Iwaki, Fukushima - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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 the southern part of the Hamadōri

Hamadori

is an area comprising the easternmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan.The principal city of the area is Iwaki.-History:From the Heian period to the Tensho period, Hamadori was divided by the Iwaki clan and the Soma clan . After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Iwaki clan was banished to...

coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....

, Japan.

A designated "core city

Core city

A is a class of Japanese city created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan. Core cities are delegated many functions normally carried out by prefectural governments, but not as many as designated cities...

", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan (2010). Its estimated population as of May 2011 is 337,288.

The present "Iwaki City" started as the merger of 14 municipalities on October 1, 1966. The city was the third hiragana city, following Chino, Nagano

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...

and Mutsu, Aomori

Mutsu, Aomori

is a city located in northeastern Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 61,205 and a density of 70.09 persons per km²...

. The area was the largest in Japan at the time. The city works as an industrial hub of Tōhoku region

Tohoku region

The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....

, and is rich in sightseeing resources. As of 2005, about 7.6 millions sightseers visited the city a year.

History

The forms いわき, 石城, 岩城, and 磐城 are all ways of writing "Iwaki," which means "rocky castle". Today, いわき is the most common written form.

Iwaki's origin dates back to 708 AD, during the Nara period

Nara period

The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...

. The Yamato government constructed a barrier in Iwaki against possible invasion by the Emishi

Emishi

The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...

, a Japanese people from the north.

When 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...

was established in AD 645, the central government formed "Iwaki district (磐城郡)" in the northern part of the present city and "Kikuta district (菊多郡)" in the southern part.

In 653, the Iwaki district incorporated with a part of Taga Province and became Iwaki district(岩城評).

In 718, Iwaki Province

Iwaki Province

was an old province in the area that is today Fukushima Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture.-History:This iteration of Iwaki Province lasted for a brief period of time in Nara period. Established in 718 with the division of Mutsu Province, it was composed of five district of Iwaki , Shineha , Namekata...

was formed, which was composed of five districts with Mutsu Province

Mutsu Province

was an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...

: Iwaki (岩城), Shineha, Namekata, Uta, Watari and Kikuta which was given from Hitachi Province

Hitachi Province

was an old province of Japan in the area of Ibaraki Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Hitachi Province bordered on Iwashiro, Iwaki, Shimousa, and Shimotsuke Provinces....

.
Shineha was the present Naraha

Naraha, Fukushima

is a town located in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 8,230 and a density of 79.56 persons per km². The total area is 103.45 km²....

. Namekata and Uta were the present Soma

Soma, Fukushima

is a coastal city located in Fukushima, Japan, approximately 30 kilometers South of Sendai. Japan National Route 6 runs through Sōma, since 2001 augmented by the Route 6 Sōma Bypass, which runs up to 2 km East of the original route, around the city center....

. Watari was the present Watari, Miyagi

Watari, Miyagi

is a town located in Watari District, Miyagi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 35,132 and a population density of 479.88 persons per km². The total area is 73.21 km²....

. The area of the present Iwaki City was composed of Kikuta and Iwaki (岩城 or 磐城).

In the late 11th century, Iwaki clan (岩城氏) of Hitachi Province

Hitachi Province

was an old province of Japan in the area of Ibaraki Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Hitachi Province bordered on Iwashiro, Iwaki, Shimousa, and Shimotsuke Provinces....

invaded Iwaki district (磐城郡) and divided it into four districts of Yoshima, Iwasaki, Iwaki, Naraha. The clan settled Iwaki district.

In 1189, Minamoto no Yoritomo

Minamoto no Yoritomo

was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan. He ruled from 1192 until 1199.-Early life and exile :Yoritomo was the third son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, heir of the Minamoto clan, and his official wife, a daughter of Fujiwara no Suenori, who was a member of the...

appointed Iwaki Taro Kiyotaka (岩城太郎清隆) to jito

Jito

were medieval land stewards in Japan, especially in the Kamakura and Muromachi Shogunates. Appointed by the shogun, jitō managed manors including national holdings governed by the provincial governor ....

of Yoshima.

In 1532, the Battle of Kidogawa.

In 1590, 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...

came in Tohoku region

Tohoku region

and demanded sword hunt

Sword hunt

Several times in Japanese history, the new ruler sought to ensure his position by calling a '. Armies would scour the entire country, confiscating the weapons of the enemies of the new regime. In this manner, the new ruler sought to ensure that no one could take the country by force as he had just...

and kenchi.

In 1600, Iwaki Sdataka (岩城貞隆) didn't fight in 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...

's corner on 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...

. As a result, the Iwaki clan was ousted and Torii Tadamasa was appointed as the lord of Iwakitaira han (磐城平藩, old Iwaki Province) by Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu

. Ieyasu put Tadamasa of his Fudai

Fudai

was a class of daimyo who were hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa in Edo period Japan. It was primarily the fudai who filled the ranks of the Tokugawa administration.-Origins:...

in fear of Date Masamune

Date Masamune

was a regional strongman of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period through early Edo period. Heir to a long line of powerful daimyo in the Tōhoku region, he went on to found the modern-day city of Sendai...

of Sendai han. The han has about 100 thousand goku

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...

.

In 1603 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....

, Torii Tadamasa started to construct Iwakidaira Castle in Taira.

Izumi han (1634) and Yunagaya (1670) hans were placed, following Kubota(1622) and Tanagura (1634) hans.

In 1684, Kubota han's territory was confiscated.

In 1860, Ando Nobumasa

Ando Nobumasa

was a Japanese daimyo of the late Edo period, who ruled the Iwakidaira Domain. He was a rōjū in the Tokugawa shogunate, and was active in the wake of Ii Naosuke's assassination...

of Iwakitaira han was appointed as a Roju

Roju

The ', usually translated as Elder, was one of the highest-ranking government posts in Tokugawa Japan. The term refers either to individual Elders, or to the Council as a whole; under the first two shoguns, there were only two Rōjū...

of Tokugawa shogunate

Tokugawa shogunate

The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...

.
In 1862, he was wounded near the sakashitamon-gate in Edo Castle

Edo Castle

, also known as , is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. It is located in Chiyoda in Tokyo, then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate here. It was the residence of the shogun and location of the shogunate, and also...

.

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....

, the hans in Iwaki lost and were controlled by the new government (新政府). In 1871, 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...

was practiced and the hans in Iwaki became ken(means old prefectures): Iwakitaira ken, Yunagaya ken and Izumi ken. These hans were incorporated to Iwamae (Iwasaki) Prefecture (磐前県) and to the current Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

(1876).

In 1896, Iwaki Bank and Taira Bank were established.

In 1897, Nihon Tetsudo filled in the inner moat of Iwakidaira Castle and made Taira Station.
Jōban coalfield, which was the biggest coalfield in Honshū

Honshu

is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...

and the nearest from the Japanese capital Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

, was started to exploit it under the Fukoku kyōhei

Fukoku kyohei

, originally a phrase from the ancient Chinese historical work on the Warring States Period, Zhan Guo Ce , was Japan's national slogan during the Meiji Era, replacing sonnō jōi ....

policy. After which Iwaki developed into an industrial city for the exploitation of the coalfield. The Jōban Line

Joban Line

The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...

was made for the haulage of the coal. Iwaki's fishery, forestry and agricultural sectors also developed from this time.

After WWII

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the Jōban coalfield was closed. The same natural hot springs that were troublesome to the coal miners were put to good use and a hot springs resort was developed Spa Resort Hawaiians

Spa Resort Hawaiians

, located in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is a resort and theme park in Japan. It opened on January 15, 1966 as the Joban Hawaiian Center, becoming the first in the country....

.

The present city was incorporated on October 1, 1966, with the merger of 14 municipalities (5 cities, 4 towns and 5 villages). The cities were Taira (平), Uchigō (内郷), Iwaki (磐城), Nakoso (勿来), and Jōban (常磐); the towns, Yotsukura, (四倉) Tōno (遠野), Ogawa (小川) and Hisanohama (久之浜); and the five villages were Yoshima (好間), Miwa (三和), Tabito (田人), Kawamae (川前) and Ōhisa (大久). Taira was chosen as the location for City Hall and other administrative offices and continues to function as the centre of Iwaki. This stem from that Torii clan's castle town was Taira.

In April 1979, an "Iwaki Number" as an automobile number plate

Japanese license plates

In Japan, the national government issues vehicle registration plates for motor vehicles through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Land Transportation Offices nationwide. However, the local municipality rather than the national government registers certain vehicles with small engine...

was introduced.

On April 1, 1999, the city was designated a "core city

Core city

Geography and climate

The city is located at the southern end of Tōhoku Region

Tohoku region

and close to Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...

, (37.02°N 140.53°E).
The city covers a total area of 1,231.35 km², making it the largest city in Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

and the tenth largest in Japan. The city occupies around 8.9 percent of the total area of Fukushima
Prefecture.

The eastern part of the city is made up of 60 kilometres of coastline which faces 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...

and the western part goes through the Abukuma highlands and joins up with the central part of Fukushima Prefecture. The western part is a range of mountains and forests, occupies about 70 percent of the city. The rivers which flow to the east from the mountains have riverbeds with steep inclines which form the deep valleys of the Natsuigawa Gorge and the Shidokigawa Gorge. The flatter eastern part of the city is where most of the population is located. There are seven beaches on the coastline. Off the coast of Iwaki the Kuroshio Current

Kuroshio Current

The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...

(warm) and the Oyashio Current

Oyashio Current

, also known as Oya Siwo, Okhotsk or the Kurile current, is a cold subarctic ocean current that flows south and circulates counterclockwise in the western North Pacific Ocean. It collides with the Kuroshio Current off the eastern shore of Japan to form the North Pacific Current...

(cold) meet and make for an abundant fishing ground. The prevailing winds from the ocean are warm and wet.

Iwaki is situated in a temperate climate zone

Temperate

In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...

and has a moderate climate. The city's average temperature is 13.1°C (55.6°F) and its average annual precipitation is 1,383.0 mm. The highest recorded temperature in the city is 37.7°C (99.9°F), and the lowest recorded temperature is -10.7°C (12.7°F). The average year has 14.4 days with a high temperature over 25°C and only 3.1 days with a low temperature below 0°C, which is smaller compared to other Japanese cities. The city is rarely hit by typhoons, and experiences only 0.7 days with more than 10 cm of snowfall in the average year. The duration of bright sunshine is 2058.1 hours in average year.

Natural environment

Rivers: Natsuigawa River, Samegawa River, Yoshimagawa River
Gorges: Natsuigawa Gorge, Shidokigawa Gorge
Mountains: Mizuishiyama, Yunodake, Futatsuyasan, Ishimoriyama
Hot springs
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...

： Iwaki Yumoto Onsen

Iwaki was mildly affected by the 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...

Towns

The central area of the city is Taira. In Taira, main urban function builds up; Iwaki City Hall (main government office), Iwaki City Lyceum, Iwaki Station

Iwaki Station (Fukushima)

is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:*February 25, 1897: Station opens as *December 3, 1994: Station renamed Iwaki Station-Adjacent stations:...

, etc. Iwaki is a decentralized city and consists of several other urban areas including Onahama and Yumoto.

Yumoto is home to Iwaki Yumoto onsen, one of the oldest onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...

s in Japan. There are many ryokan hotels. It is also home to Spa Resort Hawaiians

Spa Resort Hawaiians

, located in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is a resort and theme park in Japan. It opened on January 15, 1966 as the Joban Hawaiian Center, becoming the first in the country....

, a spa resort which draws 1.5 million visitors per year and was the subject of the 2006 movie Hula Girls
Hula Girls
is an award-winning Japanese film, directed by Sang-il Lee and co-written by Lee and Daisuke Habara, and first released across Japanese theaters on September 23, 2006...

.

Onahama is a port town where many factories, fisheries and port facilities are located. There is also an aquarium, some beaches and seaside restaurants.

Izumi is a residential town section. The other towns are Ueda, Nakoso, Uchigō, Yotsukura et al.

There are thirteen zones in the city.

Taira
Onahama & Ena & Izumi
Nakoso & Nishiki & Ueda
Jōban & Yumoto
Uchigō
Yotsukura
Tōno

Ogawa

Yoshima

Miwa

Tabito

Kawamae

Hisanohama & Ōhisa

Demographics

As of October 1, 2007, 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 350,119, giving 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 284.33 persons per km². Iwaki is the second most populous city in Tōhoku region

Tohoku region

, following Sendai, and the 59th most populous nationwide. The conurbation is the third biggest in the prefecture, following Kōriyama

Koriyama, Fukushima

is a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km²....

and Fukushima

Fukushima, Fukushima

is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...

.

Iwaki City has 130,814 households as of 2007. The average household has approximately 2.67 members. The number of males is 169,932 and the number of females is 180,187. The city has many people in their 50s and in their 40s compared to other age groups. The average age in Iwaki is 44.31.

zone	population	households	area	density
Taira	99,901	38,685	109.88 km²	909.18/km²
Onahama	77,857	29,182	87.64 km²	888.37/km²
Nakoso	51,783	18,651	104.74 km²	494.39/km²
Jōban	35,904	13,550	48.23 km²	744.43/km²
Uchigō	28,214	11,462	31.62 km²	892.28/km²
Yotsukura	15,686	5,284	63.73 km²	246.13/km²
Tōno	6,404	1,913	104.53 km²	61.26/km²
Ogawa	7,567	2,481	112.49 km²	67.26/km²
Yoshima	13,597	5,319	26.69 km²	509.44/km²
Miwa	3,676	1,107	214.90 km²	17.10/km²
Tabito	2,117	713	158.07 km²	13.39/km²
Kawamae	1,448	509	116.44 km²	12.43/km²
Hisanohama, Ōhisa	5,965	1,958	52.38 km²	113.87/km²
total	350,119	130,814	1231.34 km²	284.33/km²

As of October 1, 2007

Economy

The main foundation of economy is industry and agriculture. The industrial production of Iwaki City is no.1 in Tōhoku region

Tohoku region

. Iwaki is rich in sightseeing resources and 7.64 million tourists visit a year. Within Fukushima prefecture, the industrial and sightseeing center is Iwaki, while the political center is Fukushima city

Fukushima, Fukushima

.

Statistics (2006)

Employed population: 174,048
Unemployed population: 121,802
Gross production: ¥1,293,782 billion
Number of tourists: 7,639,296

Principal companies

Principal head offices in Iwaki

Daio paper Corp.; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Joban Kosan Co., Ltd.; Spa Resort Hawaiians
Spa Resort Hawaiians
, located in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is a resort and theme park in Japan. It opened on January 15, 1966 as the Joban Hawaiian Center, becoming the first in the country....

, TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Honeys Co., Ltd.; butique shops, TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Nippon Kasei Chemical Company Limited, TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Maruto supermarkets
Tōyō system; secondary battery
Yugetsu

Principal companies which have factories in Iwaki

Alps Electric Co.
Alps Electric Co.
produces electronic devices, including potentiometers and touchpads. Alps is a multinational corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company was established in 1948. As of August of 2010, the CEO is Masataka Kataoka...

& Alpine Electronics
Alpine Electronics
is traditionally known as an aftermarket car audio and navigation systems manufacturer, famed for their high quality, premium in-car audio units commonly known as headunits. It is a subsidiary of Alps Electric Co. and its registered head office is in Tokyo, Japan. However its main offices, or the...

; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...

, OSE1
Osaka Securities Exchange
is the second largest securities exchange in Japan, in terms of amount of business handled. As of 31 December 2007, the Osaka Securities Exchange had 477 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $212 billion. The Nikkei 225 Futures, introduced at the Osaka Securities Exchange in...
S. T. Corporation (old S.T. Chemistry); TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Okamoto Industries, Inc.; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Cleanup Corporation; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Kureha Corporation; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...

, OSE1
Osaka Securities Exchange
is the second largest securities exchange in Japan, in terms of amount of business handled. As of 31 December 2007, the Osaka Securities Exchange had 477 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $212 billion. The Nikkei 225 Futures, introduced at the Osaka Securities Exchange in...
Mazda
Mazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...

; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....

; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Organo Corp.; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Aska Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Nichiha Corporation; NSE1
Nagoya Stock Exchange
Nagoya Stock Exchange is a stock trading market in Nagoya, Japan. It is Japan's third largest exchange, behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange.- History :...

, TYO1
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA
Merck KGaA is a German chemical and pharmaceutical company. Merck, also known as “German Merck” and “Merck Darmstadt”, was founded in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668, making it the world's oldest operating chemical and pharmaceutical company. The company was privately owned until going public in 1995...

; DAX
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...

; NYSE
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...

Banks

(As of 2007)

Iwaki Credit Association
Himawari Credit Association
Toho Bank
Toho Bank
The Toho Bank, Ltd. is a Japanese bank that is headquartered in Fukushima city, Fukushima prefecture. Toho Bank also operates some branches outside of Fukushima prefecture, with branches in Utsunomiya, Miyagi Prefecture, and Tokyo, among others.-Profile:As of March 31, 2004-External links:* *...
Fukushima Bank
Daito Bank
Joyo Bank
Joyo Bank
is a Japanese regional bank that is headquartered in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture. The bank is relatively large among Japanese regional lenders, and operates branches throughout the Kantō region. In addition to branches in Miyagi, Fukushima, Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, and Osaka prefectures, the bank...

The 77 Bank

is a Japanese bank that is headquartered in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. As the designated financial institution of the prefecture, the city, and many other cities and towns throughout the prefecture, it performs duties such as holding deposits for public money and handling payments...

Tohoku Industrial Bank

Abukuma Trust Bank

Akita Bank

is a Japanese bank headquartered in Akita, Akita Prefecture. Although the bank’s core business comes from Akita prefecture, various branches are situated outside of the area. These include Koriyama, Sapporo, Morioka, Sendai, and Tokyo...

Mizuho Bank

is the core retail banking unit of Mizuho Financial Group, which is the second-largest financial services company in Japan and one of the three so-called Japanese "megabanks"...

National Life Finance Corporation

National Life Finance Corporation was a governmental institution of Japan , which provided business loans to small enterprises that have difficulty obtaining loans from private financial institutions....

Transportation

Surrounded by the ocean and mountains, Iwaki is related more closely to the Kantō region

Kanto region

The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....

than to Koriyama

Koriyama, Fukushima

is a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km²....

or Fukushima

Fukushima, Fukushima

. Iwaki is 80 km from Koriyama, 150 km from Sendai and 190 km from Tokyo

Tokyo

. Most of the residents usually use cars to commute because Iwaki is large and the urban areas are dispersed. There are many trucks on the roads related to hauling the freight of Onahama Port in Iwaki.

The Jōban Line

Joban Line

runs north and south in the city. The central station is Iwaki station

Iwaki Station (Fukushima)

is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:*February 25, 1897: Station opens as *December 3, 1994: Station renamed Iwaki Station-Adjacent stations:...

(old Taira station). There are banks, business hotels and shops in front of the station. Many trains stop at the station in mid course between Sendai and Tokyo. East Ban'etsu Line links to Koriyama, but the users are few because highway buses are more convenient and cheaper than the railway.

Railway

Central Station: Iwaki Station

Iwaki Station (Fukushima)

is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:*February 25, 1897: Station opens as *December 3, 1994: Station renamed Iwaki Station-Adjacent stations:...

JR East
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....

Jōban Line
Joban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
- (Ueno
  Ueno Station
  is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
  
  ) ~ Nakoso
  Nakoso Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
  - Ueda
  Ueda Station (Fukushima)
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:Ueda Town has many things around the station. Multiple Ramen Shops as well as Higher end Japanese Restaurants. Two Large Hotels, as well as a Book-Off and Tsutaiya. Also, Ueda Shopping Center is a large...
  
  - Izumi
  Izumi Station (Iwaki, Fukushima)
  is a railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, opertaed by East Japan Railway Company .-External links:*...
  
  - Yumoto
  Yumoto Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Surrounding area:Exiting Yumoto Station, there are numerous small stores, including a convenience store called Wai Wai Shop, small souvenir shops, various snack bars and restaurants. There is also a foot onsen outside and...
  
  - Uchigō
  Uchigo Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-History:*1897-02-25: Station begins operation as *1956-12-20: Station is renamed Uchigō Station-Adjacent stations:...
  
  - Iwaki - Kusano
  Kusano Station (Fukushima)
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
  - Yotsukura
  Yotsukura Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
  - Hisanohama
  Hisanohama Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
  - Suetsugi
  Suetsugi Station
  is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
  
  ~ (Sendai
  Sendai Station (Miyagi)
  is the major railway hub of the Tōhoku region in Japan, serving more passengers than any station outside the Greater Tokyo Area. It is a stop for all Akita and Tōhoku Shinkansen trains, the eastern terminus for the Senzan Line, and major stop on both the Tōhoku Main Line and Senseki Line...
  
  )
East Ban'etsu Line
- Iwaki - Akai
  Akai Station
  is a train station in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
  
  - Ogawagō
  Ogawagō Station
  is a train station in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
  
  - Eda
  Eda Station (Fukushima)
  is a train station in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
  
  - Kawamae
  Kawamae Station
  is a train station in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
  
  ~ (Kōriyama
  Koriyama Station (Fukushima)
  is a JR East railway station located in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:* Tōhoku Shinkansen* Tōhoku Main Line* Ban'etsu East Line* Ban'etsu West Line* Suigun Line-History:* July 16, 1887: Service is started between Kōriyama and Kuroiso...
  
  )
Fukushima Seaside Line (freight line)
- Izumi - Onahama

¤This line carries passenger specially on the day of Onahama firework festival

Roads

Jōban Expressway
Joban Expressway
The , abbreviated , is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Jōban is a kanji acronym consisting of two characters...
- Iwaki Nakoso - Iwaki Yumoto - Iwaki JCT - Iwaki Chūō IC - Iwaki Yotsukura
Ban-etsu Expressway
Ban-etsu Expressway
The is a national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:The name is a kanji acronym consisting of characters found in the former names of the provinces linked by the expressway...
- Iwaki JCT - Iwaki Miwa
National Route 6
Route 6 (Japan)
National Route 6 is a Japanese highway which goes from Tokyo via Mito and Hitachi in Ibaraki Prefecture towards Sendai. The route traces the old Mito Kaidō from Tokyo to Mito...

Hiragata tunnel, Minami-Sōma tunnel, Hattachi tunnel, Kusehara tunnel

National Route 49
National Route 289
Route 289 (Japan)
National Route 289 is an incomplete national highway in Japan that will eventually connect central Niigata with Iwaki, Fukushima with a total length of ....
National Route 349
Route 349 (Japan)
National Route 349 is a national highway of Japan connecting Mito, Ibaraki and Shibata, Miyagi in Japan, with a total length of 256.3 km ....
National Route 399
Route 399 (Japan)
National Route 399 is a national highway of Japan connecting Iwaki, Fukushima and Nan'yō, Yamagata in Japan, with a total length of 179.4 km ....

Highway buses

Shin Jōban Kōtsū
JR Bus Tohoku
JR Bus Tohoku Company
is an operator of inter-city and regional bus lines based in the Tōhoku region of Japan. A subsidiary of the East Japan Railway Company group, JR Bus Tohoku is one of eight JR Bus companies within Japan Railways Group ....
JR Bus Kanto
Tōbu Bus Central
Fukushima Transportation
Fukushima Transportation
is a rail and bus transportation company headquartered in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.It operates the Iizaka Line rail line and an extensive bus network, which primarily serves the Nakadōri and northern section of the Hamadōri regions of Fukushima Prefecture.-Founding and initial...
Aizu Bus

Ports

Onahama Port, designated as an important port by Japan
Nakanosaku Port
Ena Port
Hisanohama Port

Movies

The 2006 film Hula Girls
Hula Girls
is an award-winning Japanese film, directed by Sang-il Lee and co-written by Lee and Daisuke Habara, and first released across Japanese theaters on September 23, 2006...

won five awards in 2007 Japan Academy Prize

Public Institutions

Taira

Iwaki City Hall (main)
Iwaki Taira baseball ground
Iwaki athletic field
Iwaki civil pools
Iwaki gymnasium
Iwaki bicycle racetrack
Iwaki Lyceum "ALIOS" (2009 Open)
Iwaki cultural center
Iwaki central library
Iwaki museum
Iwaki central park

Nakoso

Nakoso branch office
Iwaki Nakoso Lyceum

Uchigō

Uchigō branch office
Iwaki Uchigō Community Center

Onahama

Onahama branch office
Iwaki Onahama baseball ground
Onahama civil pools
Iwaki Onahama Lyceum
Aquamarine Fukushima
Aquamarine Fukushima
is an aquarium located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:The aquarium opened on 15 July 2000. The nickname "Aquamarine Fukushima" was selected in 1998 from a total of 4,722 applications....

Jōban(Yumoto)

Jōban branch office
The 21st-century forest park

Iwaki Green Stadium (capacity of 30,000)

Iwaki Green Field (soccer, rugby, football)

Iwaki Jōban Lyceum
Iwaki Coal and Fossils Museum

The others

Hisanohama and Ōhisa branch office
Yotsukura branch office
Kawamae branch office
Ogawa branch office
Yoshima branch office
Miwa branch office
Toyoma branch office
Ena branch office
Chūōdai service center
Izumi branch office
Ueda branch office
Tabito branch office
Tōno branch office
Iwaki southern forest's sports park
Kurashi no Denshōgō
Kusano Shimpei Memorial
Iwaki Anmonites Center

Besides them, the city has many institutions.

Sightseeing

Iwaki Onahama Minato Oasis
- Iwaki Sun Marina
- Aquamarine Park
  - Aquamarine Fukushima
    Aquamarine Fukushima
    is an aquarium located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:The aquarium opened on 15 July 2000. The nickname "Aquamarine Fukushima" was selected in 1998 from a total of 4,722 applications....
    
    , an aquarium
  - Iwaki La La Miu
  - Iwaki Day Crews
Iwaki Marine Tower
"Iwaki seven beaches"
Shioyazaki lighthouse
- Monuments of Misora Hibari

Setogarō, a scenic ravine, named by Kusano Shimpei
Iwaki Yumoto Onsen, one of the three old hot springs in Japan
Spa Resort Hawaiians
Spa Resort Hawaiians
, located in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, is a resort and theme park in Japan. It opened on January 15, 1966 as the Joban Hawaiian Center, becoming the first in the country....

, hot spring and leisure park.
Iwaki Coal and Fossils Museum
Nakoso Barrier, was built against Emishi
Emishi
The constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region. They are referred to as in contemporary sources. Some Emishi tribes resisted the rule of the Japanese Emperors during the late Nara and early Heian periods...

in Yamato period
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 , the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed...

. "Nakoso" means "Don't come over here".
Iwaki Ammonites Center
Shiramizu Amidadō
Shiramizu Amidadō
, or , is a temple in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The Amidadō is a National Treasure and the temple, with its paradise garden, has been designated an Historic Site.-Buildings:...

, Temple. National Treasures of Japan
National treasures of Japan
National Treasures are the most precious of Japan's Tangible Cultural Properties, as determined and designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs...

.
Kurashi no Denshōgō, historical facility
Iwaki Taira Keirin, cycle racetrack
Kusano Simpei Memorial Hall

Television (analogue)

NHK Fukushima and NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....

series
Fukushima Central Television
Fukushima Central Television
, also known as FCT, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the NNN. Their headquarters are located in Fukushima Prefecture.- The Headquarters :*13-23 Ikenodai Koriyama-city, FUKUSHIMA 963-8533 JAPAN*Telephone Number:+81-24-923-3300- History :...

(by Nittele
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...

)
Fukushima Broadcasting
Fukushima Broadcasting
, also known as KFB, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the ANN. Their headquarters are located in Kōriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture.-History:*1981 October 1 It was set up third broadcasting station of Fukushima Prefecture....

(by TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....

)
Fukushima Television Broadcasting (by Fuji
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....

)
TV-U Fukushima ([by TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....

)

Newspapers

Fukushima Mimpō (Fukushima, Mainichi
Mainichi Shimbun
The is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...

)
- Iwaki Mimpō
Fukushima Min-Yū (Fukushima, Yomiuri
Yomiuri Shimbun
The is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...

)

Universities and Colleges

Fukushima National College of Technology
Iwaki Meisei University
Higashi Nihon International University / Iwaki Junior College

Public (prefectural)

Iwaki High School (磐城高等学校)
Iwaki Sakuragaoka High School (磐城桜が丘高等学校)
Iwaki Kōyō High School (いわき光洋高等学校)
Iwaki Nōgyō High School (磐城農業高等学校)
Iwaki Sōgō High School (いわき総合高等学校)
Iwaki Kaisei High School (いわき海星高等学校)
Yumoto High School(湯本高等学校)
Taira Kōgyō High School (平工業高等学校)

Taira Shōgyō High School (平商業高等学校)

Nakoso High School (勿来高等学校)

Nakoso Kōgyō High School (勿来工業高等学校)

Onahama High School (小名浜高等学校)

Tōno High School (遠野高等学校)

Yoshima High School (好間高等学校)

Yotsukura High School (四倉高等学校)

Private

Iwaki Shūei High School (いわき秀英高等学校)
Shōhei High School (東日本国際大学附属昌平高等学校)
Iwaki First High School (磐城第一高等学校)
Iwaki Second High School (磐城第二高等学校)

Public (municipal)

Taira First Junior High School (平第一中学校)
Taira Second Junior High School (平第二中学校)
Taira Third Junior High School (平第三中学校)
Fujima Junior High School (藤間中学校)
Toyoma Junior High School (豊間中学校)
Kusano Junior High School (草野中学校)
Akai Junior High School (赤井中学校)
Yumoto First Junior High School (湯本第一中学校)
Yumoto Second Junior High School (湯本第二中学校)
Yumoto Third Junior High School (湯本第三中学校)
Iwasaki Junior High School (磐崎中学校)
Onahama First Junior High School (小名浜第一中学校)
Onahama Second Junior High School (小名浜第二中学校)
Izumi Junior High School (泉中学校)
Ena Junior High School (江名中学校)

Uchigō First Junior High School (内郷第一中学校)

Uchigō Second Junior High School (内郷第二中学校)

Uchigō Third Junior High School (内郷第三中学校)

Ueda Junior High School (植田中学校)

Ueda Higashi Junior High School (植田東中学校)

Nishiki Junior High School (錦中学校)

Nakoso First Junior High School (勿来第一中学校)

Nakoso Second Junior High School (勿来第二中学校)

Kawabe Junior High School (川部中学校)

Katōno Junior High School (上遠野中学校)

Iritōno Junior High School (入遠野中学校)

Yotsukura Junior High School (四倉中学校)

Ōno Junior High School (大野中学校)

Ogawa Junior High School (小川中学校)

Tabito Junior High School (田人中学校)

Ishizumi Junior High School (石住中学校)

Kaidomari Junior High School (貝泊中学校)

Yoshima Junior High School (好間中学校)

Nagai Junior High School (永井中学校)

Miwa Junior High School (三和中学校)

Misaka Junior High School (三阪中学校)

Saiso Junior High School (差塩中学校)

Kawamae Junior High School (川前中学校)

Okeuri Junior High School (桶売中学校)

Kojirai Junior High School (小白井中学校)

Hisanohama Junior High School (久之浜中学校)

Tamagawa Junior High School (玉川中学校)

Chūōdai Kita Junior High School (中央台北中学校)

Chūōdai Minami Junior High School (中央台南中学校)

Mayors

1st Shōbē Akazu (赤津庄兵衛) 1966-
2nd Yaichi Ōwada (大和田弥一) 1966-
3rd Kanemitsu Tabata (田畑金光) 1974-
4th Takeo Nakata (中田武雄) 1986-
5th Mitsuhide Iwaki (岩城光英) 1990-
6th Keisuke Shike (四家啓助) 1997
7th Kazuo Kushida (櫛田一男) 2005-

Notable people

Kusano Shimpei, poet; famous as "poet of frogs"
Denmei Suzuki
Denmei Suzuki
was a Japanese film actor most famous for starring roles in gendaigeki of the silent era.- Career :Suzuki was born in Tokyo and was a championship swimmer at Meiji University when he first appeared in Souls on the Road in 1921 under the name Zeya Tōgō . After graduating in 1924, he joined the...

, actor
Misaki Ito
Misaki Ito
is a Japanese actress and model. Her real name is .-Career:In 1999, Ito became the Asahi Beer "image girl" and a model under an exclusive contract to CanCam magazine...

, actress
Tadashi Suzuki
Tadashi Suzuki
Tadashi Suzuki is a theatre director, writer and philosopher working out of Toga, Toyama, Japan. Suzuki is the founder and director of the Suzuki Company of Toga , organizer of Japan’s first international theatre festival , co-founder of the Saratoga International Theatre Institute in Saratoga...

, discovered Futabasaurus suzukii
Noboru Kirishima, singer
Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi
Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi
is a Japanese conductor and composer.Born in Iwaki, Fukushima, Kobayashi's father was a high school teacher, mother was a primary school teacher. Kobayashi started composing music at the age of 11...

, a conductor
Takeo Takagi
Takeo Takagi
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.-Biography:Takagi was a native of Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture. He was a graduate of the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, ranking 17th of 148 cadets in 1911...

, Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...

Admiral
Aya Okamoto
Aya Okamoto
is an actress and seiyū born on December 9, 1982 in Tokyo.-Filmography:* Metro ni notte Karube Michiko* Metasequoia no ki no shita de Okamoto Sachiko* Munraito jierifisshu Minamida Keiko* Azumi Yae* Ogyā Hana-TV Drama:...

, actress
Noboru Kousaka
Noboru Kousaka
Noboru Kousaka is a Japanese former politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives of Japan for the Japan Socialist Party from 1973 until his retirement in 1991.- References :...

, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...

for the Japan Socialist Party
Kouichirou Wakamatu, painter

Japanese sister cities

Nobeoka, Miyazaki
Nobeoka, Miyazaki
is the northernmost city located in Miyazaki, Japan.-Population:As of the January 1, 2008 merger, the city has an estimated population of 130,435 and a population density of 150 persons per km². The total area is 867.97 km².-History:...

(since May 30, 1997); a sister city
Yurihonjo, Akita
Yurihonjo, Akita
is a city located in Akita, Japan.The city was founded on March 22, 2005 from the merger of the former city of Honjō and the former towns of Chōkai, Higashiyuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Ōuchi, Yashima and Yuri...

(since August 10, 1986); a sister city. Yurihonjo City includes old Iwaki town
Iwaki, Akita
Iwaki was a town located in Yuri District, Akita, Japan.On March 22, 2005 the city of Honjō and the towns of Chōkai, Higashiyuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Ōuchi, Yashima and Yuri, all from Yuri District, merged to form the new city of Yurihonjō....

(岩城町), who has the same name "Iwaki".

International friendship and sister cities

Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...

, Australia (since August 21, 1991); a friendship city Fushun
Fushun
Fushun is a city in Liaoning, China, about 45 km east from Shenyang, with a population about 2,138 090 inhabitants at the 2010 census and an area of 11,271 km2, including 713 km2 of the city proper. Fushun is situated on the Hun He . It was formerly called Fouchouen in French...

, Liaoning Province
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...

, China (since April 15, 1982); a sister city

Neighboring municipalities

North: Kawauchi
Kawauchi, Fukushima
is a village located in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 3,203 and a density of 16.23 persons per km²...

, Naraha
Naraha, Fukushima
is a town located in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 8,230 and a density of 79.56 persons per km². The total area is 103.45 km²....

, Hirono
Hirono, Fukushima
is a town located in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,653 and a density of 96.81 persons per km². The total area is 58.39 km².-External links:*...
West: Tamura
Tamura, Fukushima
is a city located in Fukushima, Japan. The city was founded on March 1, 2005 from the merger of the former towns of Funehiki, Ōgoe, Takine, and Tokiwa and the former village of Miyakoji, all from Tamura District....

, Ono
Ono, Fukushima
is a town located in Tamura District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 12,190 and a density of 97.43 persons per km². The total area is 125.11 km²....

, Hirata
Hirata, Fukushima
is a village located in Ishikawa District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 7,781 and a density of 83.19 persons per km². The total area is 93.53 km².-External links:*...

, Furudono
Furudono, Fukushima
is a town located in Ishikawa District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 6,563 and a density of . The total area is .It is a sister town of Warkworth in New Zealand.The town is surrounded by forests and mountains...
South: Kitaibaraki
Kitaibaraki, Ibaraki
is a city located on the Pacific Ocean in Ibaraki, Japan, between the cities of Hitachi and Iwaki.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 46,465, with a household number of 17,438 and the density of 249.08 persons per km²...

(Ibaraki
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...

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External links

Official Iwaki municipal website (in Japanese with some English pages)
The Iwaki Minpo (evening newspaper)

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