Koga(Cổ hà thị,Koga-shi)is acitylocated inIbaraki Prefecture,Japan.As of 1 January 2024[update],the city had an estimatedpopulationof 137,512 in 58,276 households and apopulation densityof 1113 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 28.98%.[1]The total area of the city is 123.58 square kilometres (47.71 sq mi).
Koga
Cổ hà thị | |
|---|---|
 Koga city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Koga in Ibaraki Prefecture | |
  Koga | |
| Coordinates:36°10′41.7″N139°45′19.6″E/ 36.178250°N 139.755444°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Ibaraki |
| Government | |
| •Mayor | Chikara Hariya (since December 2016) |
| Area | |
• Total | 123.58 km2(47.71 sq mi) |
| Population (January 2024) | |
• Total | 137,512 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2(2,900/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9(Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 0280-92-3111 |
| Address | 2248 Shimoōno, Koga-shi, Ibaraki-ken 306-0291 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Prunus persica |
| Tree | Zelkova serrata |
Geography
editKoga is located in the extreme southwestern corner of Ibaraki Prefecture. Located almost in the center of theKanto Plain,the city is very flat. TheTone Riverflows eastward in the southern part of the city and theWatarase Riverflows through the west and joins the Tone River north of the Tonegawa Bridge.The altitude of the northern part is slightly higher than that of the southern part, and the rivers that flow through the city flow from north to south except for the Tone River.
Surrounding municipalities
editIbaraki Prefecture
Climate
editKoga has aHumid continental climate(KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Koga is 14.9 °C (58.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,229.9 mm (48.42 in) with September 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 3.6 °C (38.5 °F).[2]
| Climate data for Koga (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
26.1 (79.0) |
31.4 (88.5) |
35.1 (95.2) |
38.0 (100.4) |
40.0 (104.0) |
39.6 (103.3) |
38.2 (100.8) |
33.1 (91.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
40.0 (104.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.0 (57.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
26.6 (79.9) |
30.6 (87.1) |
32.0 (89.6) |
27.8 (82.0) |
21.9 (71.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
20.3 (68.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.2 (46.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.6 (78.1) |
26.8 (80.2) |
23.0 (73.4) |
17.2 (63.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
15.0 (58.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
2.9 (37.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.9 (71.4) |
23.0 (73.4) |
19.3 (66.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
0.9 (33.6) |
10.4 (50.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −11.9 (10.6) |
−8.3 (17.1) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
2.3 (36.1) |
10.6 (51.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
15.6 (60.1) |
8.4 (47.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 35.2 (1.39) |
35.1 (1.38) |
75.9 (2.99) |
91.3 (3.59) |
120.8 (4.76) |
132.0 (5.20) |
147.3 (5.80) |
135.8 (5.35) |
181.4 (7.14) |
166.1 (6.54) |
61.6 (2.43) |
37.7 (1.48) |
1,229.9 (48.42) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.9 | 4.6 | 8.6 | 9.4 | 11.0 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 8.6 | 11.0 | 10.2 | 6.0 | 4.2 | 101.2 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 208.7 | 195.1 | 197.2 | 190.6 | 184.7 | 128.6 | 144.7 | 168.1 | 133.1 | 145.1 | 165.0 | 188.5 | 2,049.5 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[4]the population of Koga peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 78,478 | — |
| 1960 | 82,446 | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 97,659 | +18.5% |
| 1980 | 117,691 | +20.5% |
| 1990 | 139,239 | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 146,452 | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 142,995 | −2.4% |
| 2020 | 139,344 | −2.6% |
History
editKoga was settled in theJōmon periodand already known as a ferry port on the Watarase River in theNara periodand is mentioned in theMan'yōshū.During theHeian periodit was the site of an iron smelter and kilns for production of ceramics and roof tiles and was one of the largest centers for iron production in eastern Japan. During theMuromachi periodit was the location of theKoga kubō,a secondary government created by theAshikaga shogunateto rule eastern Japan. In theSengoku period,it developed into acastle townand during theEdo periodbecame the seat of thedaimyōofKoga Domainunder theEdo periodTokugawa shogunateand astationon theNikkō Kaidōhighway.
The town of Koga was established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on August 1, 1950. On September 12, 2005, Koga absorbed the towns ofSanwaandSōwa(both fromSashima District) to create the new and expanded city of Koga. The new city hall is now located at the former town of Sōwa.
Government
editKoga has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 24 members. Koga contributes three members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofIbaraki 7th districtof thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.
Economy
editKoga was known in theMeiji erathrough the prewarShōwa eraas a center forsericulture.At present, the economy is highly industrialized, with the number of factories as second within Ibaraki Prefecture, afterHitachi city.
Education
editKoga has 23 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there is one private high school.
Transportation
edit
Highway
edit
Sister cities
edit
Local attractions
edit- site ofKoga Castle
- site of Koga Kubo residence
- Suzume-jinja
- Hase Kannon temple
- Koga History Museum
- Sogo Koen Park, near theWatarase River,was formally a summer palace for a local daimyo. It has two restored 17th century farmhouses, like including the Nakayama house and Takami Senseki house/museum.
- Navel Park in Sowa-machi has outdoor and barbecue facilities for families.
- Koga west of the station is old and has many old buildings. Many of the streets are cobbled.
- Tenkoku Art Museum.
Notable people
edit- Hideo Jinpu,politician
- Kawanabe Kyōsai,artist
- Reiko Okano,manga artist
- Okuhara Seiko,artist
- Koji Yamamuro,Olympic gymnast
References
edit- ^"Ibaraki prefectural official statistics"(in Japanese). Japan.
- ^abKhí tượng sảnh / năm thường trị ( năm ・ nguyệt ごと の trị ).JMA.RetrievedApril 1,2022.
- ^Quan trắc sử thượng 1～10 vị の trị ( trong năm を thông じて の trị ).JMA.RetrievedApril 1,2022.
- ^Koga population statistics
External links
edit
- Official Website(in Japanese)