Ichinoseki, Iwate

Ichinoseki 一関市
City
Ichinoseki Skyline
Flag Seal
Location of Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture
Ichinoseki
Coordinates: 38°56′5″N 141°07′35.7″E / 38.93472°N 141.126583°E / 38.93472; 141.126583Coordinates: 38°56′5″N 141°07′35.7″E / 38.93472°N 141.126583°E / 38.93472; 141.126583
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Iwate
Area
• Total	1,256.42 km2 (485.11 sq mi)
Population (June 1, 2017)
• Total	120,008
• Density	95.5/km2 (247/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Japanese beech
• Flower	Canola
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
Phone number	0191-21-2111
Address	7-2 Takeyama-chō, Ichinoseki-shi, Iwate-ken 021-8501
Website	Official website

Ichinoseki City Office

Ichinoseki (一関市, Ichinoseki-shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of 1 June 2017, the city had a population of 120,008 and a population density of 95.5 persons per km² in 46,338 households^[1] . It is currently the second largest city by population in the prefecture, after Morioka. The total area of the city was 1,256.42 square kilometres (485.11 sq mi).

Geography

Ichinoseki is located inland in the south of Iwate Prefecture, a little over two hours north of Tokyo by the Tōhoku Shinkansen. A large volume of extremely stable granite rock runs beneath the city, and is the center of the site is being promoted as a suitable location for construction of the International Linear Collider (ILC).^[2]

Demographics

Due to factories belonging to large Japanese companies such as Sony and NEC being located in the industrial parkland zone of Ichinoseki, the city has a sizable population of Brazilian workers. The agricultural makeup of the city outside the centre is mostly composed of farmers, leading to an influx of Chinese and Filipino immigrants due to marriage. As a result, Ichinoseki has a varied ethnic makeup, although the newcomers still remain a small minority.

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Ichinoseki has declined over the past 40 years.

History

The area of present-day Ichinoseki was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Japanese Paleolithic period. The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the Yamato dynasty during the early Heian period. During the Heian period, it was controlled by the Abe clan, followed by the Northern Fujiwara clan of Hiraizumi. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Date clan during the Edo period, who ruled Sendai Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. A portion of the present city was part of Ichinoseki Domain, a sub-domain of Sendai Domain.

The town of Ichinoseki was established within Nishiiwai District, Iwate on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the municipality system.

• April 1, 1948 - The city of Ichinoseki (1st generation) was founded by the merger of the towns of Ichinoseki and Yamame with the villages of Mataki and Nakasato.
• January 1, 1955 - The city of Ichinoseki (1st generation) absorbed the villages of Genbi, Hagisho, Maikawa, and Yasakae to form the new city of Ichinoseki (2nd generation)
• September 1, 1956 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed parts of the town of Hiraizumi.
• May 1, 1964 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed more of the town of Hiraizumi.
• September 20, 2005 - the towns of Daitō, Higashiyama and Senmaya, the villages of Kawasaki and Murone (all from Higashiiwai District), and the town of Hanaizumi (from Nishiiwai District) were merged with the city of Ichinoseki (2nd generation) to create the new and expanded city (3rd generation). This creation approximately doubled the old city's population and nearly tripled its size.
• September 26, 2011 - the town of Fujisawa (also from Higashiiwai District) was merged into Ichinoseki. Higashiiwai District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Education

Transportation

Local attractions

Geibikei Gorge, Ichinoseki

• Ichinoseki is in close proximity to the historically significant site of Hiraizumi, which lies adjacent to the mid-northern border of the city. Ichinoseki station is a convenient transit hub for excursions to Hiraizumi, with access to Tōhoku Shinkansen and local rail lines.

• Geibikei is a dramatic river gorge which offers rides in traditional flat-bottomed boats, navigated by singing "gondoliers".

• Genbikei is another popular river area with naturally carved cliffs.

• The Honedera Village Estate has been designated an Important Cultural Landscape.^[5] A brochure can be seen here. http://www.ichitabi.jp/guidebook/pdf/guidebook_04_03_en.pdf

Sister Cities/Friendship Cities

Noted people from Ichinoseki

• Ayaka Komatsu, model/actress
• Keiko Fuji, singer/actress
• Shota Kimura, baseball player
• Miyagiyama Fukumatsu, sumo wrestler
• Masato Onodera, professional wrestler
• Shota Onodera, basketball player
• Takahira Kogorō, diplomat

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ichinoseki.

Media related to Ichinoseki, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Ichinoseki tourist information