Kamagaya, Chiba
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in northern Chiba Prefecture
, Japan
. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population
of 108,142 and a population density
of 5120 persons per km². The total area was 21.11 km².
shell middens in the area. During the Kamakura period
, the area was controlled by the Soma clan
. During the Edo period
, the area was largely tenryō territory within Shimosa Province controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate
, and was divided into several horse ranches, which supplied horses for the Shogun’s armies. After the Meiji Restoration
, it became part of Chiba Prefecture. Kamagaya Village was one of several villages created on April 1, 1889 under Inba District
. In 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army
appropriated the former Musashino Country Club, turning the golf course
into an air field. The base was turned over to the United States Air Force
after World War II, becoming Shiroi Air Base, and was transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
in 1959, becoming JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base
. Kamagaya became a town on August 1, 1968, and achieved city status on September 1, 1971.
, and there are many pear orchards dotted about the city, whose white blossoms open toward the end of the cherry blossom season.
.
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 Prefecture
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 108,142 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 5120 persons per km². The total area was 21.11 km².
Neighboring municipalities
- Kashiwa, ChibaKashiwa, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 404,820 and a population density of 3520 persons per km²...
- Shiroi, ChibaShiroi, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of late March 2011, the city has an estimated population of 61,073 and a population density of 1725 persons per km²...
- Matsudo, ChibaMatsudo, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 484,578 and a population density of 7900 persons per km²...
- Ichikawa, ChibaIchikawa, Chibais a city located in northwest Chiba, Japan, approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. The city was founded on November 3, 1934. As of January 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 474,586 and a density of 8,259.42 persons per km². The total area is 57.46 km²...
- Funabashi, ChibaFunabashi, Chibais a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
History
The area around Kamagaya has been inhabited since prehistory, and archaeologists have found Jomon periodJomon period
The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
shell middens in the area. During 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....
, the area was controlled by the Soma clan
Soma clan
The was a Japanese clan of Mutsu Province which was famous for its actions during the 16th century Sengoku Period. Claiming descent from Taira Masakado, the family was politically important from the early Nanbokucho Period on, especially as supporters of Ashikaga Takauji...
. 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 area was largely tenryō territory within Shimosa Province controlled directly by the 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...
, and was divided into several horse ranches, which supplied horses for the Shogun’s armies. After 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...
, it became part of Chiba Prefecture. Kamagaya Village was one of several villages created on April 1, 1889 under Inba District
Inba District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.As of 2011, the district has an estimated population of 43,480 and a density of 845 persons per km². The total area is 51.48 km².There are two towns within the district.*Sakae*Shisui-District timeline:...
. In 1945, 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...
appropriated the former Musashino Country Club, turning the golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
into an air field. The base was turned over to the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
after World War II, becoming Shiroi Air Base, and was transferred to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
in 1959, becoming JMSDF Shimofusa Air Base
Shimofusa Air Base
is a military aerodrome of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. It is located east of Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The base straddles the border between Kashiwa and Kamegaya cities.-Operations:...
. Kamagaya became a town on August 1, 1968, and achieved city status on September 1, 1971.
Economy
Kamagaya is a regional commercial center and, due to its numerous train connections, a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo. Kamagaya's trademark produce is the round, Nashi PearPyrus pyrifolia
Pyrus pyrifolia is a pear tree species native to China, Japan, and Korea. The tree's edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear, Chinese pear, Korean pear, Japanese pear, Taiwan pear, and sand pear.....
, and there are many pear orchards dotted about the city, whose white blossoms open toward the end of the cherry blossom season.
Education
The city operates five junior high schools and nine elementary schools. English lessons at elementary school begin in either the fifth, fourth, or first grade, varying from school to school, and some elementary schools also offer an English Club. Kamagaya City is one of the closest locations to Tokyo to employ JET Scheme ALTsAssistant Language Teacher
Assistant Language Teacher is a term that was created by the Japanese Ministry of Education at the time of the creation of the JET Programme as a translation of the term 外国語指導助手 or literally "foreign language instruction assistant." The terms AET , ELT and NESA Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)...
.
Railway
- Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Noda Line
- -
- Shin-Keisei Electric RailwayShin-Keisei Electric RailwayThe is a private railway in Chiba, Japan. It connects Narashino and Matsudo.It has subsidiaries of bus company .It is a subsidiary of Keisei Electric Railway.-History:...
- Shin-Keisei LineShin-Keisei LineThe is a railway line owned by a Japanese private railway company Shin-Keisei Electric Railway, a subsidiary of Keisei Electric Railway. The line runs between Matsudo Station in Matsudo, Chiba, Keisei-Tsudanuma Station in Narashino, Chiba....
- - Kita-HatsutomiKita-Hatsutomi Stationis a railway station operated by Shin-Keisei Electric Railway's Shin-Keisei Line located in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture Japan. It is 11.3 kilometers from the terminus of the Shin-Keisei Line at Matsudo Station.-History:...
- Shin-KamagyaShin-Kamagaya Stationis a train station in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.- Lines :*Hokusō Railway**Hokusō Line*Keisei Electric Railway**Narita Sky Access*Shin-Keisei Electric Railway**Shin-Keisei Line*Tōbu Railway**Tōbu Noda Line- Adjacent stations :...
- HatsutomiHatsutomi Stationis a railway station operated by Shin-Keisei Electric Railway's Shin-Keisei Line located in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture Japan. It is 13.3 kilometers from the terminus of the Shin-Keisei Line at Matsudo Station.-History:...
- Kamagaya-DaibutsuKamagaya-Daibutsu Stationis a railway station operated by Shin-Keisei Electric Railway's Shin-Keisei Line located in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture Japan. It is 15.4 kilometers from the terminus of the Shin-Keisei Line at Matsudo Station...
- - Kita-Hatsutomi
- Hokusō Railway - Hokusō LineHokuso LineThe is a commuter rail line operated by the Hokusō Railway in Japan. It runs between Keisei-Takasago Station in Katsushika, Tokyo and Inba-Nihon-Idai Station in Inzai, Chiba....
- Keisei Electric RailwayKeisei Electric RailwayThe is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and...
- Narita Sky Access
See also
- Kamagaya International Friendship Association, or KIFA, organises inexpensive language lessons (in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean), and cultural events. KIFA has an office in Kamagaya City Hall.
External links
- Kamagaya official website in Japanese
- Kamagaya International Friendship Association (KIFA) in Japanese