Kushiro, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Kushiro Subprefecture
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
. It is the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō.
Historically Kushiro has been an important port
because it is more reliably ice-free during winter than alternative Russian Far East
warm-water ports such as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
or other ports in Hokkaidō such as Hakodate
, which occasionally do freeze for short periods due to the lower salinity
of the Sea of Japan. For this reason, Kushiro was considered a valuable target for the Tsar
s during the Russo-Japanese War
s, but it only became a really important port during the 1920s with the growth of commercial fishing, for which its reliable freedom from ice reduced costs.
On October 11, 2005 the town of Akan
, from Akan District
, and the town of Onbetsu
, from Shiranuka District
, was merged into Kushiro.
In 2008 the city had an estimated population
of 189,539 and a total area of 1,362.75 km², giving a population density
of 140 persons per km².
In addition to its port, Kushiro is serviced by Kushiro Airport
with flights from Honshū
and by the Super Ōzora
railway which travels seven times per day to the main population centres in the west of Hokkaidō.
Kushiro was accorded city status on 1 August 1922.
It is the sister city of Burnaby, British Columbia
, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
, and Kholmsk
, Russia
.
(Dfb) but its winter temperatures are less severe than those of inland East Asia at the same latitude. Its port is the most reliably ice-free throughout winter in all of Hokkaidō, due to the lack of indentation in the coastline and absence of large inflows of cold fresh water
nearby. It is also markedly sunnier than the extremely gloomy Kuril Islands to its north, being sheltered by Hokkaidō‘s mountains from the heavy snowfalls produced on the Sea of Japan
side by the Aleutian Low
. It receives only a third as much snowfall as Sapporo and almost twice as much sunshine as the Kuril Islands are estimated to.
is one of the most popular winter sports in Kushiro. In addition to several leagues devoted top amateur play of all ages, Kushiro is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey
Nippon Paper Cranes
, three time Asia League Champions.
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 Kushiro Subprefecture
Kushiro Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan.-Towns and villages by district:* Akan District** Tsurui* Akkeshi District** Akkeshi** Hamanaka* Kawakami District** Shibecha** Teshikaga* Kushiro District** Kushiro* Shiranuka District** Shiranuka- History :...
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, 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 the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō.
Historically Kushiro has been an important port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
because it is more reliably ice-free during winter than alternative Russian Far East
Russian Far East
Russian Far East is a term that refers to the Russian part of the Far East, i.e., extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean...
warm-water ports such as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the main city and the administrative, industrial, scientific, and cultural center of Kamchatka Krai, Russia. Population: .-History:It was founded by Danish navigator Vitus Bering, in the service of the Russian Navy...
or other ports in Hokkaidō such as Hakodate
Hakodate, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan...
, which occasionally do freeze for short periods due to the lower salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
of the Sea of Japan. For this reason, Kushiro was considered a valuable target for the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
s during 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...
s, but it only became a really important port during the 1920s with the growth of commercial fishing, for which its reliable freedom from ice reduced costs.
On October 11, 2005 the town of Akan
Akan, Hokkaido
was a town located in Akan District, Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō.As of September 30, 2004 it had an estimated population of 6,518 and an area of 739.25 km²...
, from Akan District
Akan District, Hokkaido
is a district in the subprefecture of Kushiro in the prefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. It includes Akan National Park, which is home to many dormant volcanoes.- Towns and Villages :*Tsurui - Merger :...
, and the town of Onbetsu
Onbetsu, Hokkaido
was a town located in Shiranuka District, Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō. As of September 30, 2004 it had an estimated population of 2,821 and an area of 401.40 km²....
, from Shiranuka District
Shiranuka District, Hokkaido
is a district located in western Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō.- Merger :*On October 11, 2005, the town of Onbetsu merged into the city of Kushiro....
, was merged into Kushiro.
In 2008 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 189,539 and a total area of 1,362.75 km², 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 140 persons per km².
In addition to its port, Kushiro is serviced by Kushiro Airport
Kushiro Airport
is an airport located west northwest of Kushiro, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Airlines and destinations:International charter flights to Kushiro began in 2000 and have operated from South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.- Terminal passenger features :...
with flights from 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 by the Super Ōzora
Super Ozora
The is a limited express train service between and in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company . There are seven trains per day running in both directions, with the fastest journeys taking 3 hours 35 minutes.-History:...
railway which travels seven times per day to the main population centres in the west of Hokkaidō.
Kushiro was accorded city status on 1 August 1922.
It is the sister city of Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and Kholmsk
Kholmsk
Kholmsk is a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, the administrative center of Kholmsky District. Population: 35,141 .-History:The town was founded in 1870 as a military post. After the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05, the town was transferred to Japanese control, along with the rest of southern...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
History
- 1869 Kusuri becomes Kushiro.
- 1900 Kushiro becomes a First Class Municipality as Kushiro Town
- 1920 Kushiro Town becomes Kushiro-ku. KushiroKushiro, Hokkaido (town)is a town located in Kushiro District, Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of March 31, 2008 it has an estimated population of 21,602 and an area of 252.57 km².- History :*1920 Kushiro Village split from old Kushiro Town...
Village (now Town) splits off - 1922 Kushiro-ku becomes Kushiro City
- 2005 Kushiro City, AkanAkan, Hokkaidowas a town located in Akan District, Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō.As of September 30, 2004 it had an estimated population of 6,518 and an area of 739.25 km²...
Town, and OnbetsuOnbetsu, Hokkaidowas a town located in Shiranuka District, Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō. As of September 30, 2004 it had an estimated population of 2,821 and an area of 401.40 km²....
Town merged to form the new city named Kushiro City
Climate
Kushiro has a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
(Dfb) but its winter temperatures are less severe than those of inland East Asia at the same latitude. Its port is the most reliably ice-free throughout winter in all of Hokkaidō, due to the lack of indentation in the coastline and absence of large inflows of cold fresh water
Fresh Water
Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...
nearby. It is also markedly sunnier than the extremely gloomy Kuril Islands to its north, being sheltered by Hokkaidō‘s mountains from the heavy snowfalls produced on the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
side by the Aleutian Low
Aleutian low
The Aleutian Low is a semi-permanent low pressure center located near the Aleutian Islands during the winter. It is one of the main centers of action in the atmospheric circulation of the Northern Hemisphere...
. It receives only a third as much snowfall as Sapporo and almost twice as much sunshine as the Kuril Islands are estimated to.
Sports
Ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
is one of the most popular winter sports in Kushiro. In addition to several leagues devoted top amateur play of all ages, Kushiro is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
Nippon Paper Cranes
Nippon Paper Cranes
The are an Asia League Ice Hockey team based in Kushiro City in Hokkaidō, Japan.The club were founded as Jūjō Paper Kushiro Ice Hockey Club in 1949. They adopted the new name Nippon Paper Cranes in 1994 when Jūjō Paper and Sanyō Kokusaku Pulp merged to form Nippon Paper.They won the inaugural...
, three time Asia League Champions.
Famous people from Kushiro
- Akira IfukubeAkira Ifukubewas a Japanese composer of classical music and film scores, perhaps best known for his work on the soundtracks of the Godzilla movies by Toho.-Biography:...
, composer - Hiromi NagakuraHiromi Nagakurais a renowned Japanese photographer.In 2005 Nagakura's book Zabitto ikka, ie o tateru won the Kodansha Publishing Culture Award for a work of photography.-References:...
, photographer - Kazuhiko Chiba, football player
- Kazuro WatanabeKazuro Watanabeis an amateur Japanese astronomer. He was born in Hokkaidō, Japan and is a member of the Astronomical Society of Japan and Oriental Astronomical Association....
, astronomer - Keisuke ItagakiKeisuke Itagakiis a Japanese manga artist. His most famous works are Grappler Baki. Prior to becoming a manga artist, he served 5 years in the 1st Airborne Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. During his service he practiced amateur boxing, and has competed in the National Sports Festival...
, manga artist - Luna H. MitaniLuna H. MitaniLuna H. Mitani is a Japanese-American artist. He works in the fields of painting and pen & ink drawing.After traveling through more than 33 countries in Europe including England and Ireland, Mitani began his fine art training in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Afterward, he continued traveling around the...
, artist - Maki NomiyaMaki Nomiyais a Japanese singer and musician. She released her first solo album in 1981, and worked through the 1980s as the lead vocalist of the New Wave band Portable Rock. In 1991 she became the lead singer of the band Pizzicato Five. When the group disbanded in 2001 she embarked on a solo career...
, singer of the Japanese band "Pizzicato Five" - Saori KitakazeSaori Kitakazeis a Japanese track and field sprint athlete who specializes in the 100 metres. She is the joint Japanese record holder in the 4×100 m relay, having run a time of 43.39 seconds alongside Momoko Takahashi, Chisato Fukushima and Kana Ichikawa at the 2011 Seiko Golden Grand Prix.He first...
, sprinter - Satoshi KonSatoshi Konwas a Japanese anime director and manga artist from Kushiro, Hokkaidō and a member of the Japanese Animation Creators Association . He was a graduate of the Graphic Design department of the Musashino Art University. He is sometimes credited as in the credits of Paranoia Agent...
, anime film director - Shinji SomaiShinji Sōmaiwas a Japanese film director. He directed 13 films between 1980 and 2000. His film Ohikkoshi was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.-Filmography:* Tonda kappuru * Sērā-fuku to kikanjū...
(相米慎二), film director - Yukinobu HoshinoYukinobu Hoshinois a Japanese manga artist. He was born in Kushiro, Hokkaidō and dropped out of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music mid-semester from the fine arts department. He made his debut in 1975 with Kotetsu no Queen and with Harukanaru Asa won the Tezuka prize for an outstanding manga. On...
, manga artist - Yutaka FukufujiYutaka Fukufujiis a Japanese ice hockey player currently with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League game. He is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be...
, ice hockey goaltender - Rin Asami, I've SoundI've SoundI've Sound, or simply called , is a Japanese techno/trance music production group based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. Led by Kazuya Takase, it features the talents of seasoned "sound creators" and many different female vocalists, known as to their fans....
vocalist