Akashi, Hyogo
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture
, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe
.
As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population
of 290,776, with 117,392 household
s, and a population density
of 5,907.68 persons per km². The total area is 49.22 km².
, headquarters of the Akashi Domain
. The city, in its current form, was founded on November 1, 1919.
stands on the meridian
of 135 degrees east
longitude, and is used to determine Japan Standard Time
. Contrary to the name, the terminus of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge that connects Honshu
to Awaji Island
(and thereby to Shikoku
) is not in Akashi but in Tarumi-ku, Kōbe
.
The remains of Akashi Castle
are located just north of Akashi Station
and are visible from the station platform.
. The city assembly has 31 elected members and is dominated by independents.
, a kind of takoyaki
particular to the region. Small pieces of octopus (tako) are placed inside a ball-shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs and this is then fried. Akashiyaki is often eaten by dipping in a thin soup. Akashi is the site of the Uontana (Uo-no-Tana, 魚の棚, lit."fish-shelf") Fish Market where local fishermen display an array of fresh seafood caught in the Akashi strait.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
.
As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 290,776, with 117,392 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s, and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 5,907.68 persons per km². The total area is 49.22 km².
History
Akashi was an important city during Japan's pre-modern period due to the presence of Akashi CastleAkashi Castle
is a Japanese castle in Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.This castle was constructed by Ogasawara Tadazane as his own castle from 1617 to 1619 to watch over the western lords, by the order of Tokugawa Hidetada, on Mount Akamatsu. The castle was built in one year, which was a relatively short amount...
, headquarters of the Akashi Domain
Akashi Domain
The was a feudal domain of Japan. It occupied Akashi District and surroundings in Harima Province. Fudai and Shimpan daimyo were assigned, and frequently reassigned, to Akashi. The domain had its administrative headquarters at Akashi Castle.Akashi was established in 1617 when Ikeda Mitsumasa was...
. The city, in its current form, was founded on November 1, 1919.
Geography
Akashi Municipal PlanetariumPlanetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
stands on the meridian
Meridian (geography)
A meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface from the North Pole to the South Pole that connects all locations along it with a given longitude. The position of a point along the meridian is given by its latitude. Each meridian is perpendicular to all circles of latitude...
of 135 degrees east
135th meridian east
The meridian 135° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
longitude, and is used to determine Japan Standard Time
Japan Standard Time
Japan Standard Time or JST is the standard timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC. For example, when it is midnight in UTC, it is 09:00 in Japan Standard Time. There is no daylight saving time, though its introduction has been debated several times. Japan Standard Time is the same as...
. Contrary to the name, the terminus of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge that connects Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
to Awaji Island
Awaji Island
is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea between the islands of Honshū and Shikoku. The island has an area of 592.17 km²...
(and thereby to Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
) is not in Akashi but in Tarumi-ku, Kōbe
Tarumi-ku, Kobe
is one of nine wards of Kobe City in Japan. It has an area of 26.89 km², and a population of 219,958 .Tarumi-ku is a western suburban area of Kobe, providing fine, quiet residential towns for commuters to downtown Kobe and even Osaka...
.
The remains of Akashi Castle
Akashi Castle
is a Japanese castle in Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.This castle was constructed by Ogasawara Tadazane as his own castle from 1617 to 1619 to watch over the western lords, by the order of Tokugawa Hidetada, on Mount Akamatsu. The castle was built in one year, which was a relatively short amount...
are located just north of Akashi Station
Akashi Station
is a train station on the Sanyō Main Line serving the city of Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the north side of Sanyo Akashi Station on the Sanyo Railway Main Line...
and are visible from the station platform.
Politics and government
Akashi is governed by Mayor Hiroto Kitaguchi, an independentIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. The city assembly has 31 elected members and is dominated by independents.
Culture
Akashi is well known for AkashiyakiAkashiyaki
is a small round dumpling from the city of Akashi in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Made of an egg-rich batter and octopus dipped into dashi before eating. Locals refer to it simply as . It is said to start selling modern style akashiyaki in Taishō period by a yatai shopper Seitarō Mukai...
, a kind of takoyaki
Takoyaki
is a popular ball-shaped Japanese dumpling or more like a savory pancake made of batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan...
particular to the region. Small pieces of octopus (tako) are placed inside a ball-shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs and this is then fried. Akashiyaki is often eaten by dipping in a thin soup. Akashi is the site of the Uontana (Uo-no-Tana, 魚の棚, lit."fish-shelf") Fish Market where local fishermen display an array of fresh seafood caught in the Akashi strait.