Kuwana, Mie
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in the northern end of Mie Prefecture
, Japan
. It is known as a major sightseeing city in the prefecture. Located at the mouth of the three rivers
dividing Mie and Aichi prefectures, the city has functioned as a regional center of fishing, industry, business, and culture.
As of 2008, the city had an estimated population
of 140,798 and a density
of 1,030 persons per km². The total area is 136.61 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1937, as a result of a merger between existing towns and villages in the area.
On December 6, 2004 the towns of Nagashima
and Tado
, both from Kuwana District
were merged into Kuwana city.
A large housing estate called Ōyamada (大山田) is located west of Kuwana. Many people living there commute by either bus, train or car.
took place in 1571, 1573 and 1574, finally resulting in the destruction of the Ikkō-ikki
defenders by warlord Oda Nobunaga
.
Kuwana prospered as a major port town since ancient times. Especially during the Edo period
, Kuwana-juku
was the forty-second station
on the Tōkaidō road
and was protected by the Tokugawa Shogunate
. Some travelers along the road would take ships and boats across Ise Bay
from Miya-juku
(located in present-day Nagoya near Atsuta Shrine
) to Kuwana, which reportedly made the journey more enjoyable. Thie trip across the Ise Bay, which took a whole day, made Kuwana a necessary stop for most of the travelers, benefiting the city's numerous inns and restaurants which served fresh sea food. Kuwana was especially known for its clams.
After the Edo government Tokugawa Shogunate
fell in the mid-19th century, Kuwana re-established itself as a regional center of the casting industry, but the city was devastated by air-raids in 1945 at the end of World War II.
Nagashima was heavily damaged in 1959 by the Isewan Typhoon.
A long-standing tradition, the Ishidori Matsuri
(石取祭) is held every August in Kuwana. It is known as the loudest festival in Japan and attracts many visitors. The Tado Festival
is held at Tado Shrine
on May 4th and 5th.
Today, the city functions as a suburb of nearby Nagoya and Yokkaichi cities for many of its residents.
Nagoya (近鉄) and JR
Kansai Main railways lines. Limited Express, Express, Semi-express and local trains stop at Kuwana station. The Yōrō Line and Hokusei Line
terminate in Kuwana.
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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 northern end of Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga 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 known as a major sightseeing city in the prefecture. Located at the mouth of the three rivers
Kiso Three Rivers
The refers to the three major rivers that make up the alluvial plain area of the Nōbi Plain of Japan. The three rivers are the Kiso River, the Ibi River and the Nagara River...
dividing Mie and Aichi prefectures, the city has functioned as a regional center of fishing, industry, business, and culture.
As of 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 140,798 and a 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 1,030 persons per km². The total area is 136.61 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1937, as a result of a merger between existing towns and villages in the area.
On December 6, 2004 the towns of Nagashima
Nagashima, Mie
was a town located in Kuwana District, Mie, Japan.On December 6, 2004 Nagashima, along with the town of Tado, also from Kuwana District, was merged into the expanded city of Kuwana and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and Tado
Tado, Mie
was a town located in Kuwana District, Mie, Japan.On December 6, 2004 Tado, along with the town of Nagashima, also from Kuwana District, was merged into the expanded city of Kuwana and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, both from Kuwana District
Kuwana District, Mie
Kuwana is a district located in Mie, Japan.As of the December, 2004 merger but with 2003 population estimates, the district has an estimated population of 7,091 and a density of 451 persons per km². The total area is 15.72 km².-Mergers:...
were merged into Kuwana city.
A large housing estate called Ōyamada (大山田) is located west of Kuwana. Many people living there commute by either bus, train or car.
History
The Sieges of NagashimaSieges of Nagashima
The , taking place in 1571, 1573 and 1574, were part of Oda Nobunaga's campaigns against the Ikkō-ikki, arguably among his greatest enemies. Nagashima, in Owari Province along Japan's Pacific coast, was the location of a string of river island fortresses and defensive works controlled by the...
took place in 1571, 1573 and 1574, finally resulting in the destruction of the Ikkō-ikki
Ikko-ikki
', literally "Ikkoshū Uprising", were mobs of peasant farmers, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests and local nobles, who rose up against samurai rule in 15th to 16th century Japan. They followed the beliefs of the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Buddhism which taught that all believers are equally saved by Amida...
defenders by warlord Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
.
Kuwana prospered as a major port town since ancient times. Especially 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....
, Kuwana-juku
Kuwana-juku
was the forty-second of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Kuwana, in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It was located on the western shores of the Ibi River and is considered to be the Eastern most point of the Kansai dialect...
was the forty-second station
53 Stations of the Tokaido
The are the rest areas along the Tōkaidō, which was a coastal route that ran from Nihonbashi in Edo to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto.-Stations of the Tōkaidō:...
on the Tōkaidō road
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
and was protected 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...
. Some travelers along the road would take ships and boats across Ise Bay
Ise Bay
Ise Bay is a bay located at the mouth of the Kiso River between Mie and Aichi Prefectures in Japan. Ise Bay has an average depth of 19.5 metres and a maximum depth of 30 metres toward the centre. The mouth of the bay is 9 kilometres wide and is connected to the smaller Mikawa Bay by two channels:...
from Miya-juku
Miya-juku
was the forty-first of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the Atsuta-ku section of the city of Nagoya, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was six km from Narumi-juku, the preceding post station.-History:...
(located in present-day Nagoya near Atsuta Shrine
Atsuta Shrine
is a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō located in Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. The shrine is familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama or simply as Miya...
) to Kuwana, which reportedly made the journey more enjoyable. Thie trip across the Ise Bay, which took a whole day, made Kuwana a necessary stop for most of the travelers, benefiting the city's numerous inns and restaurants which served fresh sea food. Kuwana was especially known for its clams.
After the Edo government 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...
fell in the mid-19th century, Kuwana re-established itself as a regional center of the casting industry, but the city was devastated by air-raids in 1945 at the end of World War II.
Nagashima was heavily damaged in 1959 by the Isewan Typhoon.
A long-standing tradition, the Ishidori Matsuri
Ishidori Matsuri
Ishidori Matsuri can be literally translated from Japanese as "stone bringing festival." It is a festival in Kuwana, located in Mie Prefecture. The festival starts on the first Saturday of August, at midnight, and runs throughout the weekend. Every town within the central part of the city has its...
(石取祭) is held every August in Kuwana. It is known as the loudest festival in Japan and attracts many visitors. The Tado Festival
Tado Festival
The is a Japanese festival that takes place every year during Japan's Golden Week on May 4 and 5 at Tado Shrine in the city of Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.-Event description:...
is held at Tado Shrine
Tado Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in the Tado-chō area of the city of Kuwana in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is well known for its Tado Festival, which takes place on May 4 and 5 every year...
on May 4th and 5th.
Today, the city functions as a suburb of nearby Nagoya and Yokkaichi cities for many of its residents.
Rail connections
Kuwana is a stop on the KintetsuKintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
Nagoya (近鉄) and JR
Central Japan Railway Company
The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
Kansai Main railways lines. Limited Express, Express, Semi-express and local trains stop at Kuwana station. The Yōrō Line and Hokusei Line
Sangi Railway Hokusei Line
The , commonly known as the Sangi Hokusei Line, is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Sangi Railway, connecting Nishi-Kuwana Station and Ageki Station in Japan...
terminate in Kuwana.
Sister cities
Tomamae, HokkaidōTomamae, Hokkaido
is a town located in Tomamae District, Rumoi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is typical of the small coastal towns that line the western coast of Hokkaidō.-Demographics:...
(Japan)- September, 1981 Gyōda, Saitama
Gyoda, Saitama
is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 87,089, with 33,570 households and a population density of 1,292.70 persons per km²...
(Japan)- November 9, 1998 Shirakawa, Fukushima
Shirakawa, Fukushima
is a city in Fukushima, Japan. It is located in the southern portion of the prefecture.The 2003 estimated population was 48,297 and the density in that year was 410.44 persons per km². The total area was 117.67 km²...
(Japan)- November 9, 1998
Places of interest
- Nagashima Spa LandNagashima Spa Landis a major amusement park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It features several roller coasters, a giant Ferris wheel, and a water park.-Roller coasters:*Children Coaster*Corkscrew*Jet Coaster*Looping Star*Shuttle Loop*Steel Dragon 2000*Ultra Twister...
- Tado ShrineTado Shrineis a Shinto shrine located in the Tado-chō area of the city of Kuwana in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is well known for its Tado Festival, which takes place on May 4 and 5 every year...
- Kiso SansenKiso Three RiversThe refers to the three major rivers that make up the alluvial plain area of the Nōbi Plain of Japan. The three rivers are the Kiso River, the Ibi River and the Nagara River...
National Government ParkNational Government ParksJapanese are parks or open spaces established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport under Japan has 16 national government parks.These parks are different from national parks, which represent areas of outstanding natural landscape and are declared by the Minister of the... - Mount TadoYoro MountainsThe are a mountain range straddling the border between Gifu and Mie prefectures in Japan. They form part of the western border of the Nōbi Plain.-Geography:...
- Nabana no Sato, one of beautiful illumination sites in Japan.
Famous people from Kuwana
- Naofumi TatsumiTatsumi Naofumiwas a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji period.-Early life:Also known as ' in his youth, Tatsumi was born in the Kuwana domain's Edo residence, to Kuwana retainer Machida Dendayu, and was later adopted by his uncle, Tatsumi Johei...
- samuraiSamuraiis the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
, generalGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of the Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial 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... - Toshihiko SekoToshihiko SekoToshihiko Seko is a Japanese long-distance runner, a world-class marathon competitor in the 1980s...
- long-distance runner - Tsugio MatsudaTsugio Matsudais a Japanese racing driver. He has won the Formula Nippon series twice, in 2007 and 2008. He has also competed in the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. Matsuda has also become a regular participant in the Super GT series.-External links:* *...
- racing driver - Katsuyori ShibataKatsuyori Shibatais a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense and his realistic bouts.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
- professional wrestler - Hirooki GotoHirooki Gotois a Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his debut.-Career:Goto attended Kokushikan University, where he took part in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Upon graduating, Goto qualified to join New Japan Pro Wrestling, but left the...
- professional wrestler
Famous people related to Kuwana
- Empress JitōEmpress Jitowas the 41st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei...
- MuramasaMuramasaMuramasa Sengo was a famous swordsmith who founded the Muramasa school and lived during the Muromachi period in Japan...
- swordsmith - Tadakatsu Honda - daimyoDaimyois a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...