Hirosaki, Aomori
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 southwest Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....

, 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...

. It is a castle town
Castle town
A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns are common in Medieval Europe. Good example include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles...

 and was the Tsugaru clan
Tsugaru clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan originating in northern Japan, specifically Mutsu Province . A branch of the local Nanbu clan, the Tsugaru rose to power during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It was on the winning side of the Battle of Sekigahara, and entered the Edo period as a family of lords ...

 ruled the 100,000 koku
Koku
The is a Japanese unit of volume, equal to ten cubic shaku. In this definition, 3.5937 koku equal one cubic metre, i.e. 1 koku is approximately 278.3 litres. The koku was originally defined as a quantity of rice, historically defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year...

tozama han Hirosaki Domain
Hirosaki Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in northern Mutsu Province . It was ruled by the Tsugaru clan...

 from Hirosaki Castle
Hirosaki Castle
is a hirayama-style Japanese castle constructed in 1611. It was the seat of the Tsugaru clan, a 47,000 koku tozama daimyō clan who ruled over Hirosaki Domain, Mutsu Province, in what is now central Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It was also referred to as .-Background:Hirosaki Castle measures...

 during 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....

. The city is currently a regional commercial center and the largest producer of apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...

s in Japan. The city government has been promoting the catchphrase "Apple Colored Town Hirosaki", and "Castle and Cherry Blossom and Apple Town" to promote the city image.

Geography

Hirosaki is located in southwest Aomori Prefecture, in the Tsugaru plains in the souther Tsugaru Peninsula
Tsugaru Peninsula
The is a peninsula in Aomori Prefecture, at the northern end of Honshū island, Japan. The peninsula projects north into the Tsugaru Strait separating Honshū from Hokkaidō. The western coast is on the Sea of Japan, while on its eastern coast are Aomori Bay and Mutsu Bay...

, south of Mount Iwaki
Mount Iwaki
is a stratovolcano located in western Aomori Prefecture, Tohoku, Japan. It is also referred to as Tsugaru-Fuji from its shape. the mountain is listed as one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains in a book composed in 1964 by mountaineer/author Kyūya Fukada...

 and bordering on Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....


Neighbouring municipalities

  • Tsugaru
    Tsugaru, Aomori
    is a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 37,957 and a density of 150 persons per km². Its total area was 253.85 km²...

    , Hirakawa
    Hirakawa, Aomori
    is a city located in south-central Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 34,040 and a density of 98.4 persons per km². Its total area was 345.81 km².-Geography:...

  • Nakatsugaru District
    Nakatsugaru District, Aomori
    is a district located in Aomori Prefecture. The district has an estimated population of 1,599 with a total area of 246,58 km².The district contains only one village.*Nishimeya-Timeline:* April 1, 1889...

     – Nishimeya
    Nishimeya, Aomori
    is a village located in the Nakatsugaru District of southern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 1,470 and a density of 5.97 persons per km². Its total area was 246.58 km².-Geography:...

  • Minamitsugaru District
    Minamitsugaru District, Aomori
    is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 93,748 and a density of 133.76 persons per km²...

     – Ōwani
    Owani, Aomori
    is a town located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 11,131 and a density of 68.1 persons per km². Its total area was 163.41 km².-Geography:...

    , Fujisaki
    Fujisaki, Aomori
    is a town located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 16,055 and a density of 431 persons per km². Its total area was 37.26 km².-Geography:...

    , Inakadate
    Inakadate, Aomori
    is a village located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 8,421 and a density of 369 persons per km². Its total area was 22.31 km².-Geography:...

  • Kitatsugaru District
    Kitatsugaru District, Aomori
    is a district located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 59,751 and a density of 110.21 persons per km²...

     – Itayanagi
    Itayanagi, Aomori
    is a town located in the Kitatsugaru District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 15,404 and a density of 368 persons per km². Its total area was 41.81 km².-Geography:...

    , Tsuruta
    Tsuruta, Aomori
    is a town located in the Kitatsugaru District of northeastern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 14,395 and a density of 310 persons per km²...

  • Nishitsugaru District
    Nishitsugaru District, Aomori
    is a district located in Aomori, Japan.As of 2003 , the district has an estimated population of 24,033 and a density of 28.9 persons per km²...

     – Ajigasawa
    Ajigasawa, Aomori
    is a town located in the Nishitsugaru District of Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 11,561 and a density of 33.7 persons per km²...

  • Ōdate, Akita
    Odate, Akita
    is a city located in Akita in Tōhoku region of Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1951.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 65,090 and the density of 162.10 persons per km²...


City emblem

Hirosaki uses the manji (swastica) as official emblem. This came from the flag emblem of Tsugaru clan
Tsugaru clan
The was a Japanese samurai clan originating in northern Japan, specifically Mutsu Province . A branch of the local Nanbu clan, the Tsugaru rose to power during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It was on the winning side of the Battle of Sekigahara, and entered the Edo period as a family of lords ...

,the lord of Hirosaki Domain
Hirosaki Domain
The ' was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in northern Mutsu Province . It was ruled by the Tsugaru clan...

 in Edo era.

History

The area around Hirosaki was part of the domains of the Northern Fujiwara
Northern Fujiwara
The Northern Fujiwara were a Japanese noble family that ruled the Tōhoku region of Japan from the 12th to the 13th centuries as if it were their own realm. They succeeded the semi-independent Emishi families of the 11th century who were gradually brought down by the Minamoto clan loyal to the...

 in the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

, and were awarded to the Nambu clan by Minamoto Yoritomo after the defeat of the Northern Fujiwara in the early 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...

, a local retainer of the Nambu, Ōura Tamenobu
Tsugaru Tamenobu
was a Japanese daimyo of the late Sengoku through early Edo period. He was known as Ōura Tamenobu earlier on in his life. Tamenobu had at one time battled against Nanbu Nobunao. Following this, Tamenobu submitted to Toyotomi Hideyoshi and fought against the Hōjō during the siege of Odawara. It was...

 declared his independence in 1571, and seized local castles. He assisted Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...

 at the Battle of Odawara
Siege of Odawara (1590)
The third ' occurred in 1590, and was the primary action in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's campaign to eliminate the Hōjō clan as a threat to his power. The months leading up to it saw hasty but major improvements in the defense of the castle, as Hideyoshi's intentions became clear...

 in 1590, and was confirmed in his holdings with revenues of 45,000 koku. He also changed his name to Tsugaru. After siding with Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
 was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara  in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...

 at the Battle of Sekigahara
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...

, his revenues increased to 47,000 koku and he began construction of a castle in Takaoka (present day Hirosaki). The castle was completed in 1611 by his successor, Tsugaru Nobuhira
Tsugaru Nobuhira
was the 2nd daimyō of Hirosaki Domain in northern Mutsu Province, Honshū, Japan . His courtesy title was Etchū-no-kami.-Biography:Tsugaru Noruhira was born as the 3rd son of Tsugaru Tamenobu, head of the Tsugaru clan...

, but its massive 5-story donjon was lost to lightning in 1627. The domain’s revenues increased to 100,000 koku in 1628. In 1808, Takaoka was renamed Hirosaki. The Tsugaru clan sided with the Satchō Alliance
Satcho Alliance
The ', or Satchō Alliance was a military alliance between the feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū formed in 1866 to combine their efforts to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan....

 in the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....

 of the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...

, and was rewarded by the new Meiji government with an additional 10,000 koku. However, with the abolition of the han system
Abolition of the han system
The was an act, in 1871, of the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan to replace the traditional feudal domain system and to introduce centralized government authority . This process marked the culmination of the Meiji Restoration in that all daimyo were required to return their authority...

 on August 29, 1871, Hirosaki Domain was abolished, and replaced by Hirosaki Prefecture. The Prefecture was renamed Aomori Prefecture in October of the same year, and the prefectural capital was relocated to the more centrally located Aomori
Aomori, Aomori
is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...

.

Chōyō Elementary School was established on October 1, 1873. Apple horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...

 was introduced to Hirosaki from 1877 and the 59th National Bank, the predecessor of Aomori Bank
Aomori Bank
The is a Japanese regional bank headquartered in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshū.The Aomori Bank provides financial services for individual and corporate customers, including deposits, loans, securities trading and investment, foreign exchange, and bond...

 opened in March 1878. Hirosaki was proclaimed a city on April 1, 1889 and was thus one of the first 30 cities in Japan. The Ōu Main Line
Ou Main Line
The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...

 connected Hirosaki with Aomori on December 1, 1894.

Hirosaki became the home garrison town for the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...

’s IJA 8th Division from October, 1898. The division was prominently active in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...

.

Hirosaki City Hospital was established in 1901, and Hirosaki City Library in 1906. The first telephone service in the city stated from 1909. The first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in 1918. In 1927, the Kōnan Railway connected Hirosaki with Onoe
Tsugaru-Onoe Station
is a railway station on the Kōnan Railway Kōnan Line located in the city of Hirakawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is 11.1 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Hirosaki Station.-History:...

. Hirosaki University
Hirosaki University
is a University in Hirosaki city in Aomori, Japan.- Faculties :* Faculty of Humanities* Faculty of Education* School of Medicine* Faculty of Science and Technology* Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science-History:...

 was established in 1949.

On March 1, 1955 Hirosaki expanded through annexation of neighboring villages of Shimizu, Wattoku, Toyoda, Horikoshi, Chitose, Fujishiro, Niina, Funazawa, Takasugi, Susono, and Higashimeya. Nishimeya
Nishimeya, Aomori
is a village located in the Nakatsugaru District of southern Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the village had an estimated population of 1,470 and a density of 5.97 persons per km². Its total area was 246.58 km².-Geography:...

 became an enclave. The city further expanded on September 1, 1957 through annexation of neighboring Ishikawa village.
The First Chrysanthemum and Maple Festival was held in 1964 and the First Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival in 1977. In 1979, the city was connected to the Tōhoku Expressway
Tohoku Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned by Japan Expressway Holding and Debt Repayment Agency and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Tōhoku refers to the Tōhoku region, the northernmost region on the island of Honshū....

 by a spur road named “Apple Road”.

On November 15, 2006, Hirosaki merged
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...

 with the neighboring town of Iwaki
Iwaki, Aomori
was a town located in Nakatsugaru District in southern Aomori Prefecture, Japan.Iwaki was located in southwestern Tsugaru Peninsula, in the foothills of Mount Iwaki. The area was part of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, Iwaki Village was created in 1889...

 and village of Sōma-mura

Economy

  • Hirosaki is the regional commercial center for southwest Aomori prefecture. The main agricultural crops include apples and rice, with Hirosaki accounting for 20% of the total production of apples in Japan.

Culture

Hirosaki is known for its tradition of Tsugaru-jamisen, a virtuosic style of shamisen
Shamisen
The , also called is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The Japanese pronunciation is usually "shamisen" but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix . -Construction:The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument...

playing.

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....

     - Ōu Main Line
    Ou Main Line
    The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It runs from Fukushima Station in Fukushima, Fukushima through Akita Station in Akita, Akita to Aomori Station in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture...

    • , , , ,
  • Kōnan Railway Company
    Konan Railway Company
    The is a railway company that provides transportation services in western Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The company operates two regional railway lines: the Kōnan Line, which connects Hirosaki Station in the city of Hirosaki and Kuroishi Station in the city of Kuroishi, and the Ōwani Line, which...

     - Kōnan Line
    Konan Railway Konan Line
    The is a railway route operated by the Japanese private railway in Aomori Prefecture, from Hirosaki Station in Hirosaki to Kuroishi Station in Kuroishi.-History:...

    • Hirosaki, , , ,
  • Kōnan Railway Company
    Konan Railway Company
    The is a railway company that provides transportation services in western Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The company operates two regional railway lines: the Kōnan Line, which connects Hirosaki Station in the city of Hirosaki and Kuroishi Station in the city of Kuroishi, and the Ōwani Line, which...

     - Ōwani Line
    Konan Railway Owani Line
    The is a railway route operated by the Japanese private railway in Aomori Prefecture, from Chūō-Hirosaki Station in Hirosaki to Ōwani Station in Ōwani.-History:...


}, , ,, , , , , , ,

Tourist attractions

Hirosaki is known for its Cherry Blossom Festival held in the park surrounding Hirosaki Castle. About 2,600 Sakura
Sakura
A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is sometimes called sakura after the Japanese . Many of the varieties that have been cultivated for ornamental use do not produce fruit...

 (Japanese cherry) blossom during the Japanese Golden Week vacation period. The Hirosaki Neputa Festival is held during the first week of August and is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan
100 Soundscapes of Japan
In 1996, as part of its efforts to combat noise pollution and to protect and promote the environment, the Ministry of the Environment designated the . 738 submissions were received from all over the country and the 100 'best' were selected after examination by the Japan Soundscape Study Group...

. The town is also noted for a large number of western-style buildings dating to the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...

.
  • Hirosaki Castle
    Hirosaki Castle
    is a hirayama-style Japanese castle constructed in 1611. It was the seat of the Tsugaru clan, a 47,000 koku tozama daimyō clan who ruled over Hirosaki Domain, Mutsu Province, in what is now central Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It was also referred to as .-Background:Hirosaki Castle measures...

  • Nakamachi Bukeyashiki
  • Chosho-ji Temple
  • Saisho-in Temple

Noted people from Hirosaki

  • Masakatsu Funaki
    Masakatsu Funaki
    , is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is one half of the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions, along with Keiji Mutoh...

     – professional wrestler
  • Hisashi Tonomura
    Hisashi (musician)
    Hisashi Tonomura is the lead guitarist for the popular Japanese rock band GLAY. He used to be in a band named Ari but they broke up before he joined GLAY. Together with his bandmate Jiro, the two of them are known for their visual kei looks...

     - musician
  • Iwakiyama Ryūta
    Iwakiyama Ryuta
    Iwakiyama Ryūta , is a former sumo wrestler. A former amateur sumo champion, he turned professional in 2000 and reached the top division at the end of 2002...

     – sumo wrestler
  • Yōjirō Ishizaka
    Yojiro Ishizaka
    was an influential and popular novelist of post-World War II Japan.-Education and early career:Born at Daikancho 82, Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Ishizaka went to Hirosaki Middle School in 1913 and then to Keio University in 1920. On graduating, he took a position at Hirosaki Women's High School....

     – writer
  • Shunsuke Kikuchi
    Shunsuke Kikuchi
    is a prolific Japanese composer from Hirosaki. He specializes in incidental music for media such as television and film.Active since the early 60s, he has been one of Japan's most highly demanded film and TV composers, working principally on tokusatsu and anime productions for children, as well as...

     – composer
  • Norio Kudo
    Norio Kudo
    is a professional Go player.- Biography :Kudo turned professional in 1955 and was promoted to 9 dan in 1976. Although he did not win many tournaments, he was known for teaching Go to many people, even if they were just starting to learn, or were about to turn 1 dan...

     – professional go player
  • Mitsuyo Maeda
    Mitsuyo Maeda
    ,a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda,was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908...

     - judoka
  • Juji Nakada
    Juji Nakada
    was a Japanese holiness evangelist, known as "the Dwight Moody of Japan" , who was the first bishop of the Japan Holiness Church and one of the co-founders of the Oriental Missionary Society ..- Personal History :...

     – evangelist
  • Yoshitomo Nara
    Yoshitomo Nara
    is a Japanese artist. He currently lives and works in Tokyo, though his artwork has been exhibited worldwide. Nara received his B.F.A. and an M.F.A. from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music. Between 1988 and 1993, Nara studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, in Germany. Nara...

     – manga artist
  • Takanohana Kenshi
    Takanohana Kenshi
    Takanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...

     – sumo wrestler
  • Shuji Terayama
    Shuji Terayama
    was an avant-garde Japanese poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. According to many critics and supporters, he was one of the most productive and provocative creative artists to come out of Japan. He was born December 10, 1935, the only son of Hachiro and Hatsu Terayama in...

     – modern artist
  • Wakanohana Kanji I
    Wakanohana Kanji I
    was a sumo wrestler, the sport's 45th Yokozuna .Wakanohana's younger brother was the late former ozeki Takanohana Kenshi and he was the uncle of Takanohana Koji and Wakanohana Masaru...

     – sumo wrestler
  • Wakanosato Shinobu
    Wakanosato Shinobu
    Wakanosato Shinobu is a professional sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan. He has been ranked mostly in the top division since 1998, and his highest rank has been sekiwake. He holds the record for the most consecutive tournaments ranked in the junior sanyaku ranks of sekiwake and komusubi...

    – sumo wrestler

External links

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