Urayasu
Urayasu
浦安市 | |
|---|---|
 Urayasu City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Urayasu in Chiba Prefecture | |
  Urayasu | |
| Coordinates: 35°39′14.2″N 139°54′7.8″E / 35.653944°N 139.902167°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Chiba Prefecture |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Hideki Matsuzaki (since November 1998) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.30 km2 (6.68 sq mi) |
| Population (December 1, 2015) | |
| • Total | 164,258 |
| • Density | 9,490/km2 (24,600/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| -Tree | Ginkgo biloba |
| - Flower | Azalea |
| Phone number | 047-351-1111 |
| Address | 1-1-1 Nekozane, Urayasu-shi, Chiba-ken 279-8501 |
| Website | http://www.city.urayasu.lg.jp/ |
Urayasu (浦安市, Urayasu-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of December 1, 2015, the city had an estimated population of 163,258, and a population density of 9490 persons per km². The total area is 17.30 square kilometres (6.68 sq mi).
Urayasu is best known as the home of the Tokyo Disney Resort, which opened in April 1983,[1] and the headquarters of The Oriental Land Company.[2]
Geography
Urayasu is located in the delta of the Edo River. The river runs along the western side of the city and separates it from the Edogawa ward of Tokyo.[3] There are two parts to Urayasu: the original fishing village on Tokyo Bay, and the newer reclaimed land portion that adjoins Tokyo Disneyland. The new landfill area is called "Shin-Urayasu" (New-Urayasu), and has an "American" inspired layout, with a grid-like map of wide streets, large sidewalks, palm trees and parks. The buildings are tall, modern apartments, some having views on Tokyo Bay. Urayasu is one of the most sought after areas in the metropolitan area for young families to live. However, plans are already under way to turn the local school facilities into retirement facilities in the future.[citation needed]
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
Urayasu was greatly affected by the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The reclaimed land across most of northern Chiba Prefecture was damaged by soil liquefaction in the earthquake. Urayasu, with major areas of reclaimed land, had as much as 85% of the utility infrastructure, roads, buildings, and houses damaged or affected to some degree by soil liquefaction. The damage cost the city approximately ¥73.4 billion to repair.[4][5]
Neighboring municipalities
History
Early history
The area around Urayasu was tenryo territory within Shimōsa Province controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. Urayasu served as an important fishing village for the Edo capitol.[1] Until the industrialization of the city it was a major center of production of nori, an edible seaweed, hamaguri, the common orient clam, and asari, the Japanese cockle.[3] All three are important elements of the traditional Japanese diet.
Modern history
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 the area became part of Chiba Prefecture. Urayasu Village was created on April 1, 1889 under Higashikatsushika District with the establishment of the municipalities system. Urayasu became a town in September 1909. Many of the residents of Urayasu perished during the 1944 Bombing of Tokyo.[3]
Urayasu grew in the 1960s and 1970s with massive landfill projects along the shores of Tokyo Bay, public housing projects, and increasing infrastructure. Urayasu became part of the Keiyō Industrial Zone in this period, which spans from the city across the Tokyo Bay coast of Chiba Prefecture to Futtsu to the south.[3] An area of the Tokyo Bay near the town was reclaimed form the sea in 1960s called Maihama.[6] Fishing was abandoned in Urayasu in 1971 due to the industrialization of the city.[3]
Urayasu was elevated to city status on April 1, 1981.[7] Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983 on 200 acres in Maihama.[6]
Economy
Urayasu is a regional commercial center and a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo. The primary employer in the city is The Oriental Land Company and businesses related to Tokyo Disney Resort.
Education
Universities
High Schools
Public (operated by Chiba Prefecture):
Private schools:
- Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu High School (東京学館浦安高等学校)
- Tokai University Urayasu Junior & Senior High School (東海大学付属浦安高等学校)
Primary and middle schools
Urayasu has nine public and two private middle schools, and 17 elementary schools.
Transportation
Railway
- East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Keiyō Line
- Tokyo Metro - Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line
- Maihama Resort Line - Disney Resort Line
Highway
Sister City relations
– Orlando, Florida, United States,[8] since October 23, 1989
Noted people from Urayasu
- Keita Amemiya – Video game designer
- Shinnosuke Abe – professional baseball player
- Keiji Tamada – professional soccer player
- Momoko Abe – Model and Miss Universe Japan 2017
- Daisuke Hayakawa – professional baseball player
References
- ^ a b "Urayasu". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ^ "Summary." OLC Group. Retrieved on October 1, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Urayasu". Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Fukue, Natsuko, "Urayasu still dealing with liquefaction", Japan Times, 8 April 2011, p. 4.
- ^ Yomiuri Shimbun, "Liquefaction Damage Widespread", 10 April 2011.
- ^ a b Shapiro, Margaret (December 16, 1989). "Unlikely Tokyo Bay Site Is a Holiday Hit : Disneyland: For millions of Japanese, Mickey Mouse and Space Mountain are a vacationer's dream". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
- ^ "沿革と市域の変遷". Urayasu city official home page (in Japanese). 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "US-Japan Sister Cities by State". Asia Matters for America. Honolulu, HI: East-West Center. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
External links
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