Kashima, Ibaraki
Encyclopedia
is a port city
located in Ibaraki Prefecture
, Japan
.
As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population
of 66,249 and a population density
of 708.02 persons per km². The total area is 93.57 km². Kashima was formerly a town
in Kashima District
and became a city after merging with the neighboring village of Ōno
on September 1, 1995.
Kashima is the home of the J. League
's most successful team to date, the Kashima Antlers
. Its home field, Kashima Soccer Stadium, was used as a site during the World Cup in 2002. The city is also the site of the Kashima Shrine
, a Shinto
temple which is considered the birthplace of many influential styles of swordplay (Kenjutsu
) in Japan. It's one of the oldest shrines in eastern Japan, founded in 660 BC according to legend, and the real date is estimated from historical studies as the 4th century.
Kashima is the central city of the Kashima Industrial Zone, and it has a large industrial park with about 1500 factories, especially petrochemical
and steel
plants. The Japanese Government created this zone in 1963, and the development was mostly completed in 1973.
, which connects it (through the Narita Line
and Sobu Line) to Chiba Prefecture
and Tokyo
. The Higashi-Kantō Expressway
follows a similar route from Kashima to Tokyo.
The closest major airport is Narita International Airport
, linked by expressway. There is a large international freight port, Kashima Port in the industrial zone.
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 Ibaraki Prefecture
Ibaraki 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...
, 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...
.
As of October 1, 2010, 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 66,249 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 708.02 persons per km². The total area is 93.57 km². Kashima was formerly a town
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
in Kashima District
Kashima District, Ibaraki
Kashima was a former district located in Ibaraki, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 141,935 and a density of 404.21 persons per km²...
and became a city after merging with the neighboring village of Ōno
Ōno, Ibaraki
was a village located in Kashima District, Ibaraki, Japan.On September 1, 1995 Ōno was merged with the town of Kashima, also from Kashima District, to form the new city of Kashima....
on September 1, 1995.
Kashima is the home of the J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
's most successful team to date, the Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers
are a Japanese professional association football club playing in the J. League Division 1. Antlers is derived from the city name, Kashima, which literally means "deer island"....
. Its home field, Kashima Soccer Stadium, was used as a site during the World Cup in 2002. The city is also the site of the Kashima Shrine
Kashima Shrine
Kashima Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Shinto kami Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto , one of the patron deities of martial arts. Dojo of kenjutsu and kendo sometimes display a kakejiku emblazoned with Kashima Taishin...
, a Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
temple which is considered the birthplace of many influential styles of swordplay (Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
) in Japan. It's one of the oldest shrines in eastern Japan, founded in 660 BC according to legend, and the real date is estimated from historical studies as the 4th century.
Kashima is the central city of the Kashima Industrial Zone, and it has a large industrial park with about 1500 factories, especially petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
plants. The Japanese Government created this zone in 1963, and the development was mostly completed in 1973.
Transportation
Kashima is at the eastern end of the JR Kashima LineKashima Line
The 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:...
, which connects it (through the Narita Line
Narita Line
The 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...
and Sobu Line) to 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...
and 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...
. The Higashi-Kantō Expressway
Higashi-Kanto Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:Officially the expressway is referred to as the Higashi-Kantō Expressway Mito Route....
follows a similar route from Kashima to Tokyo.
The closest major airport is 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....
, linked by expressway. There is a large international freight port, Kashima Port in the industrial zone.