Chuo-ku, Chiba
Encyclopedia
is one of the six wards
of the city of Chiba
in Chiba Prefecture
, Japan
, and is the seat of the city government, and the location of the prefectural government offices for Chiba Prefecture. It is also the commercial center of Chiba. As of 2011, the ward had an estimated population
of 199,650 and a population density
of 4,460 persons per km². The total area was 44.81 km², making it the most populous of the six wards of Chiba city.
. Much of the coastal area of the ward is built on reclaimed land.
was located in the area of present-day Chūō Ward during the Kamakura period
. The area was controlled by the Satomi clan
during the Sengoku period
, and was mostly tenryo territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate
during the Edo period
.
After the Meiji Restoration
, the area of present-day Chūō Ward was divided on April 1, 1889 into the town of Chiba and villages of Soga, Miyako, Chishiro, and Oihama within Chiba District. Soga was raised to town status on May 23, 1890, and Chiba Town became Chiba City on January 1, 1921. On November 10, 1928, Oihama was raised to town status. The city of Chiba annexed Soga and Miyako on February 11, 1937, followed by Chishiro on February 11, 1944 and Oihama on February 11, 1955.
With the promotion of Chiba to a designated city with additional autonomy from Chiba prefecture and the central government on April 1, 1992, the city was divided into six wards, with the central ward designed Chūō Ward.
to the neighboring steel works
of Kawasaki Steel (JFE Steel Corporation).
- -
Chiba
Chiba-kōen
Sakusabe
Tendai
Anagawa
Sports Center
Dōbutsukōen
Mitsuwadai
Tsuga
Sakuragi
Oguradai
Chishirodai-Kita
Chishirodai
Wards of Japan
A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...
of the city of Chiba
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....
in Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, 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...
, and is the seat of the city government, and the location of the prefectural government offices for Chiba Prefecture. It is also the commercial center of Chiba. As of 2011, the ward 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 199,650 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 4,460 persons per km². The total area was 44.81 km², making it the most populous of the six wards of Chiba city.
Geography
Chūō Ward is located in southwestern Chiba city, facing Tokyo BayTokyo 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...
. Much of the coastal area of the ward is built on reclaimed land.
Surrounding municipalities
- Inage WardInage-ku, Chibais one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the ward had an estimated population of 157,967 and a population density of 7,430 persons per km²...
- Mihama WardMihama-ku, Chibais one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the ward had an estimated population of 150,382 and a population density of 7,110 persons per km². The total area was 21.16 km².-Geography:...
- Midori WardMidori-ku, Chibais one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the ward had an estimated population of 122,686 and a population density of 1,850 persons per km²...
- Wakaba WardWakaba-ku, Chibais one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the ward had an estimated population of 151,672 and a population density of 1,800 persons per km²...
- Ichihara, ChibaIchihara, 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...
History
The fortified residence (Inohana Castle) of the Chiba clanChiba clan
The ' was a branch family of the Taira clan descended from Chiba no Suke, son of Taira no Tadatsune. Historically, they controlled the city of Chiba, outside Tokyo, and also an area called Soma which included the Grand Shrine of Ise....
was located in the area of present-day Chūō Ward during the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
. The area was controlled by the Satomi clan
Satomi clan
The Satomi clan was a clan of samurai which claimed descent from Nitta Yoshishige , whose son Yoshitoshi took 'Satomi' as his surname. The Satomi moved from Kōzuke province to Awa province in the mid-15th century, and remained there into the Edo Period. During the Sengoku period, the Satomi were...
during the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
, and was mostly tenryo territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
.
After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, the area of present-day Chūō Ward was divided on April 1, 1889 into the town of Chiba and villages of Soga, Miyako, Chishiro, and Oihama within Chiba District. Soga was raised to town status on May 23, 1890, and Chiba Town became Chiba City on January 1, 1921. On November 10, 1928, Oihama was raised to town status. The city of Chiba annexed Soga and Miyako on February 11, 1937, followed by Chishiro on February 11, 1944 and Oihama on February 11, 1955.
With the promotion of Chiba to a designated city with additional autonomy from Chiba prefecture and the central government on April 1, 1992, the city was divided into six wards, with the central ward designed Chūō Ward.
Economy
Chūō Ward is the center for industry and commerce for Chiba City. During the post-war era, the area developed largely as a company townCompany town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
to the neighboring steel works
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
of Kawasaki Steel (JFE Steel Corporation).
Railroads
- JR EastEast 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 Line - JR EastEast 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....
– Uchibō Line - JR EastEast 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....
– Sotobō Line - JR EastEast 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....
– 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...
- Keisei Electric RailwayKeisei 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...
– Keisei Chiba Line- Nishi-NobutoNishi-Nobuto Stationis a railway station operated by the Keisei Electric Railway located in Chūō-ku, Chiba Japan. It is 10.9 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Chiba Line at Keisei-Tsudanuma Station.-History:Nishinobuto Station was opened on March 8, 1922 as...
- Shin-ChibaShin-Chiba Stationis a railway station operated by the Keisei Electric Railway located in Chūō-ku, Chiba Japan. It is 11.7 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Chiba Line at Keisei-Tsudanuma Station.-Layout:...
- Keisei ChibaKeisei Chiba Stationis a railway station operated by the Keisei Electric Railway located in Chūō-ku, Chiba Japan. It is 12.3 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Chiba Line at Keisei-Tsudanuma Station. It is also connected by escalators and a pedway to the Chiba Urban Monorail....
- Chiba-ChūōChiba-Chūō Stationis a railway station operated by the Keisei Electric Railway located in Chūō-ku, Chiba Japan. It is 12.9 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Chiba Line at Keisei-Tsudanuma Station and is a terminal station for the Keisei Chihara Line.-History:...
- Nishi-Nobuto
- -
- Keisei Electric RailwayKeisei 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...
– Keisei 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:...
- Chiba Urban Monorail – Line 1
Chiba
Chiba Station
is a railway station located in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.-JR East:*Sōbu Main Line**Chūō-Sōbu Line**Sōbu Line *Narita Line*Sotobō Line*Uchibō Line-History:The station opened on 20 July 1894.The present station building was built in 1963...
Chiba-kōen
Chiba-kōen Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Chūō-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 1.1 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Sakusabe
Sakusabe Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Inage-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 1.8 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Tendai
Tendai Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Inage-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 2.5 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Anagawa
Anagawa Station (Chiba)
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Inage-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 3.4 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Sports Center
Sports Center Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Inage-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 4.0 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Dōbutsukōen
Dōbutsukōen Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 5.2 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Mitsuwadai
Mitsuwadai Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 6.2 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Tsuga
Tsuga Station
is a railway station in Wakaba-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 43.4 rail kilometers from the western terminus of the Sōbu Main Line at Tokyo Station and 7.7 kilometers from the terminus of the Chiba Urban Monorail at Chiba Station.-History:...
Sakuragi
Sakuragi Station (Chiba)
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 9.0 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Oguradai
Oguradai Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 10.2 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Chishirodai-Kita
Chishirodai-Kita Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located 11.2 kilometers from the northern terminus of the line at Chiba Station.-Layout:...
Chishirodai
Chishirodai Station
is a monorail train station on the Chiba Urban Monorail located in Wakaba-ku in the city of Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the terminal station for Line 2 of the Chiba Urban Monorail and is located 12.0 kilometers from the northern terminus at Chiba Station....
- Chiba Urban Monorail – Line 2
Highways
- Japan National Route 14Japan National Route 14National Route 14 is a national highway connecting Tokyo and Chiba in Japan.-Route Data:*Length: 44.1 km *Origin: Nihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo...
- Japan National Route 16
- Japan National Route 51Japan National Route 51National Route 51 is a national highway of Japan connecting Chūō-ku, Chiba and Mito, Ibaraki in Japan, with a total length of 124 km ....
- Japan National Route 126
- Route 357 (Japan)Route 357 (Japan)National Route 357 is a national highway of Japan connecting Chūō-ku, Chiba and Yokosuka, Kanagawa in Japan, with a total length of 70 km ....
Noted people from Chūō Ward
- Yoshinobu TakahashiYoshinobu TakahashiYoshinobu Takahashi is a Japanese professional baseball player from Chiba, Japan. He currently plays right field for the Yomiuri Giants, and is one of the most well-known players in Japanese baseball. He graduated from Keio University.A superb contact hitter, he is also known for his exemplary...
– professional baseball player - Toshiyuki Nagashima – actor
- Keiichi TsuruokaKeiichi Tsuruokais the former mayor of Chiba, Chiba in Japan, serving from his election in 2001 until his arrest and subsequent retirement in 2009 for corruption-related charges. He was an independent who had previously served in the Home Affairs Ministry. He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo.- References...
– former mayor