Chiba Prefecture
Encyclopedia
is a prefecture
of Japan
located in the Kantō region
and the Greater Tokyo Area
. Its capital is Chiba City
.
and Inba Prefecture
. Historically, the prefecture constituted three provinces
of Awa
, Kazusa, and Shimōsa.
The prefecture's name means "a thousand leaves".
to the north at the Tone River, Tokyo
and Saitama Prefecture
to the west at the Edo River, the Pacific Ocean
to the east and Tokyo Bay
around its southern boundary. Most of Chiba lies on the hilly Boso Peninsula
, a rice
farming region: the east coast, known as the Ninety-Nine League Plain, is an especially productive area. The most populous zone, in the northwest of the prefecture, is part of the Kantō region
that extends into the urban agglomeration of Tokyo and Saitama. The Kuroshio Current
flows near Chiba, which keeps it relatively warm in winter and cooler in summer than neighbouring Tokyo.
These are the towns and villages in each district
:
factory in 1950, the prefectural government embarked on a large-scale land reclamation program that dredged up large plots of waterfront property for factories, warehouses, and docks. Chemical production, petrochemical refining, and machine production are the three main industries in Chiba today; together, they account for forty-five percent of the prefecture's exports. In recent years, the government has funded more than eighty industrial parks to bring development further inland as well.
The prefecture also boasts Japan's second-highest agricultural output. Among all the prefectures, only Hokkaidō
produces more agricultural products, and Chiba leads Hokkaidō in vegetable production. Seaweed
is harvested in large quantities from Tokyo Bay.
oversees municipal school districts in the prefecture. The board also directly operates the prefecture's public high schools.
and the Chiba International Cross Country
.
The following sports teams are based in Chiba.
-bound visitors arriving on international flights land in Narita International Airport
, which is situated in Narita
in the north of the prefecture, and connected to Tokyo by the East Japan Railway
's Narita Express
and the Keisei Electric Railway
's Skyliner
.
National Highway
is located in Urayasu
near the western border of the prefecture.
There are also a number of tourist sites on the Chiba peninsula, such as Nokogiriyama
; Kujūkuri Beach
; and Onjuku beach
.
Chiba is linked to Tokyo by several railway lines; the main trunk lines are the Keiyo Line
and Sobu Line. The Musashino Line
connects Chiba to Saitama and northern Tokyo. Southern Chiba is connected to Kanagawa Prefecture
by the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
bridge-tunnel.
s. Most of Japan's peanuts are harvested in this prefecture and are also processed into peanut oil.
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
of 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...
located in the Kantō region
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
and the Greater Tokyo Area
Greater Tokyo Area
The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan, consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo . In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the , , and others....
. Its capital is Chiba City
Chiba, Chiba
is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
.
History
Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu PrefecturePrefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
and Inba Prefecture
Inba District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.As of 2011, the district has an estimated population of 43,480 and a density of 845 persons per km². The total area is 51.48 km².There are two towns within the district.*Sakae*Shisui-District timeline:...
. Historically, the prefecture constituted three provinces
Provinces of Japan
Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni , usually known in English as provinces. Each province was divided into gun ....
of Awa
Awa Province (Chiba)
was a province of Japan in the area of modern Chiba Prefecture. It lies on the tip of the Boso Peninsula , whose name takes its first kanji from the name of Awa Province and its second from Kazusa and Shimōsa Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was or...
, Kazusa, and Shimōsa.
The prefecture's name means "a thousand leaves".
Geography
Chiba borders Ibaraki PrefectureIbaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
to the north at the Tone River, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
to the west at the Edo River, the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the east and Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
around its southern boundary. Most of Chiba lies on the hilly Boso Peninsula
Boso Peninsula
thumb|Locationthumb|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle is a peninsula in Chiba prefecture on Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It forms the eastern edge of Tokyo Bay, separating it from the Pacific Ocean....
, a rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
farming region: the east coast, known as the Ninety-Nine League Plain, is an especially productive area. The most populous zone, in the northwest of the prefecture, is part of the Kantō region
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
that extends into the urban agglomeration of Tokyo and Saitama. The Kuroshio Current
Kuroshio Current
The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...
flows near Chiba, which keeps it relatively warm in winter and cooler in summer than neighbouring Tokyo.
Cities
Thirty-six cities are located in Chiba Prefecture:
|
|
|
Towns and villages
Districts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
:
|
Sakae, Chiba is a town located in Inba District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 22,445 and a population density of 691 persons per km²... Shisui, Chiba is a town located in Inba District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 21,205 and a population density of 1,110 persons per km²...
Onjuku, Chiba is a town located in Isumi District, Chiba, Japan. As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 7,823 and a density of 314 persons per km². The total area is 24.92 km²... Otaki, Chiba is a town located in Isumi District, Chiba, Japan, occupying the center of the Bōsō Peninsula. The town is known for its association with Edo period general Honda Tadakatsu and its prominent castle. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 10,794 and a population density of 83.1 persons... |
Kozaki, Chiba is a town located in Katori District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 6,433 and a population density of 324 persons per km². The total area was 19.85 km².-History:... Tako, Chiba is a town located in Katori District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 15,902 and a population density of 219 persons per km². The total area was 72.68 km².-Geography:... Tonosho, Chiba is a town located in Katori District, Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 15,103 and a population density of 327 persons per km². The total area was 46.16 km².-Geography:...
Kujukuri, Chiba is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, the town had an estimated population of 17,749 and a population density of 748 persons per km². The total area was 23.72 km².... Oamishirasato, Chiba is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 50,303 and a population density of 866 persons per km². The total area was 58.06 km²... Shibayama, Chiba is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, southeast of the city of Narita. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 7,989 and a population density of 184 persons per km². The total area was 43.75 km².-Geography:... Yokoshibahikari, Chiba is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the town had an estimated population of 24,913 and a population density of 372 persons per km². The total area was 66.91 km².-Geography:... |
Economy
Chiba is one of Japan's largest industrial areas, thanks to its long coastline on Tokyo Bay. After Chiba was chosen as the site for a major Kawasaki SteelKawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
factory in 1950, the prefectural government embarked on a large-scale land reclamation program that dredged up large plots of waterfront property for factories, warehouses, and docks. Chemical production, petrochemical refining, and machine production are the three main industries in Chiba today; together, they account for forty-five percent of the prefecture's exports. In recent years, the government has funded more than eighty industrial parks to bring development further inland as well.
The prefecture also boasts Japan's second-highest agricultural output. Among all the prefectures, only Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
produces more agricultural products, and Chiba leads Hokkaidō in vegetable production. Seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
is harvested in large quantities from Tokyo Bay.
Demographics
Chiba's population is one of the wealthiest in Japan due to the prefecture's strong commercial and industrial sectors. Per capita GDP is ¥3.1 million, the fifth-highest in the country. 70% of the population is employed in the service sector, with 25% in industry and 5% in agriculture.Education
The Chiba Prefectural Board of EducationChiba Prefectural Board of Education
Chiba Prefectural Board of Education is a department of the Chiba Prefecture in Japan.The board supervises elementary and middle schools operated by other school districts and directly operates public high schools.-Abiko:* Abiko High School...
oversees municipal school districts in the prefecture. The board also directly operates the prefecture's public high schools.
University
- Chiba
- Chiba UniversityChiba Universityis a national university in the city of Chiba, Japan. It offers Doctoral degrees in education as part of a coalition with Tokyo Gakugei University, Saitama University, and Yokohama National University.-Faculties:*Letters*Education*Law and Economics*Science...
in Inage, Chuo - Chiba Economic UniversityChiba Keizai Universityis a private university in Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan. The school also has its own adjacent junior college.The university features only a Department of Economics.The junior college contains the Department of Business Life and the Department of Elementary Education....
in Inage - The Open University of Japan in Mihama
- The Meteorological College of Japan
- Heisei Teikyo University in Mihama
- Shukutoku UniversityShukutoku Universityis a private university in Chiba, Japan, established in 1965. Ryoshin Hasegawa was the university's first president.-External links:*...
in Chuo - Tokyo Information Sciences UniversityTokyo University of Information Sciencesis a private university in Wakaba Ward of the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The university was established in 1988 by the School corporation Tokyo University of Agriculture. The university is consisted of four departments: Information System, Environmental Information, Business &...
in Wakaba - Tokyo Dental CollegeTokyo Dental Collegeis a private university in the city of Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1890, and it was chartered as a university in 1946.-External links:*...
in Mihama - Kanda University of International StudiesKanda University of International Studiesor KUIS is a private university located in Makuhari, Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan. The university was founded in 1987 as an extension of Kanda Institute of Foreign Languages in Tokyo. KUIS is a research university specializing in learner autonomy...
in Mihama - Tokyo University of Career Development in Chuo
- Chiba University
- Funabashi
- Toho UniversityToho Universityis a university in Tokyo, Japan. Drs. Yutaka and Susumu Nukada founded the Imperial Women's Medical College at Ōmori,Tokyo, the location of the Faculty of Medicine at present, with their own money in 1925 and then they established the Imperial Women's Medical and Pharmaceutical College and the...
- Narashino Campus - Nihon UniversityNihon UniversityNihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
- Funabashi Campus
- Toho University
- Matsudo
- Nihon University - Matsudo Campus
- Ryutsu Keizai UniversityRyutsu Keizai Universityis a Japanese private university in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki. It was founded in 1965.-See also:*Ryutsu Keizai University F.C., affiliated football club.*List of universities in Japan...
- Seitoku UniversitySeitoku Universityis a Japanese women's university in Matsudo, Chiba.- External links :*...
- Ichikawa
- Chiba Commerce UniversityChiba University of Commerceis a private university in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan, established in 1950. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1928.-External links:*...
- Wayo Women's UniversityWayo Women's Universityis a private women's college in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1897, and it was chartered as a university in 1949.-External links:*...
- Chiba Commerce University
- Kashiwa
- Tokyo University - Kashiwa Campus
- Chiba University - Kashiwanoha Campus
- Nihonbashi Gakkan UniversityNihonbashi Gakkan Universityis a private university in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1904, and it was chartered as a junior college in 1987. In 2000 it became a four-year college.-External links:*...
- Nishogakusha UniversityNishogakusha Universityis a private university in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1877, and it was chartered as a university in 1949.-External links:*...
- Kasiwa Campus - Reitaku UniversityReitaku Universityis a private university known as Reitaku in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The origin of Reitaku University is Moralogy School which was launched in 1935 and Reitaku University was established in 1950.-Department:College of Foreign Languages...
- Narashino
- Chiba Institute of TechnologyChiba Institute of Technologyis a private university in Narashino, Chiba, Japan. abbreviated as ,,,.The school was founded in 1942 in Machida, Tokyo. In 1946 it was relocated to Kimitsu, Chiba, adopted the present name at the same time. Four years later, it was moved to the present location...
- Nihon University - Narashino and Mimomi Campus
- Chiba Institute of Technology
- Ichihara
- Heisei Teikyo University - Ichihara Campus
- Yachiyo
- Shumei UniversityShumei Universityis a private university in Japan. The main campus is located in Yachiyo, Chiba, and the headquarter is located in Nakano, Tokyo. The university is originally founded as the Yachiyo International University in 1988.- Overview :...
- Tokyo Seitoku UniversityTokyo Seitoku Universityis a private university in Kita, Tokyo, Japan, established in 1993....
- Shumei University
- Sakura
- Keiai UniversityKeiai Universityis a private university in the city of Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, established in 1966. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1921. The university has attached junior college, high schools and kindergarten.-External links:*...
- Sakura Campus
- Keiai University
- Noda
- Tokyo University of ScienceTokyo University of ScienceTokyo University of Science is a private university of science and technology in Japan...
- Noda Campus
- Tokyo University of Science
- Nagareyama
- Edogawa UniversityEdogawa Universityis a private university in Nagareyama, Chiba, Japan, established in 1990.-External links:* *...
- Toyo Gakuen UniversityToyo Gakuen University, also known by the acronym TGU, founded in 1926, is a small private college located in the greater Tokyo area of Japan. The university has two campuses. The original campus, which presently houses the School of Business Administration, is located in downtown Tokyo, in Hongō, Bunkyō Ward...
- Edogawa University
- Urayasu
- Juntendo UniversityJuntendo Universityis a private university in Japan. Its headquarters are on its campus in Bunkyo, Tokyo for School of Medicine and in Hiragagakuendai, Inzai, Chiba for School of Health and Sports Science...
- Urayasu Campus - Meikai UniversityMeikai Universityis a private university in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1970, and it was chartered as a university in 1988.The university's School of Dentistry is located in Sakado, Saitama.-External links:*...
- Ryotokuji UniversityRyotokuji Universityis a private university in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, established in 2006. Its facilities include 126 classrooms able to enrol 4000 students at maximum, a large library, 4 gymnasiums, and an administration area for staff and reception. It has taught many now famous people such as Alinda, Ayumi Hamasaki...
- Juntendo University
- Abiko
- Chuo Gakuin UniversityChuo Gakuin Universityis a private university in Abiko, Chiba, Japan, established in 1966. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1904.-External links:*...
- Kawamura Gakuen Woman's University
- Chuo Gakuin University
- Kisarazu
- Seiwa UniversitySeiwa Universityis a private university at Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan.-External links:*...
- Seiwa University
- Togane
- Josai International UniversityJosai International Universityis a private university in Tōgane, Chiba, Japan, established in 1992.-External links:*...
- Josai International University
- Inzai
- Juntendo University - Sakura Campus
In popular culture
- Novels set in Chiba include: NeuromancerNeuromancerNeuromancer is a 1984 novel by William Gibson, a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre and the first winner of the science-fiction "triple crown" — the Nebula Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Hugo Award. It was Gibson's debut novel and the beginning of the Sprawl trilogy...
by William GibsonWilliam GibsonWilliam Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
(set in Chiba cityChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
), Ningen Shikkaku by Osamu DazaiOsamu Dazaiwas a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan.-Biography:-Early life:Dazai was born , the eighth surviving child of a wealthy landowner in Kanagi, a remote corner of Japan at the northern tip of Tōhoku in Aomori Prefecture...
(FunabashiFunabashi, Chibais a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
), and Nogiku no Haka by Sachio Itō (MatsudoMatsudo, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 484,578 and a population density of 7900 persons per km²...
). - MangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
(comics) representations include: Be Free!, ChameleonChameleon (manga)is a Japanese manga series created by Atsushi Kase which was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine between 1990 and 1999; forty-seven bound volumes were released. The manga won the twenty-third round of the Kodansha Manga Award in 1999 for shōnen manga, beating out titles such as One...
, Kyō Kara Ore Wa!!Kyo Kara Ore Wa!!is a shōnen manga by Hiroyuki Nishimori. The series was initially published in Shōnen Sunday Super running monthly from 1988 volume 9 through 1990 volume 38. The series was then promoted to the weekly magazine Shōnen Sunday from 1990 volume 40 through 1997 volume 47...
, Makuhari (set in Chiba cityChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
), Makuhari Saboten Campus (Chiba cityChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
), Susume!! Pirates, and Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku (UrayasuUrayasu, Chibais a city located in the far western corner of northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 164,822 and a population density of 9530 persons per km²...
). - AnimeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
(animation) representations include: Chikyū Bōei Kazoku (set in FunabashiFunabashi, Chibais a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
), Battle Programmer ShiraseBattle Programmer Shiraseis an anime TV series aired in 2003 and produced by AIC.The original series spans 5 story arcs across 15 episodes of 12 minutes each.-Plot summary:...
(Narashino), and ZegapainZegapainis a Japanese anime television series created by Sunrise. The series premiered in Japan on April 6, 2006 on TV Tokyo and also later aired on BS Japan and AT-X. On October 2, 2007, Bandai Entertainment released the first Region 1 volume of Zegapain.-Plot:...
(UrayasuUrayasu, Chibais a city located in the far western corner of northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 164,822 and a population density of 9530 persons per km²...
). - TV series representations include: Kisarazu Cat's EyeKisarazu Cat's Eyeis a humorous Japanese television show and movie series. To date, there have been two Kisarazu Cat's Eye movies:Kisarazu Cat's Eye Nihon Series and Kisarazu Cat's Eye World Series .-Synopsis:...
(set in KisarazuKisarazu, Chibais a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, Kisarazu has an estimated population of 126,906 and a density of 915 persons per km². The total area was 138.73 km²....
), Mio Tsukushi (ChōshiChoshi, Chibais a city located on the Pacific Ocean coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the easternmost city in the Greater Tokyo Area. The easternmost point in the Greater Tokyo Area is Cape Inubō....
), Beach Boys (filmed in TateyamaTateyama, Chibais a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 49,315 and the population density of 447 persons per km². The total area was 110.21 km²...
and ShirahamaShirahama, Chibais a former town located in Awa District, Chiba, Japan. As of October 1, 2004, the town had an estimated population of 6,027 and a density of 353 persons per km². The total area was 17.07 km².-Geography:...
(now MinamibosoMinamiboso, Chibais a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010 data, the city had an estimated population of 42,035 and a population density of 183 persons per km²...
) and Yappari Neko ga Suki (Chiba cityChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
).
Notable residents
- Various rock bands have roots that stem from Chiba prefecture, including the popular X JapanX Japanis a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
, Plastic TreePlastic TreePlastic Tree is a Japanese rock band which formed in December 1993 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. They released their first mini-album in December 1995, and in 1997, they debuted by releasing their first single on a major label.-Biography:...
, girugameshGirugameshis a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2003. The name is derived from the ancient king Gilgamesh, and is sometimes typeset with a metal umlaut as girugämesh.-2004-2006: Formation:...
and punkPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands like Nicotine and EllegardenEllegardenEllegarden is a Japanese rock group formed in December 1998 in Chiba, Japan. Ellegarden consists of drummer Hirotaka Takahashi, vocalist Takeshi Hosomi, guitarist Shinichi Ubukata, and bassist Yuichi Takada...
. - Aiba Masaki of ArashiArashiis a Japanese boy band formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates, which announced the formation of the group on November 3, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii...
, Yamashita Tomohisa of NEWS, Tanaka Koki and Akanishi Jin of KAT-TUNKAT-TUNKAT-TUN is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates in 2001. The group's name is an acronym based on the first letter of each member's family name until the departure of Jin Akanishi in 2010. As of 2010, KAT-TUN stands for Kazuya KAmenashi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda,...
, Ryo, Satoshi, Ni and ShuU GirugameshGirugameshis a Japanese visual kei rock band, formed in 2003. The name is derived from the ancient king Gilgamesh, and is sometimes typeset with a metal umlaut as girugämesh.-2004-2006: Formation:...
, Keiko TeradaKeiko Teradais a Japanese rock singer. She was the lead singer of the Japanese female heavy metal band Show-Ya from 1982 to 1991, before going solo.Terada's trademark was a fake rose tattoo she wore above her right breast...
and Miki Nakamura of Show-Ya, Tsugunaga Momoko and Natsuyaki Miyabi of Berryz Kobo, Suzuki Airi of C-ute, Arioka Daiki of Hey! Say! JUMPHey! Say! JUMPHey! Say! JUMP is a ten-member Japanese boy band under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates. The name Hey! Say! refers to the fact that all the members were born in the Heisei period and JUMP is an acronym for Johnny's Ultra Music Power...
and Shinya SanoShinya SanoShinya Sano is the bassist of the band An Cafe .After the band went on an hiatus 2010, he started his own label, StudioBlue3 and began creating a cell phone game called Pinky☆Distortion.- Early life :...
of An CafeAn Cafeis a Japanese visual kei rock band formed in 2003 and signed to the independent label Loop Ash. They are an oshare kei band, but now describe themselves as "Harajuku Dance Rock". The group has released five full-length albums and three EPs...
are all from the Chiba Prefecture.
Sports
The prefecture plays host to two major events in the Japanese athletics calendar: the International Chiba EkidenInternational Chiba Ekiden
The International Chiba Ekiden is an annual team road running competition held in Chiba, Japan in late November. The marathon relay race, or ekiden as it is known in Japan, is one of the prominent annual races of its kind. The competition is split into six legs which combine to make up the marathon...
and the Chiba International Cross Country
Chiba International Cross Country
The Chiba International Cross Country is an annual cross country running competition which takes place in Chiba, Japan in mid-February. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships....
.
The following sports teams are based in Chiba.
Football
- JEF United Ichihara ChibaJEF United Ichihara Chibais a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...
(ChibaChiba, Chibais the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
, IchiharaIchihara, Chibais a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 279,080, with a population density of 758 persons per km². The total area of Ichihara was 368.20 km²...
) - Kashiwa ReysolKashiwa Reysolis a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...
(KashiwaKashiwa, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 404,820 and a population density of 3520 persons per km²...
)
Rugby
- IBM Big BlueIBM Big BlueIBM Big Blue is a Japanese semi-professional rugby union team in the Top League, founded in 1976 by IBM. The company decided to make rugby, along with baseball and American football, one of the official company sports in 1989, which allowed the rugby club to gain support and momentum.Big Blue won...
(YachiyoYachiyo, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the town had an estimated population of 193,262 and a population density of 3769 persons per km²...
) - Kubota SpearsKubota SpearsKubota Spears is a Japanese rugby union team which is based in Funabashi, Chiba and they play in the Top League.Their slogan for the 2006 season was FIGHT ON.-2011-12 Squad:...
(FunabashiFunabashi, Chibais a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
) - NEC Green RocketsNEC Green RocketsNEC Green Rockets is a Japanese rugby union team in the Top League. The team's captain is . The previous captain was Takuro Miuchi, who is currently the captain of the Japan national rugby union team. Before the semi-professional Top League was created, the team was just known as "NEC"...
(AbikoAbiko, Chibais a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 134,154 and a population density of 3110 persons per km²...
)
Transportation
Most TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-bound visitors arriving on international flights land in Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
, which is situated in Narita
Narita, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the site of Narita International Airport, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area....
in the north of the prefecture, and connected to Tokyo by the East Japan Railway
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
's Narita Express
Narita Express
, abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express train service operated since 1991 by East Japan Railway Company , serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day...
and the Keisei Electric Railway
Keisei Electric Railway
The is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and...
's Skyliner
Skyliner
is a limited-express airport train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.-Service:...
.
Railway
- East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- Sōbu Main Line
- Chūō-Sōbu LineChuo-Sobu LineThe is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
- Sōbu Line (Rapid)Sobu Line (Rapid)The is a railway service on the Sōbu Main Line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It connects in Chūō, Tokyo and in Chūō-ku, Chiba via the cities of Ichikawa, Funabashi, and Narashino...
- Chūō-Sōbu Line
- Jōban LineJoban LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
- Jōban Line (Local)
- Jōban Line (Rapid)
- Narita LineNarita LineThe is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
- Uchibō Line
- Sotobō Line
- Keiyō LineKeiyo LineThe is a railway line connecting Tokyo and Chiba, Japan, running mainly along the edge of Tokyo Bay. It is operated by the East Japan Railway Company .It provides the main rail access to the Tokyo Disney Resort and the Makuhari Messe exhibition center...
- Musashino LineMusashino LineThe is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It links Tsurumi Station in Yokohama with Nishi-Funabashi Station in Chiba Prefecture, forming a 100.6 km unclosed loop around central Tokyo...
- Tōgane Line
- Kashima LineKashima LineThe is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company . It links Katori Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station, by crossing and then following the Tone River, the border between Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture.-Operation:...
- Kururi Line
- Sōbu Main Line
- KeiseiKeisei Electric RailwayThe is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and...
- Main Line
- Narita Sky Access
- Chiba Line
- Chihara LineKeisei Chihara LineThe is part of the Keisei Railway in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. This line starts from Chiba-Chūō Station and ends at Chiharadai Station.-History:...
- Higashi Narita Line
- Shin-Keisei LineShin-Keisei Electric RailwayThe is a private railway in Chiba, Japan. It connects Narashino and Matsudo.It has subsidiaries of bus company .It is a subsidiary of Keisei Electric Railway.-History:...
- Hokuso Line
- Toyo Rapid LineToyo Rapid Railway LineThe is a commuter rail line owned by Tōyō Rapid Railway Co., Ltd., that runs between Nishi-Funabashi Station in Funabashi City, Chiba and Tōyō-Katsutadai Station in Yachiyo City, Chiba. The name means 東京 and 千葉 ....
- Shibayama Railway
- TobuTobu Railwayis a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...
- Tokyo MetroTokyo Metrois one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Toei. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.-Organization:...
Tozai Line
- Toei Shinjuku LineToei Shinjuku LineThe is a subway line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . The line runs between Motoyawata Station in Ichikawa, Chiba in the east and Shinjuku Station in the west...
- Nagareyama Line
- Choshi Electric Railway
- Kominato Railway
- Isumi Railway
Road
Expressway- Joban ExpresswayJoban ExpresswayThe , abbreviated , is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Jōban is a kanji acronym consisting of two characters...
- Narita Airport Expressway
- Higashi Kanto Expressway
- Tokyo Gaikan ExpresswayTokyo Gaikan ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The name Gaikan refers to the route's status as an outer ring road for Tokyo. The expressway is also referred to simply as Gaikan for short...
- Tateyama ExpresswayTateyama ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Tateyama refers to the city of the same name on the Bōsō Peninsula, a major city in the region...
- Shuto ExpresswayShuto Expresswayis a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
- Keiyo RoadKeiyo RoadThe is a toll road in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Keiyō is a kanji acronym of two characters, each representing the two major urban areas connected by the route...
- Togane Road
- Tokyo Bay Aqua Line
National Highway
- Route 6
- Route 14
- Route 16
- Route 51
- Route 124
- Route 126
- Route 127
- Route 128
- Route 294
- Route 295
- Route 296
- Route 297
- Route 298
- Route 356
- Route 357
- Route 408
- Route 409
- Route 410
- Route 464
- Route 465
Airport
- Narita International Airport - Most of International flight and part of Domestic Flight
Tourism
The Tokyo Disney ResortTokyo Disney Resort
is a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. It is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park , but developed into a resort with two theme...
is located in Urayasu
Urayasu, Chiba
is a city located in the far western corner of northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 164,822 and a population density of 9530 persons per km²...
near the western border of the prefecture.
There are also a number of tourist sites on the Chiba peninsula, such as Nokogiriyama
Mount Nokogiri (Chiba)
is a low mountain on the Bōsō Peninsula on Honshu, Japan. It lies on the southern border of the city of Futtsu and the town Kyonan in Awa District in Chiba Prefecture.The mountain runs east to west, having the characteristic sawtoothed profile of a ....
; Kujūkuri Beach
Kujukuri Beach
is a sandy beach located on the east coast of the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Lying within 60 km of Tokyo and being the second longest beach in Japan, it is a popular swimming and surfing destination for inhabitants of Greater Tokyo....
; and Onjuku beach
Onjuku, Chiba
is a town located in Isumi District, Chiba, Japan. As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 7,823 and a density of 314 persons per km². The total area is 24.92 km²...
.
Chiba is linked to Tokyo by several railway lines; the main trunk lines are the Keiyo Line
Keiyo Line
The is a railway line connecting Tokyo and Chiba, Japan, running mainly along the edge of Tokyo Bay. It is operated by the East Japan Railway Company .It provides the main rail access to the Tokyo Disney Resort and the Makuhari Messe exhibition center...
and Sobu Line. The Musashino Line
Musashino Line
The is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It links Tsurumi Station in Yokohama with Nishi-Funabashi Station in Chiba Prefecture, forming a 100.6 km unclosed loop around central Tokyo...
connects Chiba to Saitama and northern Tokyo. Southern Chiba is connected to Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
by the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
The , also known as the Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway, is a bridge-tunnel combination across Tokyo Bay in Japan.It connects the city of Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture with the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture, and forms part of National Route 409...
bridge-tunnel.
Prefectural symbols
Chiba is famous for peanutPeanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s. Most of Japan's peanuts are harvested in this prefecture and are also processed into peanut oil.