Suzu, Ishikawa
Encyclopedia
is a city
located at the northeasternmost tip of the Noto Peninsula
in Ishikawa
, Japan
. The city is the proposed site of the Suzu Nuclear Power Plant; however, in 2003 the proposal was "frozen" until further notice.
As of 2011, the city has an estimated population
of 17,327 and the density
of 70.1 persons per km². The total area is 247.20 km².
The city was founded on July 15, 1954.
The production of small charcoal grills called shichirin
has been done in Suzu's area since the Edo period
. More recently, Suzu has become known for its production of specialized charcoal for the Japanese tea ceremony
.
and at the top of the Noto peninsula
, Suzu is surrounded by the ocean in three directions. It shares borders with the City of Wajima, and with the Town of Noto
of the Hosu district to the west. Suzu is surrounded by nature, with thick forestry areas and miles of beautiful coastline. Many local traditions have been preserved over the years, mounting to its rich culture we see all around us. Within the City grounds, diatomaceous soil can be found almost anywhere, and has been used to produce portable clay stoves ever since the Edo period
.
In the second year of the Yourou Era (718), the Province of Noto was segregated and established the 4 districts of Suzu, Fugeshi, Hakui and Noto. For a short period of time, the land was claimed as part of Etchu Province (Toyama Prefecture). During this period the famous Otomo no Yakamochi (Etchu Provincial Governor at the time) recited a poem about the picturesque scenery of Suzu bay upon visiting Suzu, which would later be enlisted in the famous poetry anthology called the Manyoshu.
Later in the Kouji Period (1143), the Noto Provincial Governor Minamoto no Toshikane established “Wakayama Manor” on private land. Before long, Minamoto had developed the “Wakayama Manor” into the biggest Manor in all of Noto, expanding territory to take over the majority of land in Suzu. In similar times, production of “Suzu-Yaki” (Suzu brand Pottery) had begun, with oversea distribution to Hokkaido becoming common. Suzu developed into one of the very few areas in Japan, named famous for producing pottery.
During the Warring States Period (1467–1568), the ongoing violent fighting between the Hatakeyama family, Uesugi family and the Maeda family tore the land part. However, pressure from the Maeda Family Army eventually took told, and the Uuesugi Family Army fell, conceding all of the land to the Maeda Family who were part of the Kaga Clan.
Since ancient times in Noto, salt making using earthenware had been prospering by utilizing the geographical advantage of its long peninsula coastline. However, the method used to make salt changed over the years, and people took to drying salt by the beaches. Before long, the Suzu coastline became filled with salt farms, and this “beach drying” technique became branded as a National cultural importance by Japan.
When the Clan system was abolished in Japan in 1871, administrative districts were split and revised over and over again, until the territorial boarders of Suzu were eventually settled as 1 town and 14 villages in 1889. Years later in 1954, all of the administrative districts were merged to become the City we know today.
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 at the northeasternmost tip of the Noto Peninsula
Noto Peninsula
thumb|right|240px|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle.Noto Peninsula is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan...
in Ishikawa
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
, 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...
. The city is the proposed site of the Suzu Nuclear Power Plant; however, in 2003 the proposal was "frozen" until further notice.
As of 2011, 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 17,327 and the 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 70.1 persons per km². The total area is 247.20 km².
The city was founded on July 15, 1954.
The production of small charcoal grills called shichirin
Shichirin
]The shichirin is a small charcoal grill.-Description:The shichirin is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-move cooking stove. Charcoal is chiefly used for the fuel of shichirin. It has had prototypes since ancient times, and it is said that shichirin roughly the same as today's were made in the...
has been done in Suzu's area since 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....
. More recently, Suzu has become known for its production of specialized charcoal for the Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
.
Location and Geographical Features
Located almost in the middle of JapanJapan
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...
and at the top of the Noto peninsula
Noto Peninsula
thumb|right|240px|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle.Noto Peninsula is a peninsula that projects north into the Sea of Japan from the coast of Ishikawa prefecture in central Honshū, the main island of Japan...
, Suzu is surrounded by the ocean in three directions. It shares borders with the City of Wajima, and with the Town of Noto
Noto
Noto is a city and comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . Its located 32 km southwest of the city of Syracuse at the foot of the Iblean Mountains and gives its name to the surrounding valley, Val di Noto...
of the Hosu district to the west. Suzu is surrounded by nature, with thick forestry areas and miles of beautiful coastline. Many local traditions have been preserved over the years, mounting to its rich culture we see all around us. Within the City grounds, diatomaceous soil can be found almost anywhere, and has been used to produce portable clay stoves ever since 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....
.
Historical overview
In ancient times, Suzu prospered as a gateway for trade by sea, establishing connections with places such as Izumo (Shimane Prefecture), Sado (Sado Island) and Ezo (Hokkaido). In turn, Suzu was introduced to ironware culture from a considerably early period in the Izumo era, and even gained crucial agricultural influence and knowledge for civilians to start farming within Suzu. In fact, it is thought that such ancient Noto culture originated and spread outwards from the tip of the Noto peninsula.In the second year of the Yourou Era (718), the Province of Noto was segregated and established the 4 districts of Suzu, Fugeshi, Hakui and Noto. For a short period of time, the land was claimed as part of Etchu Province (Toyama Prefecture). During this period the famous Otomo no Yakamochi (Etchu Provincial Governor at the time) recited a poem about the picturesque scenery of Suzu bay upon visiting Suzu, which would later be enlisted in the famous poetry anthology called the Manyoshu.
Later in the Kouji Period (1143), the Noto Provincial Governor Minamoto no Toshikane established “Wakayama Manor” on private land. Before long, Minamoto had developed the “Wakayama Manor” into the biggest Manor in all of Noto, expanding territory to take over the majority of land in Suzu. In similar times, production of “Suzu-Yaki” (Suzu brand Pottery) had begun, with oversea distribution to Hokkaido becoming common. Suzu developed into one of the very few areas in Japan, named famous for producing pottery.
During the Warring States Period (1467–1568), the ongoing violent fighting between the Hatakeyama family, Uesugi family and the Maeda family tore the land part. However, pressure from the Maeda Family Army eventually took told, and the Uuesugi Family Army fell, conceding all of the land to the Maeda Family who were part of the Kaga Clan.
Since ancient times in Noto, salt making using earthenware had been prospering by utilizing the geographical advantage of its long peninsula coastline. However, the method used to make salt changed over the years, and people took to drying salt by the beaches. Before long, the Suzu coastline became filled with salt farms, and this “beach drying” technique became branded as a National cultural importance by Japan.
When the Clan system was abolished in Japan in 1871, administrative districts were split and revised over and over again, until the territorial boarders of Suzu were eventually settled as 1 town and 14 villages in 1889. Years later in 1954, all of the administrative districts were merged to become the City we know today.
Etymology of Suzu
The City of Suzu is thought to have been named after Suzu Shinto Shrine, which is located in Awazu. The name Suzu is mentioned in the National Record Book of Japan, though the Kanji for Suzu (珠洲) is not thought to have been identified until the early Wadou era (Year 713).External links
- Official website in Japanese
- Video of charcoal production in Suzu