Mitaka, Tokyo

Mitaka 三鷹市
City
Mitaka City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Mitaka in Tokyo
Mitaka
Coordinates: 35°41′0.8″N 139°33′34.3″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo
Government
• Mayor	Keiko Kiyohara (since April 2003)
Area
• Total	16.42 km2 (6.34 sq mi)
Population  (February 2016)
• Total	189,168
• Density	11,520/km2 (29,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo biloba
• Flower	Malus halliana
Phone number	042-558-1111
Address	1-1-1 Nozaki, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-8555
Website	www.city.mitaka.tokyo.jp

Mitaka (三鷹市, Mitaka-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 189,168, and a population density of 11,520 persons per km². Its total area is 16.42 square kilometres (6.34 sq mi).

Geography

Mitaka is located on the Kantō Plain, just outside the 23 special wards of Tokyo Metropolis, which are on its eastern borders. The Tamagawa Josui Canal, which runs alongside Mitaka station, has an important place in history, built in 1653 to feed the local metropolis. It is also the place where novelist Osamu Dazai committed suicide in 1948. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is located in Mitaka.

Surrounding municipalities

• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Setagaya-ku
  • Suginami-ku
  • Chōfu
  • Musashino
  • Koganei

Demographics

In 1994 there were 2,585 foreign residents in Mitaka, including 726 from North and South Korea, 713 from China, 441 from the United States, 114 from the Philippines, and 108 from the United Kingdom. Of all municipalities in Japan, Mitaka had the highest proportion of Chinese returnees.

History

The area of present-day Mitaka was part of ancient Musashi Province. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Kitatama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The village of Mitaka was created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of municipalities law. Kitatama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Mitaka was raised to town status in 1940. Mitaka City was officially founded on November 3, 1950. A motion to merge with neighboring Musashino City failed in 1955 by only a single vote in the Mitaka city assembly.

Economy

Mitaka is primarily a bedroom community for Tokyo. A number of animation studios, including Studio Pierrot and Telecom Animation Film have their corporate headquarters in Mitaka. A short-lived video game manufacturer TAD Corporation was founded and headquartered in the same location. Subaru Tecnica International has its headquarters in Mitaka.

Education

Colleges and universities

• Graduate University for Advanced Studies - Department of Astronomical Science, School of Physical Sciences
• International Christian University - Japan's oldest and largest United States style university, founded on June 15, 1949.
• Japan Lutheran College
• Kyorin University - School of Medicine, Kyorin University Hospital and Nursing School
• Tokyo Union Theological Seminary
• University of Tokyo - the Institute of Astronomy, Faculty of Science; Mitaka International Hall of Residence

Primary and secondary schools

• Mikata city operates 15 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools. There is also one private elementary school and three private middle schools.
• Mitaka High School (東京都立三鷹高等学校) is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education. There are also four private high schools, including part of the campus of the International Christian University High School.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Chuo Main Line
  • Mitaka
• Keio Corporation - Keio Inokashira Line
  • Mitakadai - Inokashira-kōen

Highway

• Chūō Expressway
• Tokyo Gaikan Expressway

Local attractions

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka

• Ghibli Museum
• Inokashira Park
• Nogawa Park
• Yuzo Yamamoto Memorial Museum

Notable people from Mitaka

• Ryo Kimura, actor
• Yūko Tsushima, author
• Satoshi Ohno, singer, actor, and member of Arashi
• Eiji Wentz, singer, actor
• Tsubasa Honda, actress, model
• Hiroki Azuma, cultural critic
• Yoshikazu Tanaka, businessman, founder of GREE, Inc.

See also

• Mitaka incident
• Inokashira Park dismemberment incident

External links

• Mitaka City Official Website Template:Ja icon