Funabashi

Funabashi

Thuyền kiều thị
Funabashi Thuyền kiều thị
Core city
	Chiba Port (Funabashi Port) )
View fromTsudanuma Station	Funabashi Station
LaLaport Tokyo-Bay	Wakamiya Housing fromMinami-Funabashi Station
	Flag Seal
	Location of Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture]
	Funabashi
	Coordinates:35°41′40.4″N139°58′57.2″E/ 35.694556°N 139.982556°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
First official recorded	110 AD
City Settled	April 1, 1937
Government
• Mayor	Toru Matsudo
Area
• Total	85.62 km2(33.06 sq mi)
Population (December 1, 2020)
• Total	644,668
• Density	7,500/km2(20,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9(Japan Standard Time)
Postal code(s)	273 or 274
Area code	047-4
Phone number	047-436-2111
Address	2-10-25 Minato-cho, Funabashi-shi, 273-8501
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Camellia sasanqua
Tree	Camellia sasanqua

Funabashi(Thuyền kiều thị,Funabashi-shi)is acitylocated inChiba Prefecture,Japan.As of 1 December 2020^[update],the city had an estimatedpopulationof 644,668 in 309,238 households and apopulation densityof 7,500 inhabitants per square kilometre (19,000/sq mi).^[1]The total area of the city is 85.62 square kilometres (33.06 sq mi). It is theGreater Tokyo Area's 7th most populated city (after passingKawaguchi,HachiojiandChiba), and second largest in Chiba Prefecture.

Geography

Funabashi is located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture approximately 20 kilometers in either direction from the prefectural capital atChibaand downtown Tokyo. The central area forms a flat diluvial upland of theShimōsa Plateau.The city sits at an elevation of 20 to 30 meters above sea level, and is relatively flat. The highest point is 32.3 meters in Narashino 3-chome, and the lowest point is 0.2 meters in Minatomachi 1-chome. Funabashi is crossed by theTone River,and the smallEbi Riveris located entirely within city limits. Funabashi formerly had wide, shallow beaches, but much of the coast has been industrialized and transformed byreclaimed land.The city extends for 13.86 kilometers east–west and 14.95 kilometers north–south.

Neighboring municipalities

Chiba Prefecture

Climate

Funabashi has ahumid subtropical climate(KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Funabashi is 15.5 °C (59.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,466.1 mm (57.72 in) with October as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C (80.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.8 °C (40.6 °F).^[2]

Climate data for Funabashi (1999−2020 normals, extremes 1999−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	18.6 (65.5)	24.7 (76.5)	24.5 (76.1)	27.1 (80.8)	33.2 (91.8)	34.8 (94.6)	38.0 (100.4)	39.0 (102.2)	35.9 (96.6)	32.2 (90.0)	25.2 (77.4)	23.5 (74.3)	39.0 (102.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	9.5 (49.1)	10.3 (50.5)	13.8 (56.8)	18.7 (65.7)	23.1 (73.6)	25.9 (78.6)	29.7 (85.5)	31.3 (88.3)	27.5 (81.5)	21.9 (71.4)	16.7 (62.1)	11.7 (53.1)	20.0 (68.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.8 (40.6)	5.7 (42.3)	9.0 (48.2)	13.8 (56.8)	18.5 (65.3)	21.6 (70.9)	25.4 (77.7)	26.8 (80.2)	23.4 (74.1)	17.8 (64.0)	12.2 (54.0)	7.1 (44.8)	15.5 (59.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	0.4 (32.7)	1.4 (34.5)	4.4 (39.9)	9.3 (48.7)	14.5 (58.1)	18.4 (65.1)	22.4 (72.3)	23.7 (74.7)	20.2 (68.4)	14.3 (57.7)	8.2 (46.8)	2.8 (37.0)	11.7 (53.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−5.4 (22.3)	−4.7 (23.5)	−2.0 (28.4)	−0.6 (30.9)	7.4 (45.3)	10.7 (51.3)	15.7 (60.3)	16.6 (61.9)	9.5 (49.1)	6.0 (42.8)	−1.1 (30.0)	−3.6 (25.5)	−5.4 (22.3)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches)	63.0 (2.48)	61.4 (2.42)	103.0 (4.06)	114.5 (4.51)	129.8 (5.11)	155.3 (6.11)	121.9 (4.80)	111.4 (4.39)	189.7 (7.47)	239.9 (9.44)	97.4 (3.83)	63.3 (2.49)	1,466.1 (57.72)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm)	4.9	6.2	9.5	10.0	10.2	11.7	9.8	7.8	10.9	10.9	8.4	5.9	106.2
Mean monthlysunshine hours	192.0	166.0	182.8	185.3	185.3	128.0	162.6	194.1	143.8	137.7	145.9	177.3	1,999.9
Source:Japan Meteorological Agency^[3]^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[4]the population of Funabashi has increased rapidly over the past century.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1920	34,119	—
1930	46,644	+36.7%
1940	61,624	+32.1%
1950	100,134	+62.5%
1960	135,038	+34.9%
1970	325,426	+141.0%
1980	497,439	+52.9%
1990	533,270	+7.2%
2000	550,074	+3.2%
2010	609,040	+10.7%
2020	642,907	+5.6%

History

The name "Funabashi" is mentioned in theKamakura periodchronicleAzuma Kagami.However, the name itself is even more ancient, dating from before theNara periodand theYamatotakerumythology. Archaeologists have found stone tools from theJapanese Paleolithicperiod andshell middensfrom theJōmon periodin the area, indicating continuous inhabitation for thousands of years. A number ofShinto shrinesandBuddhist templesin the area claim to have been founded in theNara periodorHeian period.During theMuromachi periods,the area was controlled by theChiba clan.During theSengoku period,the Chiba clan fought theSatomi clanto the south, and theLate Hōjō clanto the west. After the defeat of the Chiba clan, the area came within the control ofTokugawa Ieyasu.^{[citation needed]}

Under theTokugawa shogunate,the area prospered as apost townon the river crossing of theTone River,and was largely retained astenryōunder the direct control of the Shogunate and administered through a number ofhatamoto.The area was also a favored hunting grounds for the Shōgun. During theBoshin Warof theMeiji Restoration,Funabashi was the location of a minor skirmish between Tokugawa loyalists underEnomoto Takeakiand the pro-Imperial forces ofOkayama DomainandSatsuma Domain,during which most of the town burned down.^{[citation needed]}

After theabolition of the han system,the area eventually became part of Chiba Prefecture. Funabashi Town was one of several towns and villages created on April 1, 1889, underInba Districtwith the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The area developed rapidly due to its proximity to Tokyo and the presence of numerous military facilities in the area. On April 1, 1937, Funabashi was elevated to city status through merger with neighboring Katsushika Town and Yasakae, Hoden and Tsukada Villages. The new city was host to numerous military installations in World War II, and was bombed in theair raids on Japanin 1945.^{[citation needed]}

The city developed rapidly in the postwar period, with the development of industries, public housing developments and port facilities. With the annexation of neighboring Ninomiya Town in 1953, the population exceeded 100,000. The population exceeded 300,000 in 1969 and 500,000 in 1982. Funabashi was designated acore cityon April 1, 2005, with increased local autonomy from the central government. The population exceeded 600,000 in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

Government

Funabashi has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 50 members. Funabashi contributes seven members to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between theChiba 4th districtand theChiba 14th districtof thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.

Economy

Funabashi is a regional commercial center and, due to its numerous train connections, abedroom communityfor nearby Chiba and Tokyo. Approximately 34.5% of the working population commutes to Tokyo, per the 2015 census.

Companies from Funabashi

Mugen Seiki- a remote control car manufacturer

Education

Nihon Universitybranch campus
Funabashi has 54 public elementary schools and 27 public middle schools operated by the city government, and 11 public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private elementary school, one private middle school and four private high schools. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.