Kure(Ngô thị,Kure-shi)is acityinHiroshima Prefecture,Japan. As of 30 April 2023[update],the city had an estimatedpopulationof 208,024 in 106,616 households and apopulation densityof 590 persons per km2.[1]The total area of the city is 352.80 square kilometres (136.22 sq mi). With a strong industrial and naval heritage, Kure hosts the second-oldest navaldockyardin Japan and remains an important base for theJapan Maritime Self-Defence Force.
Kure
Ngô thị | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
 Flag  Seal | |||||||||
 Location of Kure inHiroshima Prefecture | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
  Kure Location in Japan | |||||||||
| Coordinates:34°14′57″N132°33′57″E/ 34.24917°N 132.56583°E | |||||||||
| Country | Japan | ||||||||
| Region | Chūgoku(Sanyō) | ||||||||
| Prefecture | Hiroshima | ||||||||
| Government | |||||||||
| • Mayor | Yoshiake Shinhara (from November, 2017) | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 352.80 km2(136.22 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population (April 30, 2023) | |||||||||
• Total | 208,024 | ||||||||
| • Density | 590/km2(1,500/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+09:00(JST) | ||||||||
| City hall address | 4-1-6 Chūō, Kure-shi, Hiroshima-ken 737-8501 | ||||||||
| Climate | Cfa | ||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||
| Symbols | |||||||||
| Flower | Camellia | ||||||||
| Tree | Oak | ||||||||
History
editThe area of Kure is part of ancientAki Province,and the port of Kure was an important seaport forHiroshima Domainin theEdo period.
TheKure Naval Districtwas first established in 1889, leading to the construction of theKure Naval Arsenaland the rapid growth of steel production and shipbuilding in the city. Kure was formally incorporated on October 1, 1902. From 1889 until the end of thePacific War,the city served as the headquarters of theKure Naval District.
Kure dockyards recorded a number of significant engineering firsts including the launching of the first major domestically built capital ship, the battlecruiserTsukuba(1905)[2]and the launching of the largest battleship ever built, theYamato(1940).[3]
During the Pacific War, Kure acted as theImperial Japanese Navy's single-largest naval base and arsenal. Most of the city's industry and workforce were employed in the service of the naval installations, munitions factories and associated support functions. In the later stages of the conflict Kure came under sustained aerial bombardment culminating in thebombing of Kurein June and July 1945.
From February 1946 until the end of Japan's postwar occupation in 1952, military establishments in Kure served as the operational headquarters for theBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force.
Since 2005, Kure has attracted attention as a tourism center with theYamato Museumhosting a 1:10 scale model of theYamatoalongside a waterfront JMSDF museum of Japanese naval history.
The city continues as a major maritime center hosting both the dockyards ofJapan Marine Unitedand numerous shore-based facilities of the JMSDF including training centers and a major hospital. The city serves as the home port of an Escort Flotilla (Destroyers), a Submarine Flotilla and the Training Squadron of the JMSDF Regional Kure District.
Historic timeline
edit- July 1, 1889 —Kure Naval Districtestablished.
- 1895 — Kure naval shipyard established, initially as a subsidiary of theOnohama Shipyardsin Kobe.
- October 1, 1902 — The towns of Washō and Futagawa and the villages of Miyahara and Sōyamada merge to form the city of Kure.
- November 10, 1903 —Kure Naval Arsenalestablished.
- December 27, 1903Kure rail lineopens providing direct rail access toHiroshima
- April 1, 1928 — The towns of Kegoya, Yoshiura, and Aga merge into Kure.
- April 21, 1941 — The town of Nigata and the village of Hiro incorporated into Kure.
- March 19, 1945 — US Navy aircraftattack Japanese warships at Kure
- May 5, 1945 — Bombing of Hiro Naval Arsenal.
- June 22, 1945 — Bombing of Kure Naval Arsenal.
- July 1, 1945 — Kure Air Raid.
- July 24–28, 1945 — Battle of Kure, American bombersattack the remaining fleet in Kure Naval Base.
- July 1, 1954 — Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces founded.
- October 1, 1956 — The town of Tennō and the village of Shōwa inAki District,and the village of Gōhara inKamo Districtmerge into Kure.
- November 1, 2000 — Kure becomes aSpecial City
- April 1, 2003 — The town ofShimokamagari(fromAki District) was merged into Kure.
- April 1, 2004 —The town ofKawajiri(fromToyota District) was merged into Kure.
- March 20, 2005 — The towns ofOndo,KurahashiandKamagari(all fromAki District), and the towns ofYasuura,ToyohamaandYutaka(all fromToyota District) were merged into Kure.
- April 1, 2016 — Kure officially became aCore citywith increased local autonomy
Government
editKure has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 31 members. Kure contributes five members to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Hiroshima 5th district of thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.
List of mayors of Kure (from 1903 to present)
edit| # | Name | Term start | Term end | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giichiro Sakuma | 4 February 1903
|
8 June 1903
|
Tá cửu gian nghĩa nhất lang |
| 2-3 | Kingo Arao | 27 August 1903
|
28 August 1911
|
Hoang vĩ kim ngô |
| 4-5 | Toshio Sawahara | 28 November 1911
|
6 July 1917
|
Trạch nguyên tuấn hùng |
| 6 | Kentaro Amano | 17 August 1917
|
16 August 1921
|
Thiên dã kiện thái lang |
| 7 | Kahei Shundo | 2 February 1922
|
16 June 1925
|
Xuân đằng gia bình |
| 8 | Masaharu Hashimoto | 24 April 1925
|
11 March 1927
|
Kiều bổn chính trị |
| 9 | Toichi Katsuta | 13 June 1927
|
25 November 1930
|
Thắng điền đăng nhất |
| 10 | Hideo Sasaki | 25 November 1930
|
21 December 1932
|
Tá 々 mộc anh hùng |
| 11 | Atsumu Watanabe | 26 December 1932
|
12 May 1935
|
Độ biên ngũ |
| 12 | Katsutaro Matsumoto | 13 June 1935
|
1 September 1936
|
Tùng bổn thắng thái lang |
| 12-13, 15 | Jinjiro Mizuno | 4 May 1937 14 January 1946 |
13 December 1941 15 November 1946 |
Thủy dã thậm thứ lang |
| 14 | Noboru Suzuki | 11 June 1942
|
10 January 1946
|
Linh mộc đăng |
| 17-18 | Jyutsu Suzuki | 5 April 1947
|
21 March 1954
|
Linh mộc thuật |
| 19-20 | Kenichi Matsumoto | 18 April 1954
|
31 October 1961
|
Tùng bổn hiền nhất |
| 21-24 | Yoshito Okuhara | 19 November 1961
|
18 November 1977
|
Áo nguyên nghĩa nhân |
| 25-28 | Ari Sasaki | 19 November 1977
|
18 November 1993
|
Tá 々 mộc hữu |
| 29-31 | Shinya Ogasawara | 19 November 1993
|
18 November 2005
|
Tiểu lạp nguyên thần dã |
| 32-34 | Kazutoshi Komura | 19 November 2005
|
18 November 2017
|
Tiểu thôn hòa niên |
| 35 | Yoshiake Shinhara | 19 November 2017
|
Present
|
Tân nguyên phương minh |
Geography
edit
Kure is located 20 kilometres (10 mi) south-east of Hiroshima city and faces theSeto Inland Sea.Surrounded by steep hillsides to the north, the two major commercial and industrial centers of the city are bisected by Mount Yasumi 497 m (1,631 ft). The city is next to theSetonaikai National Park.As well as densely populated urban and industrial centers, the city also incorporates sparsely inhabited outlying islands such asKurahashi-jima,Shimo-kamagari, Kami-kamagari and Toyoshima.
Adjoining municipalities
editDemographics
editPer Japanese census data, the population of Kure has been declining for the past 40 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 355,297 | — |
| 1950 | 292,769 | −17.6% |
| 1960 | 291,887 | −0.3% |
| 1970 | 306,222 | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 302,766 | −1.1% |
| 1990 | 280,429 | −7.4% |
| 2000 | 259,224 | −7.6% |
| 2010 | 239,553 | −7.6% |
| Kure population statistics[4] | ||
Climate
editKure has ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen climate classificationCfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year and is heaviest in summer.
| Climate data for Kure (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1894−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) |
21.5 (70.7) |
23.8 (74.8) |
28.1 (82.6) |
30.7 (87.3) |
33.7 (92.7) |
36.9 (98.4) |
37.8 (100.0) |
36.1 (97.0) |
31.1 (88.0) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.7 (72.9) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.5 (49.1) |
10.2 (50.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
23.3 (73.9) |
26.1 (79.0) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.1 (82.6) |
22.9 (73.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
20.3 (68.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) |
6.5 (43.7) |
9.6 (49.3) |
14.4 (57.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
26.5 (79.7) |
27.9 (82.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
19.2 (66.6) |
13.6 (56.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
16.5 (61.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
3.0 (37.4) |
5.7 (42.3) |
10.4 (50.7) |
15.2 (59.4) |
19.4 (66.9) |
23.8 (74.8) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
15.8 (60.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
5.0 (41.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −5.4 (22.3) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−4.9 (23.2) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
10.1 (50.2) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.4 (61.5) |
9.7 (49.5) |
4.4 (39.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 41.5 (1.63) |
59.3 (2.33) |
106.7 (4.20) |
126.0 (4.96) |
147.2 (5.80) |
217.9 (8.58) |
251.4 (9.90) |
113.2 (4.46) |
143.7 (5.66) |
97.2 (3.83) |
65.1 (2.56) |
48.3 (1.90) |
1,417.2 (55.80) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 1 (0.4) |
2 (0.8) |
trace | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3 (1.2) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.7 | 6.5 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 6.5 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 89.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 1 cm) | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 67 | 75 | 76 | 73 | 70 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 68 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 140.7 | 145.7 | 181.7 | 194.8 | 212.3 | 155.9 | 183.9 | 217.9 | 166.8 | 176.0 | 150.5 | 141.6 | 2,067.9 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6] | |||||||||||||
Economy
edit- Disco Corporationhas three manufacturing plants in Kure[7]
- Japan Marine United,formerly IHI Marine United, has a shipyard in the city[8]
- Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems
- Mitutoyo[9]
- Nisshin Steel
- Oji Paper Company
- Sailor Pen Company
- Yodogawa Steel Works
Education
editColleges and Universities
edit- Goko Academy
- Japan Coast Guard Academy
- Kure Kyosai Hospital Nursing College
- Kure University
- National Institute of Technology, Kure College
Primary and secondary education
editKure has 37 public elementary schools, 25 public junior high schools and one public high school operated by the city government, and seven public high school operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private middle school and three price high schools. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the disabled.
Transportation
edit
Railway
edit
- Yasuura-Ato-Akikawajiri-Nigata-Hiro-Shin-Hiro-Akiaga-Kure-Kawaraishi-Yoshiura-Karugahama-Tennō-Kure-Portopia
Highways
edit
Sister cities
editAs of September 2017[update],Kure has sister city agreements with the following cities.[10]
Sister cities
edit
Bremerton, Washington,United States (since August 1970)
Marbella,Andalusia,Spain (since December 1990)
Jinhae-gu,Changwon,South Gyeongsang,South Korea (since October 1999)
Keelung,Taiwan (since April 2017)
Friendship cities
edit
Daisen, Tottori(since September 1995)
Friendship ports
edit
Local attractions
editMuseums
edit- Irifuneyama Memorial Museum
- JMSDF Kure Museum(DisplayingYūshio-class submarineAkishio), nicknamed Iron Whale Museum
- Kurahashi-cho Nagato Museum of Shipbuilding History
- Kure Municipal Museum of Art and Museum Avenue
- Rantokaku Art Museum
- Sannose Gohonjin Art and Culture
- Yamato Museum
Shrines
edit- Kameyama Shrine
Historical places
edit- Former Kure-chinjufu
- Former House ofPrince Takamatsu
- House ofKimiyo Fujii
- Takechimaruanti-invasion cement ships
Parks and gardens
edit- Allay Karasu Kojima Park
- Kure Port-pia Park
- Nagasako Park
- Nikokyo Park
- Ondono-setoand Park
- Setonaikai National Park
- Rekishi-no-mieru-Oka and Park
Mountains
edit- Haiga-mine
- Honjo Suigenchi
- Mount Noro
- Mount Yasumi
- Nikyu-kyo
Beaches
edit- Kajigahama Beach
- Romantic Beach Karuga
Festivals
edit- Kure Port Festival
- Kure Fireworks above the Sea (late July or early August)
- Kameyama Shrine Festival (2nd Sunday in October, and the day before)
Notable people from Kure
editMusicians
editAuthors
editSports
editPoliticians
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^"Kure city official statistics"(in Japanese). Japan.
- ^Evans, David (1997).Kaigun:Strategy, Tactics and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941.Annapolis, MD: First Naval Institute Press. p. 159.ISBN978-0-87021-192-8.
- ^Johnson, William (2006).The Pacific Campaign in World War II: From Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal.Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. p. 17.ISBN978-0-415-70175-4.
- ^Kure population statistics
- ^Quan trắc sử thượng 1～10 vị の trị ( niên gian を thông じての trị ).JMA.RetrievedMarch 3,2022.
- ^Khí tượng sảnh / bình niên trị ( niên ・ nguyệt ごとの trị ).JMA.RetrievedMarch 3,2022.
- ^"Location list – Japan."Disco Corporation.Retrieved on September 23, 2017.
- ^"LocationsArchived2021-03-07 at theWayback Machine."Japan Marine United.Retrieved on September 23, 2017.
- ^"Domestic Network Base list – Manufacturing."Mitutoyo.Retrieved on September 23, 2017.
- ^Ngô thị の tỷ muội hữu hảo đô thị ・ hữu hảo cảng[Kure Sister Cities and Friendship Ports] (in Japanese). Japan: Kure City. 2017.Retrieved28 September2017.
External links
edit
- Official website(in Japanese)
- Kure City Travel and Event GuideArchived2011-03-24 at theWayback Machine
Geographic data related toKure, HiroshimaatOpenStreetMap