1, 1928, to form Shōwa Village.

Shōwa was elevated to town status on January 1, 1941, and through merger with the village of Haiji on May 1, 1954, became the city of Akishima. The name comes from the kun'yomi of the first kanji in the name of the former town of Shōwa, and the on'yomi of the second kanji in the name of the former village of Haijima.

Economy

Akishima was developed as an industrial suburb of Tokyo, and still has large factories operated by Hoya Corporation, JEOL, Japan Aviation Electronics, Fostex, Shōwa Aircraft Industry Co., and others. The city is also a bedroom community for the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Education

Akishima has seven public and one private elementary school, six public and one private middle school and two public and one private high school.

Transportation

Railroads

• JR East: Ōme Line
  • Higashi-Nakagami – Nakagami – Akishima – Haijima
• JR East: Hachikō Line
  • Haijima
• JR East: Itsukaichi Line
  • Haijima

Highway

• Japan National Route 16

Local attractions

• Showa Memorial Park
• Tamagawa Aqueduct
• Hajima Daishi Buddhist temple

Notable people from Akishima

• Takao Koyama, screenwriter and novelist
• Satoshi Koizumi, professional soccer player

External links

• Akishima City Official Website (in Japanese)