Joetsu, Niigata
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Niigata Prefecture
, Japan.
As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population
of 205,521, with 72,982 household
s and a population density
of 211.15 persons per km². The total area is 973.32 km².
The city was founded on April 29, 1971, when the cities of Takada and Naoetsu were consolidated. The city was part of the now-defunct Nakakubiki District
until 31 December 2004.
On January 1, 2005, Jōetsu absorbed the town of Yasuzuka
, the villages of Maki
, Ōshima
and Uragawara
(all from Higashikubiki District
); the towns of Itakura
, Kakizaki
, Ōgata
and Yoshikawa
, the villages of Kiyosato
, Kubiki
, Nakagou
and Sanwa
(all from Nakakubiki District
); and the town of Nadachi
(from Nishikubiki District
). Now Jōetsu extended into the now-defunct Higashikubiki
and Nishikubiki
Districts.
facing onshore winds from the Sea of Japan, Jōetsu is apart from the Owase
region of the Kii Peninsula
the wettest low-lying part of the northern hemisphere temperate zone, receiving an average of around 2.8 metres (110.2 in) of precipitation per year. As a comparison, Forks
on the windward side of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
receives 110 inches (2.79 m) and Rize
on the Black Sea coast of Turkey 2530 millimetres (100 in). The cold winds from the combined power of the Siberian High
and Aleutian Low
give Jōetsu an average of 6.3 metres (248 in) of snowfall that however tends to melt significantly even during the winter, leaving a cover of 0.47 metres (18.5 in) at its peak in January. On the 26th of February 1945, Jōetsu received as much as 3.77 metres (148 in) of snow in one day. The heaviest annual snowfall was 14.94 metres (588.2 in) in 1985/1986 and the heaviest monthly total precipitation 942 millimetres (37 in) in January 1945, whilst the driest month was August 1985 with 16 millimetre (0.62992125984252 in).
. Around the Sengoku period
, Kasugayama Castle
was a significant base for daimyo
such as Uesugi Kenshin
.
Maejima Hisoka
, a Meiji era politician who is regarded as the father of the Japanese postal system, was born here. Theodor von Lerch, an Austria
n major who visited the army base in Jōetsu after the Russo-Japanese War
, introduced skiing
to Japan.
and JR East
, run the Hokuriku Main Line
and the Shinetsu Main Line in the city. Hokuetsu Express connects the city to Tokyo
metropolitan area. Hokuriku Shinkansen
is under construction. Despite its name, the Jōetsu Shinkansen
does not serve the city at all, as the line name has no direct relation to the city name.
goes through the city. Joshinetsu Expressway branches off at the Jōetsu Junction.
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 Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan.
As of June 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 205,521, with 72,982 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 211.15 persons per km². The total area is 973.32 km².
The city was founded on April 29, 1971, when the cities of Takada and Naoetsu were consolidated. The city was part of the now-defunct Nakakubiki District
Nakakubiki District, Niigata
Nakakubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded in 1878, when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District...
until 31 December 2004.
On January 1, 2005, Jōetsu absorbed the town of Yasuzuka
Yasuzuka, Niigata
was a town located in Higashikubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,521 and a density of 50.14 persons per km²...
, the villages of Maki
Maki, Niigata (Kubiki)
Maki was a village located in the Higashikubiki District, Niigata, Japan. The town had no special relationship with another Maki in the same prefecture.The village was established in 1901 by merging Kawabe, Kawakami, and Kunimi Villages....
, Ōshima
Oshima, Niigata
was a village located in Higashikubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 2,312 and a density of 32.27 persons per km²...
and Uragawara
Uragawara, Niigata
Uragawara was a village located in Higashikubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,095 and a density of 80.86 persons per km²...
(all from Higashikubiki District
Higashikubiki District, Niigata
Higashikubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District...
); the towns of Itakura
Itakura, Niigata
Itakura was a town located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,526 and a density of 113.16 persons per km²...
, Kakizaki
Kakizaki, Niigata
Kakizaki was a town located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,649 and a density of 136.42 persons per km²...
, Ōgata
Ogata, Niigata
was a town located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 10,636 and a density of 651.72 persons per km²...
and Yoshikawa
Yoshikawa, Niigata
Yoshikawa was a town located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,253 and a density of 68.57 persons per km²...
, the villages of Kiyosato
Kiyosato, Niigata
Kiyosato was a village located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Kiyosato, along with the town of Yasuzuka, the villages of Maki, Ōshima and Uragawara, all from Higashikubiki District, the towns of Itakura, Kakizaki, Ōgata and Yoshikawa, the villages of Kubiki, Nakagō and...
, Kubiki
Kubiki, Niigata
Kubiki was a village located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 9,691 and a density of 252.76 persons per km²...
, Nakagou
Nakagou, Niigata
Nakagō was a village located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,916 and a density of 112.88 persons per km²...
and Sanwa
Sanwa, Niigata
Sanwa was a village located in Nakakubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 6,191 and a density of 157.29 persons per km²...
(all from Nakakubiki District
Nakakubiki District, Niigata
Nakakubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded in 1878, when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District...
); and the town of Nadachi
Nadachi, Niigata
was a town located in Nishikubiki District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,229 and a density of 48.97 persons per km²...
(from Nishikubiki District
Nishikubiki District, Niigata
Nishikubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded in 1878, when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District. At the time of founding, the district covered the city of Itoigawa and the Nadachi District in...
). Now Jōetsu extended into the now-defunct Higashikubiki
Higashikubiki District, Niigata
Higashikubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District...
and Nishikubiki
Nishikubiki District, Niigata
Nishikubiki was a district located in Niigata, Japan. The district was founded in 1878, when the former Kubiki District split into Higashikubiki District, Nakakubiki District, and Nishikubiki District. At the time of founding, the district covered the city of Itoigawa and the Nadachi District in...
Districts.
Climate
Owing to its location at the foot of Mount HotakaMount Hotaka
, also known as Mount Hotakadake, is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, reaching a height of . It is situated in Japan's Hida Mountains and all its major peaks besides Mount Maehotaka, lie on the border between the cities of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, and Takayama, Gifu Prefecture...
facing onshore winds from the Sea of Japan, Jōetsu is apart from the Owase
Owase, Mie
is a city located in the south of Mie, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 21,002 and the density of 109 persons per km². The total area is 193.16 km²....
region of the Kii Peninsula
Kii Peninsula
The is the largest peninsula on the island of Honshū in Japan. The area south of the “Central Tectonic Line” is called Nankii , and includes the most poleward living coral reefs in the world due to the presence of the warm Kuroshio Current, though these are threatened by global warming and human...
the wettest low-lying part of the northern hemisphere temperate zone, receiving an average of around 2.8 metres (110.2 in) of precipitation per year. As a comparison, Forks
Forks, Washington
-Government:The City is organized under Washington State law as a Non-charter Code City. Its structure is that of an elected Mayor and a five member elected City Council...
on the windward side of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
receives 110 inches (2.79 m) and Rize
Rize
Rize is the capital of Rize Province, in northeast Turkey, on the Black Sea coast.-Etymology:The name comes from Greek or Ριζαίον , meaning "mountain slopes". In modern times, its name in Greek was usually Ριζούντα . Its Latin forms are Rhizus and Rhizaeum...
on the Black Sea coast of Turkey 2530 millimetres (100 in). The cold winds from the combined power of the Siberian High
Siberian High
The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold or very cold dry air that accumulates on the Eurasian terrain for much of the year. It reaches its greatest size and strength in the winter, when the air temperature near the center of the high-pressure cell or anticyclone is often lower than...
and Aleutian Low
Aleutian low
The Aleutian Low is a semi-permanent low pressure center located near the Aleutian Islands during the winter. It is one of the main centers of action in the atmospheric circulation of the Northern Hemisphere...
give Jōetsu an average of 6.3 metres (248 in) of snowfall that however tends to melt significantly even during the winter, leaving a cover of 0.47 metres (18.5 in) at its peak in January. On the 26th of February 1945, Jōetsu received as much as 3.77 metres (148 in) of snow in one day. The heaviest annual snowfall was 14.94 metres (588.2 in) in 1985/1986 and the heaviest monthly total precipitation 942 millimetres (37 in) in January 1945, whilst the driest month was August 1985 with 16 millimetre (0.62992125984252 in).
History
It was the ancient capital of Echigo ProvinceEchigo Province
was an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
. Around 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...
, Kasugayama Castle
Kasugayama Castle
' was the primary fortress of the Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku period. It is situated in what is now the city of Jōetsu, Niigata prefecture, and was originally built and ruled by the Nagao clan....
was a significant base for daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
such as Uesugi Kenshin
Uesugi Kenshin
was a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
.
Maejima Hisoka
Maejima Hisoka
Baron was a Japanese statesman, politician, and businessman in Meiji period Japan, who founded the Japanese postal service.- Early life :Maejima was born as Ueno Fusagorō, in the village of Shimoikebe, Echigo Province . In 1866 he was adopted into the Maejima family. He was sent to Edo to study...
, a Meiji era politician who is regarded as the father of the Japanese postal system, was born here. Theodor von Lerch, an Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n major who visited the army base in Jōetsu after the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, introduced skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
to Japan.
Railways
Two Japan Railways Group passenger railway companies, JR WestWest Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
and JR East
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....
, run the Hokuriku Main Line
Hokuriku Main Line
The is a 358.3 kilometer line of the West Japan Railway Company from Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga to Naoetsu Station in Jōetsu, Niigata. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of...
and the Shinetsu Main Line in the city. Hokuetsu Express connects the city to 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...
metropolitan area. Hokuriku Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen
The is a high-speed Shinkansen rail line under construction in Japan. The first section, between and , currently called the Nagano Shinkansen, opened on 1 October 1997.-Future:...
is under construction. Despite its name, the Jōetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
does not serve the city at all, as the line name has no direct relation to the city name.
Expressway
Hokuriku ExpresswayHokuriku Expressway
The ,The ,The ,(abbreviated as , is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:...
goes through the city. Joshinetsu Expressway branches off at the Jōetsu Junction.
Famous people from Jōetsu
- Kenkichi YoshizawaKenkichi Yoshizawawas a diplomat in the Empire of Japan, serving as 46th Foreign Minister of Japan in 1932.-Biography:Yoshizawa was a native of what is now part of Joetsu city, Niigata prefecture. He was a graduate of the English literature department of Tokyo University and entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...
, diplomat - Maejima HisokaMaejima HisokaBaron was a Japanese statesman, politician, and businessman in Meiji period Japan, who founded the Japanese postal service.- Early life :Maejima was born as Ueno Fusagorō, in the village of Shimoikebe, Echigo Province . In 1866 he was adopted into the Maejima family. He was sent to Edo to study...
, statesman, politician, and businessman - Nana HarutaNana Haruta, born on June 30, 1985, is a female Japanese manga artist. Haruta made her professional manga debut while still in high school in the December 2000 issue of Ribon; at the age of 15, this makes her one of the youngest manga artists to enter the industry...
, manga artist - Nobutaka TsutsuiNobutaka Tsutsuiis a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Democratic Party of Japan. A native of Nakakubiki District, Niigata and graduate of Waseda University he was elected for the first time in 1990 as a member of the Japan Socialist Party after an...
, politician - Ogawa MimeiOgawa Mimeiwas an author of short stories, children's stories, and fairy tales.- Life :Ogawa studied at the Faculty of English Literature at Waseda University, where he graduated in 1905. That same year, Ogawa published his first literary work. Waseda University was at that time the center of the Japanese...
, children's writer - Uesugi KenshinUesugi Kenshinwas a daimyo who ruled Echigo province in the Sengoku period of Japan.He was one of the most powerful lords of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries...
, daimyo
External links
- Joetsu official website
- Joetsu official website
- Joetsu official travel guide in English
- The Joetsu goodo Travel Guide Constructed by a former JET Program teacher in the area (in English)