Atsugi(Hậu mộc thị,Atsugi-shi)is acitylocated inKanagawa Prefecture,Japan.As of 1 June 2021[update],the city had an estimatedpopulationof 223,960 and apopulation densityof 2400 persons per km2.[1]The total area of the city is 93.83 square kilometres (36.23 sq mi). While the name "Atsugi" is often associated with theUnited States Navybase namedNaval Air Facility Atsugi,the base is actually not in Atsugi, but straddles the border between the nearby cities ofAyaseandYamato.
Atsugi
Hậu mộc thị | |
|---|---|
 Atsugi City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture | |
  Atsugi | |
| Coordinates:35°26′00″N139°22′00″E/ 35.43333°N 139.36667°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Kanagawa |
| Town Settled | April 1, 1889 |
| City Settled | February 1, 1955 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takahiro Yamaguchi(from February 2023) |
| Area | |
• Total | 93.83 km2(36.23 sq mi) |
| Population (June 1, 2021) | |
• Total | 223,960 |
| • Density | 2,400/km2(6,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9(Japan Standard Time) |
| – Tree | Maple |
| – Flower | Rhododendron indicum |
| Phone number | 046-223-1511 |
| Address | 3-17-17 Nakacho, Atsugi-shi, Kanagawa-ken 243-8511 |
| Website | Official website |
Geography
editAtsugi is located in the hilly center of Kanagawa Prefecture, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) from centralTokyoor 30 kilometres (19 mi) from centralYokohama.It is located at the northern end of the Sagami Plain created by theSagami River,which originates fromLake Yamanaka,and straddles theTanzawa Mountainsin the west and the plain on the west bank of the Sagami River to the southeast. The Nakatsu River and Koayu River, which originate from the Higashitanzawa Mountains, join the Sagami River, which forms the border with Ebina, Zama, and Sagamihara. Parts of the western portion of the city are within theTanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Parkand includeMount Ōyama.
Surrounding municipalities
editKanagawa Prefecture
Climate
editAtsugi has ahumid subtropical climate(KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Atsugi is 13.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1906 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3]the population of Atsugi grew rapidly during the late 20th century and has plateaued in the 21st.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 28,786 | — |
| 1930 | 30,680 | +6.6% |
| 1940 | 32,981 | +7.5% |
| 1950 | 43,191 | +31.0% |
| 1960 | 46,239 | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 82,894 | +79.3% |
| 1980 | 145,392 | +75.4% |
| 1990 | 197,283 | +35.7% |
| 2000 | 217,369 | +10.2% |
| 2010 | 224,420 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 223,705 | −0.3% |
History
editThe area around present-day Atsugi city has been inhabited for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found ceramic shards from theJōmon periodat numerous locations in the area. By theKamakura period,this area part of the Mōrishōen,part of the holdings ofŌe no Hiromoto.His descendants, theMōri clanlater ruledChōshū domain.During the Kamakura period, the area was also known for itsfoundryindustry for the production ofbells for Buddhist temples.The area came under the control of theAshikaga clanin the earlyMuromachi periodand was later part of the territories of theLater Hōjō clanfromOdawara.With the start of theEdo period,the area wastenryōterritory controlled directly by theTokugawa shogunate,but administered through varioushatamoto,as well as exclaves under the control ofOdawara Domain,Sakura Domain,Mutsuura Domain,Ogino-Yamanaka DomainandKarasuyama Domain.After theMeiji Restoration,the area was consolidated intoAikō DistrictofKanagawa Prefectureby 1876. Atsugi town was created on April 1, 1889, through merger of several small hamlets, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Atsugi was elevated to city status on February 1, 1955, through merger with neighboring Mutsuai Village, Koaiyu Village, Tamagawa Village and Minamimori Village. The city expanded on July 8, 1958, through merger with neighboring Echi Village, and with Aikawa Village fromNaka District.On September 30, 1956, Ogino Village joined with Atsugi. In April 2000, Atsugi exceeded 200,000 in population and was proclaimed aspecial citywith increased autonomy from the central government.
Government
editAtsugi has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 28 members. Atsugi contributes three members to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 16th district of thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.
Economy
editAtsugi is mainly known as abedroom communityfor theTokyo-Yokohamametropolitan area.Nissanhas operated a design center in Atsugi, Japan, since 1982.[4] Sonyoperates the Atsugi Technology Center and the Atsugi Technology Center No. 2 in Atsugi.[5] Anritsuis headquartered in Atsugi, as well as some of theNTTResearch and Development labs.
Education
editAtsugi has 23 public elementary schools and 13 public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has six public high schools operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private elementary school and two private high schools.Shoin Universityand theKanagawa Institute of Technologyare based in Atsugi, and theTokyo Polytechnic Universityand theTokyo University of Agriculturehas campuses in the city
Transportation
editRailroad
edit
Odakyu Electric Railway–Odakyū Odawara Line
Highway
edit
Ken-Ō Expressway
Tōmei Expressway,toTokyoorNagoya
National Route 129,toHiratsukaorSagamihara
National Route 246,to centralTokyoorNumazu
National Route 271,toOdawara(toll)
National Route 412,toSagamiko
Sister cities
edit
Abashiri, Hokkaidō,Japan, since February 5, 2005
Gunpo,Gyeonggi-do,Republic of Korea, since February 5, 2005
New Britain,Connecticut,United States, since May 31, 1983
Yangzhou.Jiangsu,China, since October 23, 1984- Yokote, Akita,Japan, since May 24, 1985
Local attractions
edit- Iiyama Kannon(Chokokuji temple)
- Iiyama Onsen
- Mount Ōyama
- Nanasawa Onsen
- Nanasawa Forest Park
Notable people from Atsugi
edit- Akira Amari,politician
- Ryo Germain,football player[6]
- Tatsunori Hara,former baseball player, manager ofYomiuri Giants
- Takafumi Hori,football player and manager
- Miki Igarashi, guitarist of bandShow-Ya
- Natsumi Kannou, football player
- Kyōko Koizumi,actress, singer
- Yurina Kumai,singer
- Nobuteru Maeda,vocalist
- Teruyuki Moniwa,football player
- Genki Nagasato,football player
- Emi Nakamura,singer, songwriter
- Yuki Nagasato,football player
- Azusa Senou,singer
- Madoka Sugai,ballet dancer
- Hitoshi Tamura,baseball player
- Kiyoe Yoshioka,singer, vocalist ofIkimonogakari
References
edit- ^"Atsugi city official statistics"(in Japanese). Japan. Archived fromthe originalon 2021-06-11.Retrieved2021-06-11.
- ^"Atsugi climate: Temperature Atsugi & Weather By Month".en.climate-data.org.Retrieved2023-10-16.
- ^"Atsugi (Kanagawa, Japan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".www.citypopulation.de.Retrieved2023-10-16.
- ^"Nissan Design CenterArchived2010-01-06 at theWayback Machine."Retrieved on April 17, 2009.
- ^"Access & Map."Sony.Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
- ^"Lưu thông kinh tế đại bách FWジャーメイン lương, U-18 đại biểu chỉ huy quan の tiền で đột phá lực アピール:プレミアリーグEAST".ゲキサカ. 2013-05-01.Retrieved2017-07-19.
External links
edit
- Official Website(in Japanese)