Noda, Chiba

Noda 野田市
City
Shimizu Park in Noda
Flag
Location of Noda in Chiba Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Takashi Nemoto (since July 1992)
Area
• Total	103.54 km2 (39.98 sq mi)
Population  (April 2012)
• Total	155,644
• Density	1,500/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
-Tree	Japanese zelkova
- Flower	Azalea
- Bird	Skylark
Phone number	04-7125-1111
Address	7-1 Tsuruhō, Noda-shi, Chiba-ken 278-8550
Website	Noda City

Noda City Hall

Noda (野田市, Noda-shi) is a city located in far northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

As of April 2012, the city has an estimated population of 155,644 and a population density of 1500 persons per km². The total area is 103.54 km².

Geography

Noda is located in the far northwestern corner of Chiba Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

• Chiba Prefecture
  • Kashiwa
  • Nagareyama
• Saitama Prefecture
  • Kasukabe
  • Yoshikawa
  • Satte
  • Matsubushi
  • Sugito
• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Bandō
  • Moriya
  • Jōsō
  • Goka
  • Sakai

History

The area around Noda has been inhabited since prehistory, and archaeologists have found ancient shell middens in the area. During the late Heian period, the area was controlled by Kamakura Gongorō Kagemasa, and a succession of minor warlords during the Sengoku period. During the Edo period, Noda developed as a river port, post town on the pilgrimage road to Nikko, and a center for the production of soy sauce. Neighboring Sekiyado was controlled by the Late Hojo clan during the Sengoku period, and developed as a castle town under Sekiyado Domain, a feudal han under the Tokugawa shogunate.

After the Meiji Restoration, Noda and Sekiyado towns were created on April 1, 1889. Noda was elevated to city status on May 3, 1950.

On June 6, 2003, the town of Sekiyado (from Higashikatsushika District) was merged into Noda.

Economy

Noda is a regional commercial center and, due to its proximity, a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo. Noda has a mixed economy, with Kikkoman soy sauce being the most prominent employer. There is some residual agriculture, primarily of edamame, for which Noda was historically famous.

Education

• Tokyo University of Science – Noda Campus
• Chiba University of Commerce

Transportation

Railway

• Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Noda Line
  • Kawama - Nanakōdai - Shimizu-kōen - Chiba - Nodashi - Umesato

Highways

• Japan National Route 16

Local attractions

• Sekiyado Castle

Sister city relations

• Whakatane, New Zealand, since November 16, 1997.

Noted people from Noda

• Kyōko Aizome – AV actress and movie director
• Masaaki Hatsumi – martial arts instructor
• Dabo – Japanese rap musician
• Mai Oshima – idol singer
• Takahiro Oshima – professional soccer player

External links

Media related to Noda, Chiba at Wikimedia Commons

• Noda City official website Template:Ja icon
• Kikkoman Soy Sauce Museum