Asahi, Chiba
Encyclopedia
is a city
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...

 located in northern Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...

 of 69,000 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 of 531 persons per km². The total area was 129.91 km².

Geography

Asahi is located in far northeastern Chiba Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the southeast.

Climate

Asahi has a mild climate. The average yearly temperature is 15 degrees Celsius. In 2007, Asahi received 1744.5 mm of precipitation.

Surrounding municipalities

  • Choshi, Chiba
    Choshi, Chiba
    is a city located on the Pacific Ocean coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the easternmost city in the Greater Tokyo Area. The easternmost point in the Greater Tokyo Area is Cape Inubō....

  • Sōsa, Chiba
    Sosa, Chiba
    is a city located in northeastern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 38,764 and a population density of 391 persons per km². The total area was 101.78 km².-Geography:...


Katori, Chiba
Katori, Chiba
is a city located in northern Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 82,633 and a population density of 315 persons per km². The total area was 262.31 km²...

  • Tōnoshō, Chiba
    Tonosho, Chiba
    is a town located in Katori District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 15,103 and a population density of 327 persons per km². The total area was 46.16 km².-Geography:...


History

Humans have lived in the Asahi area for at least 25,000 years. Clans gave way to a central power during the Taika Reform
Taika Reform
The ' were a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku in the year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku, and the defeat of the Soga clan , uniting Japan. Crown Prince Naka no Ōe , Nakatomi no Kamatari, and Emperor Kōtoku jointly embarked on the details of the Reforms...

 in 645 A.D. The Chiba clan
Chiba clan
The ' was a branch family of the Taira clan descended from Chiba no Suke, son of Taira no Tadatsune. Historically, they controlled the city of Chiba, outside Tokyo, and also an area called Soma which included the Grand Shrine of Ise....

, or branches of it, ruled the entire Shimōsa region for about 400 years from the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....

. During the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...

, the Chiba clan gained the protection of such powerful clans as the Odawara Hōjō clan
Late Hojo clan
The ' was one of the most powerful warrior clans in Japan in the Sengoku period and held domains primarily in the Kantō region.The clan is traditionally reckoned to be started by Ise Shinkurō, who came from a branch of the prestigious Ise clan, a family in the direct employment of the Ashikaga...

, allowing them to get a stronger foothold of power over the area. They lost control when the Hōjō clan was overthrown in 1590 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. After that, General Kiso Yoshimasa settled in the region. He restored the Ajito Castle, which was the inspiration for the name "Asahi." As the governor of the region, he became a popular and respected politician. When poet Nonoguchi Takamasa visited the area in 1852, he wrote a poem about the general, from which the name "Asahi," which can mean "rising sun," was taken.

"from Shinano /
adoring the rising sun /
he came to the eastern land /
and there remains the evidence of his earthly life"

In the Edo Period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....

, various agricultural changes in the region occurred. The first was the reclamation of the "Sea of Camellias," a vast lake, which was drained into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 to create the fertile Higata Hachiman-goku. The second was spurred on by the arrival of Ohara Yugaku in 1835. Ohara was an agricultural revolutionary who helped to revive agriculture in the area. During this same time, while Iioka Sukegoro was helping to develop the fishing industry, fishermen from the Kansai region moved to the area to take advantage of the bountiful fishing grounds available.

The town of Asahi was founded on July 1, 1954. On July 1, 2005, the city merged with the town of Hikata
Hikata, Chiba
was a town located in Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.Hikata was formed on April 10, 1954. through the merger of the villages of Kojo, Chowa, and Manzai...

, from Katori District
Katori District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.Since there is no population data since 2003, the post-Katori-Narita creation district had an estimated population of 40,260...

, and the towns of Iioka
Iioka, Chiba
was a town located in Kaijō District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.Iioka was a noted port town in the Edo period, and prospered greatly in the aftermath of the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657, as a transshipment center for timber and building materials to Edo....

 and Unakami
Unakami, Chiba
was a town located in Kaijō District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.Unikami was formed on March 31, 1954. through the merger of the villages of Takisato, Oumei, and Tsurumaki...

, both from Kaijo District
Kaijo District, Chiba
Kaijō was a district located in Chiba, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 21,982 and a density of 469.10 persons per km²...

, to form the new expanded city of Asahi.

The city was damaged during the March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...

. Around 15 people were killed, 2,265 buildings were damaged, with 427 buildings destroyed, 716 people were left homeless, and heavy damage was done to the town's port and fishing boat fleet.

Railways

  • East Japan Railway Company
    East Japan Railway Company
    is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....

     (JR East) - Sōbu Main Line
    • Higata
      Higata Station
      is a railway station in Asahi, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is located 98.8 rail kilometers from the western terminus of the Sōbu Main Line at Tokyo Station.-History:...

       - Asahi
      Asahi Station (Chiba)
      is a railway station in Asahi, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Asahi Station is served by the Sōbu Main Line, with Shiosai limited express services between Tokyo and also stopping at this station...

       - Iioka
      Iioka Station
      is a railway station in Asahi, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Iioka Station is served by the Sōbu Main Line, with Shiosai limited express services between Tokyo and also stopping at this station...

       - Kurahashi
      Kurahashi Station
      is a railway station in Asahi, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is located 109.2 rail kilometers from the western terminus of the Sōbu Main Line at Tokyo Station.-History:...


The Shiosai
Shiosai
The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Chōshi in Chiba Prefecture.-History:...

 Limited Express service stops at Asahi and Iioka stations.

Administered by Chiba Prefecture

  • Chiba East Prefectural Library
  • General Sports Center, Toso Stadium
  • Iioka Gyobu Misaki Observatory and Lighthouse
    Lighthouse
    A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....

  • Toso Culture Center

Administered by Asahi City

  • Asahi Chuo Hospital
  • Asahi City Public Library
  • Asahi Sports-no-Mori Park
  • Asahi Park Golf Course
  • Fukuro Park
  • Iioka swimming area
  • Manzai Nature Park
  • Ohara Yugaku Memorial Hall and Historical Park
  • Taki-no-Sato Nature Park
  • Unakami Community Athletic Park
  • Unakami Camp Park
  • Yasashigaura swimming area (nicknamed "The Mecca of Surfing")

Temples and Shrines

  • Kamakazu Ise Daijingu Shrine
  • Kumano Shrine
  • Rai Shrine
  • Ryufukuji Temple
  • Tamasaki Shrine

High Schools

  • Chiba Prefecture, Asahi City Agricultural High School
  • Chiba Prefecture, Toso Technological High School

Junior High Schools

  • Asahi City First Public Junior High School
  • Asahi City Second Public Junior High School
  • Hikata Public Junior High School
  • Iioka Public Junior High School
  • Unakami Public Junior High School

Elementary Schools

  • Chuo Public Elementary School
  • Chuwa Public Elementary School
  • Higata Public Elementary School
  • Iioka Public Elementary School
  • Kojo Public Elementary School
  • Kotoda Public Elementary School
  • Kyowa Public Elementary School
  • Manzai Public Elementary School
  • Omei Public Elementary School
  • Sangawa Public Elementary School
  • Takisato Public Elementary School
  • Tomiura Public Elementary School
  • Toyohata Public Elementary School
  • Tsurumaki Public Elementary School
  • Yasashi Public Elementary School


Agriculture

Asahi City's agricultural output is ranked first in Chiba Prefecture and ninth in Japan. The city's location on the coast of the Boso Peninsula gives it easy access to abundant fishing grounds created by the intersection of the Japan Current and the Okhotsk Current. Iioka fishing port has the second highest volume of fish unloaded in Chiba Prefecture.

Flowers

  • Cyclamens
  • Garland Chrysanthemum
  • Petunias
  • Transvaal (Bellis perennis
    Bellis perennis
    Bellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy. It is...

    )
  • Rapeseed

Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains

  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers (including heart-shaped and star-shaped)
  • Mushrooms
  • Parsley
  • Pickling Melons
  • Rice
  • Slender green peppers
  • Strawberries
  • Takami Melons
  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini

Seafood and Meat

  • Flounder
  • Infant Anchovies
  • Inshore Oysters
  • Pork
  • Sardines


Annual

  • Iioka Shiosai Marathon – first Sunday of February
  • Fukuro Park Cherry Blossom Festival - April 1 - May 5
  • Asahi Iioka Port / Seafood Festival - end of May
  • Iioka Fireworks Festival – last Saturday of July
  • Iioka "YOU You" Festival – last Saturday and Sunday of July
  • Summer Fest at Yasashigaura - beginning of August
  • Citizens' Tanabata
    Tanabata
    is a Japanese star festival, originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi . According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the...

     Festival – August 6 and 7
  • Asahi Beach Sand Sculpture displays
  • Hebisono-deshimizu Cosmos Festival - beginning of October
  • Ikiiki Asahi Citizens' Festival - middle of October
  • Hikata Furusato Festival - middle of November
  • Unakami Industry Festival - end of November

Other

  • 2010 National Sports Festival of Japan
    National Sports Festival of Japan
    is the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...

     Table Tennis
    Table tennis
    Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...

     tournament (Held at Sports-no-Mori Park from September 30 to October 4)
  • Goshinkosai Festival at Kumano Shrine (held every 12 years)
  • Goshinkosai Festival at Dairi Shrine (held every 33 years)
  • Miroku-sanbaso procession of Kurahashi (held every 20 years)

Sister and Friendship Cities

- Chino
Chino, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 55,902 and the density of 209.83 persons per km². The total area is 266.41 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1958.- Geography :*mountain**Mount Yatsugatake...

, Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

 (Sister City) - Nakagusuku
Nakagusuku, Okinawa
is a village located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2008, the village has an estimated population of 16,462 and a density of 1,065 persons per km². The total area is 15.46 km²....

, Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...

 (Friendship City)

Mascots

Asahi City uses characters from Tetsuya Chiba
Tetsuya Chiba
is a Japanese manga artist famous for his sports stories.He was born in Tokyo, Japan, but lived most of his early childhood in Manchuria when it was still a Japanese colony during the Second Sino-Japanese War. His father was working in a paper factory during that time they lived in China. One of...

's manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...

 works as official mascots, including Mukai Taiyo from "Ashita Tenki ni Naare" as the mascot of Asahi Park Golf Course. Framed art and messages from Tetsuya Chiba
Tetsuya Chiba
is a Japanese manga artist famous for his sports stories.He was born in Tokyo, Japan, but lived most of his early childhood in Manchuria when it was still a Japanese colony during the Second Sino-Japanese War. His father was working in a paper factory during that time they lived in China. One of...

 can be seen in many public buildings. Tetsuya Chiba lived in Asahi (then Iioka-machi) during his childhood.

Noted people from Asahi

  • Hiromichi Ishige
    Hiromichi Ishige
    Hiromichi Ishige is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and manager in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball....

     – professional baseball player
  • Shoya Tomizawa
    Shoya Tomizawa
    was a Japanese motorcycle racer. After a successful career in the All Japan Road Race Championship, he switched to MotoGP and competed in the 250cc class during 2009. In the 2010 season he rode in the newly created Moto2 class...

    – professional motorcycle racer

External links

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