Shimada, Shizuoka
Encyclopedia
is a city
in Shizuoka Prefecture
, Japan. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population
of 100,846 and a population density
of 319 persons per km². The total area is 315.88 km².
. The area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
erected by Yamauchi Kazutoyo
in the Sengoku period
to control the crossing of the Ōi River. In the Edo period
, Kanaya-juku
and Shimada-juku
developed as post town
s on the Tōkaidō
highway connecting Edo
with Kyoto
. The area was mostly tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate
with a daikansho
based at a Jinya located within Shimada-juku. As the Tokugawa shogunate forbade the construction of any bridge or establishment of a ferry service on the Ōi River for defensive purposes, travellers were often detained at either Shimada or Kanaya for days, sometimes weeks, waiting for the river levels to fall to fordable levels. The first bridge (the Hōrai Bridge
) across the river connected these two towns in 1879, after the Meiji Restoration
.
During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
in 1889, Kanaya Town was created within Haibara District
, and Shimada Town within Shida District
. On April 16, 1889, the two towns were connected by rail, with the opening of Shimada Station
on the Tōkaidō Main Line
.
Shimada was elevated to city status on January 1, 1948. On January 1, 1955, it annexed neighboring Rokugo Village, Otsu Village, Daichō Village and a portion of Ikumi Village. On June 1, 1961 it further expanded through annexation of Hatsukura Village. In May 2005, Shimada and the town of Kanaya
finally merged
. On April 1, 2008 the new Shimada City further expanded with another merger to absorb the neighboring town of Kawane
.
as the main crop. By extension, Kenrico
is a pharmaceutical company based in Shimada that largely focuses on natural remedies. Light industries include factories for the production of automobile components.
}
, Japan, from April 15, 1987 Huzhou
, Zhejiang
, China, from May 1987 Brienz
, Switzerland, from August 10, 1986 Richmond, California
, USA, from December 1961. There is currently a student exchange program between Shimada and Richmond.
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...
in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, Japan. As of February 2010, the city has 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 100,846 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 319 persons per km². The total area is 315.88 km².
Geography
Shimada is located in the Shida Plains of west-central Shizuoka Prefecture. It is located on both banks of the Ōi RiverOi River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Geography:The Ōi River flows from the Akaishi Mountains, the branch of the Japanese Southern Alps which form the border between Shizuoka, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. These mountains, with peaks ranging from 2000–3000 meters, are characterized by...
. The area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
Surrounding municipalities
- Aoi-ku, ShizuokaAoi-ku, Shizuokais one of three wards of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan, located in the northern part of the city. Aoi-ku borders Suruga-ku in the south and Shimizu-ku to the southeast; the west faces Shimada, Fujieda and Kawanehon and its northern tip extends into the border between Nagano Prefecture and Yamanashi...
- Tenryū-ku, HamamatsuTenryū-ku, Hamamatsuis one of the seven wards of the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is bordered by Kita-ku and Hamakita-ku in Hamamatsu, the cities of Shimada and Iwata and towns of Mori and Kawanehon in Shizuoka, Shishiro, Tōei and Toyone in Aichi Prefecture and Iida and Tenryū in Nagano...
- FujiedaFujieda, Shizuokais a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The modern city was founded on March 31, 1954. As of February 2009, the town has an estimated population of 142,023 and a density of 732 persons per km². The total area is 194.03 km².-Geography:...
- KakegawaKakegawa, Shizuokais a city in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 117,858 and a population density of 444 persons per km². The total area was 265.63 km².-Geography:...
- KikugawaKikugawa, Shizuokais a city located in the western portion of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is known for production of green tea. The city's slogan is "Green for the Next Generation". As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 47,196 and a density of 501 persons per km². The total area was 94.24...
- MakinoharaMakinohara, Shizuokais a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 48,745 and a density of 436 persons per km². The total area was 111.68 km².-Geography:...
- YaizuYaizu, Shizuokais a city located in central Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of March in 2011, the city has an estimated population of 146,717 and a population density of 2,080 persons per km². The total area is 70.55 km²...
- YoshidaYoshida, Shizuokais a town located in Haibara District, southern Shizuoka, Japan. As of February 2010, the town has an estimated population of 29,872 and a density of 1430 persons per km². The total area was 20.84 km².-Geography:...
, Haibara DistrictHaibara District, ShizuokaHaibara is a district located in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 95,091 and a density of 126.88 persons per km²... - KawanehonKawanehon, Shizuokais a town located in Haibara District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of February 2010, the town has an estimated population of 8,253 and a density of 16.8persons per km². The total area was 496.72 km².-Geography:...
, Haibara District - MoriMori, Shizuokais a town located in Shūchi District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of February 2010, the town had an estimated population of 19,650 and a density of 147 persons per km². The total area was 133.84 km².-Geography:...
, Shuchi DistrictShuchi District, ShizuokaShūchi is a district located in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 26,651 and a density of 69.04 persons per km². The total area is 386.01 km².-Merger:...
History
Shimada (Kanaya) began as an outlying fortification to Kakegawa CastleKakegawa Castle
is a hirayama-style Japanese castle. It was the seat of various fudai daimyō who ruled over Kakegawa Domain, Tōtōmi Province, in what is now central Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
erected by Yamauchi Kazutoyo
Yamauchi Kazutoyo
' also spelled Yamanouchi , was born the son of Yamanouchi Moritoyo in Owari Province at the end of the Sengoku period of Japan. Kazutoyo held the title of Tosa no kami....
in the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
to control the crossing of the Ōi River. In 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....
, Kanaya-juku
Kanaya-juku
was the twenty-fourth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in what is now part of Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, it was the easternmost post station of Tōtōmi Province.-History:...
and Shimada-juku
Shimada-juku
was the twenty-third of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in what is now part of Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
developed as post town
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
s on the Tōkaidō
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....
highway connecting Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
with Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. The area was mostly tenryō territory under direct control of 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...
with a daikansho
Daikansho
A was the office of a magistrate during the Edo period of Japanese history.-External links:* *...
based at a Jinya located within Shimada-juku. As the Tokugawa shogunate forbade the construction of any bridge or establishment of a ferry service on the Ōi River for defensive purposes, travellers were often detained at either Shimada or Kanaya for days, sometimes weeks, waiting for the river levels to fall to fordable levels. The first bridge (the Hōrai Bridge
Horai Bridge
The constructed in 1879 is a wooden walking bridge in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan over the Ōi River. The bridge was registered in The Guinness Book of Records as the longest wooden walking bridge in 1997.-External links:*...
) across the river connected these two towns in 1879, 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...
.
During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
in 1889, Kanaya Town was created within Haibara District
Haibara District, Shizuoka
Haibara is a district located in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 95,091 and a density of 126.88 persons per km²...
, and Shimada Town within Shida District
Shida District, Shizuoka
was a rural district located in central Shizuoka, Japan.As of the end of 2008 , the district had an estimated population of 12,110 and a population density of 227.25 persons per km². Its total area was 53.29 km².-HIstory:Shida District was created in the early Meiji cadastral reforms of 1879...
. On April 16, 1889, the two towns were connected by rail, with the opening of Shimada Station
Shimada Station
is a railway station in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on the Tōkaidō Main Line. It is located 207.8 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station, and is operated by Central Japan Railway Company .- Station history:...
on the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
.
Shimada was elevated to city status on January 1, 1948. On January 1, 1955, it annexed neighboring Rokugo Village, Otsu Village, Daichō Village and a portion of Ikumi Village. On June 1, 1961 it further expanded through annexation of Hatsukura Village. In May 2005, Shimada and the town of Kanaya
Kanaya, Shizuoka
was a town located in Haibara District, Shizuoka, Japan. It developed from the Edo period as Kanaya-juku, a post town on the Tōkaidō. Located on the west bank of the Ōi River, Kanaya prospered from the Tokugawa Shogunate's policy of not allowing any bridge or ferry to be established on the Ōi River...
finally merged
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
. On April 1, 2008 the new Shimada City further expanded with another merger to absorb the neighboring town of Kawane
Kawane, Shizuoka
was a town located in Haibara District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is notable for its production of Shizuoka green tea-Geography:There are a number of surrounding municipalities, including:*Aoi-ku, Shizuoka city*Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu*Shimada*Fujieda...
.
Economy
The economy of Shimada is primarily agricultural, with green teaGreen tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
as the main crop. By extension, Kenrico
Kenrico
Kenrico is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan. Established in 1985, the company focuses on pharmaceuticals related to nutrition, alternative medicine, toxin extraction, and organic green teas...
is a pharmaceutical company based in Shimada that largely focuses on natural remedies. Light industries include factories for the production of automobile components.
Rail
- JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe 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...
- Tōkaidō Main LineTokaido Main LineThe is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
- - -
- Ōigawa Railway Ōigawa Main LineOigawa Railway Oigawa Main LineThe is a Japanese railway line which connects Kanaya Station in Shimada, Shizuoka Prefecture with Senzu Station in Kawanehon, Haibara District, Shizuoka Prefecture...
}
International relations
Shimada is twinned with the following cities. Himi, ToyamaHimi, Toyama
is a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 52,721, with 17,331 households and the population density of 228.80 persons per km². The total area is 230.47 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1952....
, Japan, from April 15, 1987 Huzhou
Huzhou
Huzhou is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying south of the Lake Tai, it borders Jiaxing to the east, Hangzhou to the south, and the provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu to the west and north respectively.-Administration:...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, China, from May 1987 Brienz
Brienz
Brienz is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.The village lies on the north bank of Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn mountain.-History:...
, Switzerland, from August 10, 1986 Richmond, California
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
, USA, from December 1961. There is currently a student exchange program between Shimada and Richmond.
Notable people from Shimada
- Tarzan GotoTarzan Goto, better known by his ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler who has wrestled on the independent circuit most of his career. He is best known for his exploding steel cage matches againest Atsushi Onita and Pat Tanaka in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ....
- professional wrestler - Yukihiro IkedaYukihiro Ikedais a Japanese tubist.- Biography :After graduating from Kunitachi College of Music, he joined Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band in 1998. Five years later, he had an audition for NHK Symphony Orchestra that was seeking a new tubist to replace the retiring tubist, Ikuzo Tado, who had played for 38 years...
- musician - Takahiro Kawamura - professional soccer player
- Kayoko KishimotoKayoko Kishimotois an actress.She has appeared in several of Takeshi Kitano's films, such as Hana-bi, Kikujiro and Dolls. She won the award for best supporting actress at the 23rd Japan Academy Prize for Kikujiro.-Biography:...
- actress - Sho Naruoka - professional soccer player
- Hirotoki OnozawaHirotoki OnozawaHirotoki Onozawa plays rugby union at wing for Suntory Sungoliath in the Top League...
- professional rugby player - Masaki YamamotoMasaki YamamotoMasaki Yamamoto is a Japanese football player currently playing for J. League Division 1 team Shimizu S-Pulse.- Career :...
- professional soccer player