Imari, Saga
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Saga Prefecture
on the island of Kyūshū
, Japan
. Imari is most notable because of Imari porcelain
, which is the European collectors' name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita
, Saga Prefecture. The porcelain was exported from the port of Imari specifically for the European export trade.
. The city center is located around the mouth of the Imari River.
....
this region flourished due to the export of ceramics
and porcelain
. High quality goods to be presented to Shōgun
and the Imperial Court were produced in what is now called Ōkawachiyama. From the Meiji period
to 1955 coal was also a major export.
The main station is Imari Station.
Ōkawa originally had little rice fields, but in 1906 this led the chairman of the Ōkawa Junior Chamber of Commerce, Takeji Fujita and 11 other people to spearhead the reclamation of forest lands and the cultivation of Japanese pears as a cash crop in Ōkawa. Since then the production and the crop acreage of Imari nashi have increased. According to the latest municipal statistics, the production is the fifth and the acreage is the third in the nation.
The characteristics of Imari nashi are juiciness and crispness. Thanks to the adoption of light sensor systems for fruit sorting, only those which are of excellent quality can be selected and are shipped to Kantō, Kansai, and Kyūshū districts. Recently export to China has started and been promoted.
The main brands of Imari nashi are Kosui, Hosui, and Niitaka. The most produced is Kosui, but Hosui is the most popular brand of the three.
is held annually for 3 days from October 22 to 24, beginning at the Imari Shrine in Imari City. The festival is well known as one of the three great fighting festivals of Japan.
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 Saga Prefecture
Saga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
on the island of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, 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...
. Imari is most notable because of Imari porcelain
Imari porcelain
Imari porcelain is the name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū. They were exported to Europe extensively from the port of Imari, Saga between latter half of 17th century and former half of 18 th century, Japanese as well as the...
, which is the European collectors' name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita
Arita, Saga
is a town located in Nishimatsuura District, Saga, Japan. It is known for producing Arita porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the Arita Ceramic Fair...
, Saga Prefecture. The porcelain was exported from the port of Imari specifically for the European export trade.
Geography
Imari is located in the western part of Saga PrefectureSaga Prefecture
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
. The city center is located around the mouth of the Imari River.
- Mountains: Mt. Hachiman (764 m), Mt. Seira (599 m), Mt. Eboshi (597 m)
- Rivers: Matsuura River, Imari River, Hata River, Kurōtake River, Arita River
Adjoining municipalities
- Saga PrefectureSaga Prefectureis located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Ariake Sea. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of Karatsu, Imari, and Arita...
- AritaArita, Sagais a town located in Nishimatsuura District, Saga, Japan. It is known for producing Arita porcelain, one of the traditional handicrafts of Japan. It also holds the largest ceramic fair in Western Japan, the Arita Ceramic Fair...
- KaratsuKaratsu, Sagais a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara , and 津 tsu , signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea...
- TakeoTakeo, Sagais a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan.-Geography:Takeo is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It is approximately west of Saga City and approximately east of Sasebo. Takeo has a complex topography including mountains, mountain basins and riverside...
- Arita
- Nagasaki PrefectureNagasaki Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...
- SaseboSasebo, Nagasakiis a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
- MatsuuraMatsuura, Nagasakiis a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. Matsuura City is bordered on three sides by mountains. Matsuura Bay makes up the fourth side.-History:Mention of a "Matsuura County" appears in written records from the Heian period, and this area was the home of the Matsuura clan, a local warrior clan...
- Sasebo
....
History
During the Edo periodEdo 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....
this region flourished due to the export of ceramics
Ceramics (art)
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
and porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
. High quality goods to be presented to Shōgun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
and the Imperial Court were produced in what is now called Ōkawachiyama. From the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
to 1955 coal was also a major export.
- April 1, 1889 - The modern municipal systemMunicipalities of JapanJapan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...
is established. The current city region is occupied by one townTowns of JapanA town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
, Imari, and 11 villagesVillages of JapanA is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
: Higashiyamashiro, Kurokawa, Makishima, Matsuura, Minamihata, Niri, Nishiyamashiro, Ōdake, Ōkawa, Ōkawachi, Ōtsubo. - February 16, 1901 - Ōdake Village is renamed Hatatsu Village.
- December 10, 1928 - Makishima Village is incorporated into Imari Town.
- April 1, 1936 - Nishiyamashiro Village becomes Yamashiro Town.
- December 8, 1943 - The villages of Ōkawachi and Ōtsubo are incorporated into Imari Town.
- April 1, 1954 - Imari Town, Yamashiro Town, and the villages of Higashiyamashiro, Kurokawa, Hatatsu, Minamihata, Ōkawa, Matsuura, and Niri merge to form Imari City.
High schools
- Saga Prefectural Imari High School (佐賀県立伊万里高等学校)
- Saga Prefectural Imari Agriculture and Forestry High School (佐賀県立伊万里農林高等学校)
- Saga Prefectural Imari Business High School (佐賀県立伊万里商業高等学校)
- Keitoku High School (敬徳高等学校)
Rail
- JR Kyushu
- Chikuhi LineChikuhi LineThe is a railway line in Japan running from Meinohama Station in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture to Karatsu Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture to Imari Station in Imari City, Saga Prefecture....
- Komanaki StationKomanaki Stationis a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a bathroom....
- Ōkawano StationŌkawano Stationis a train station in Ōkawa-machi Ōkawano, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Kyushu Railway Company .It is only train cross-purposes possibility station in "Chikuhi West Line" .- Adjacent stations :-History:...
- Hizen-Nagano StationHizen-Nagano Stationis a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station with a bathroom....
- Momonokawa StationMomonokawa Stationis a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station.- Adjacent stations :...
- Kanaishihara StationKanaishihara Stationis a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station.- Adjacent stations :...
- Kami-Imari StationKami-Imari Stationis a railway station on the Chikuhi Line of Kyushu Railway Company , located in Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:This is a ground level station with one island platform and one track. It is an unmanned station.- Adjacent stations :...
- Imari Station
- Komanaki Station
- Chikuhi Line
- Matsuura RailwayMatsuura Railwayis a third sector railway company in Nagasaki and Saga Prefecture in Japan.-Principal investors:* Nagasaki Prefecture * Lucky Taxi * Tsuji Industry * Saihi Motor -History:...
- Nishi-Kyūshū LineNishi-Kyushu LineThe is a Japanese railway line operated by Matsuura Railway, which runs between Arita in Saga Prefecture and Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture.-Stations:Rapid Service: Down trains operate between Saza and Sasebo. Up trains operate between Sasebo and Tabira-Hiradoguchi.-History:The line was opened on...
- Kanatake Station - Kawahigashi Station - Imari Station - Higashiyamashiro Station - Sato Station - Kusuku Station - Naruishi Station - Kubara Station - Haze Station - Uranosaki StationUranosaki Stationis the railway station in Yamashiro-chō Tachiiwa, Imari City, Saga Prefecture. It is operated by Matsuura Railway and is on the Nishi-Kyūshū Line.A lot of cherry blossom trees are put on the station yard and are full of a railroad fan and photograph lovers when it is the time in full blossom of the...
- Fukushimaguchi Station
- Kanatake Station - Kawahigashi Station - Imari Station - Higashiyamashiro Station - Sato Station - Kusuku Station - Naruishi Station - Kubara Station - Haze Station - Uranosaki Station
- Nishi-Kyūshū Line
The main station is Imari Station.
Road
- ExpresswaysExpressways of JapanThe expressways of Japan make up a large network of freeway-standard toll roads.- History :Following World War II, Japan's economic revival led to a massive increase in personal automobile use...
:- There are no expressway interchanges in Imari. The closest is the Nagasaki ExpresswayNagasaki Expressway' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Tosu to Nagasaki. It runs through the prefecture of Saga, and the southern half of the Nagasaki prefecture...
Takeo-Kitagata Interchange.
- There are no expressway interchanges in Imari. The closest is the Nagasaki Expressway
- National highwaysNational highways of JapanJapan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
:- Route 202Route 202 (Japan)National Route 202 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hakata-ku, Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Nagasaki in Japan, with a total length of 199.6 km ....
- Route 204Route 204 (Japan)National Route 204 is a national highway of Japan connecting Karatsu, Saga and Sasebo, Nagasaki in Japan, with a total length of 157 km ....
- Route 498
- Route 202
- Prefectural roads:
- Saga Prefectural Route 5 (Imari-Matsuura)
- Saga Prefectural Route 32 (Hatagawachi-Chikushino)
- Saga Prefectural Route 321 (Kurokawa-Matsushima)
Pottery
- Imari porcelainImari porcelainImari porcelain is the name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyūshū. They were exported to Europe extensively from the port of Imari, Saga between latter half of 17th century and former half of 18 th century, Japanese as well as the...
- Ōkawachiyama, 'The Village of the Secret Kilns', used to be the home of the Nabeshima clanNabeshima clanThe Nabeshima clan was a prominent Japanese samurai clan of Kyūshū which controlled Saga Domain from the late Sengoku period through the Edo period.The Nabeshima clan was a cadet branch of the Shōni clan and was descended from the Fujiwara clan...
kilns.
The Imari Pear
Imari is the largest Japanese pear producing center in western Japan. The cultivation of the Japanese pear from Imari , which originated in the Ōkawa area 100 years ago, has spread out to the Minamihata area and other areas of the city. Today, they are produced over about 350 hectares of land, and their quantity of production was about 4800 tons per year as of 2007.Ōkawa originally had little rice fields, but in 1906 this led the chairman of the Ōkawa Junior Chamber of Commerce, Takeji Fujita and 11 other people to spearhead the reclamation of forest lands and the cultivation of Japanese pears as a cash crop in Ōkawa. Since then the production and the crop acreage of Imari nashi have increased. According to the latest municipal statistics, the production is the fifth and the acreage is the third in the nation.
The characteristics of Imari nashi are juiciness and crispness. Thanks to the adoption of light sensor systems for fruit sorting, only those which are of excellent quality can be selected and are shipped to Kantō, Kansai, and Kyūshū districts. Recently export to China has started and been promoted.
The main brands of Imari nashi are Kosui, Hosui, and Niitaka. The most produced is Kosui, but Hosui is the most popular brand of the three.
Festivals
The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton FestivalImari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival
The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is a fighting festival held every year in the city of Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan. Beginning at the Imari Shrine, the festival is well known as one of the three great fighting festivals of Japan.- External links :...
is held annually for 3 days from October 22 to 24, beginning at the Imari Shrine in Imari City. The festival is well known as one of the three great fighting festivals of Japan.