Biwa, Shiga
Encyclopedia
was a town
located in Higashiazai District
, Shiga Prefecture
, Japan
. It is on the northern shore of Lake Biwa
and that was the origin of the town's name. Chikubu Island
was under the administration of Biwa.
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population
of 7,599 and a population density
of 447.53 persons per km². The total area was 16.98 km².
Biwa-cho is the home of the Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe
, a troupe founded in the 1830s in the tradition of Bunraku
puppetry
. The Tonda Troupe has performed internationally four times in the United States
and Australia
.
On February 13, 2006 Biwa, along with the town of Azai
, also from Higashiazai District
, was merged into the expanded city of Nagahama
.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Higashiazai District
Higashiazai District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....
, Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is on the northern shore of Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa
is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture , northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Because of its proximity to the ancient capital, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.-...
and that was the origin of the town's name. Chikubu Island
Chikubu Island
is an island in Lake Biwa in Japan. The national government has designated it a special historic site.The island's geographic coordinates are 35°25′24″ N, 136°8′37″ E. Its area is 0.14 km² and its coastline measures 2 km. The highest point has an elevation of 197 m...
was under the administration of Biwa.
As of 2003, the town had 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 7,599 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 447.53 persons per km². The total area was 16.98 km².
Biwa-cho is the home of the Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe
Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe
, founded in the 1830s, is one of the most active groups performing traditional ningyō jōruri or Bunraku puppetry in Japan, and has been officially designated an Intangible Cultural Treasure...
, a troupe founded in the 1830s in the tradition of Bunraku
Bunraku
, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
puppetry
Puppetry
Puppetry is a form of theatre or performance which involves the manipulation of puppets. It is very ancient, and is believed to have originated 30,000 years BC. Puppetry takes many forms but they all share the process of animating inanimate performing objects...
. The Tonda Troupe has performed internationally four times in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
On February 13, 2006 Biwa, along with the town of Azai
Azai, Shiga
was a town located in Higashiazai District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. In Sengoku period, Azai clan based here and Battle of Anegawa broke out.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 13,055 and a density of 149.90 persons per km²...
, also from Higashiazai District
Higashiazai District, Shiga
was a district located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.From the reports of 2005 Census, the district had an estimated population of 14,509. The total area was 38.53km².-Timeline:*April 1, 1971 - The village of Biwa gained town status....
, was merged into the expanded city of Nagahama
Nagahama, Shiga
is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The city center was developed and renamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi when Hideyoshi moved his center of administration from Odani Castle...
.