Kofu, Yamanashi
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Yamanashi Prefecture
in Japan
.
As of May 1, 2011, the city had a estimate population of 197,540, with 85,794 household
s. The total area is 212.41 km².
Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province
". During the Sengoku period
, it was the stronghold of Takeda Shingen
.
Centuries ago the area which today is referred to as Yamanashi Prefecture
was known as Kai Province
. At that time the geographical denomination of ken (prefecture), was not yet in use, and the area was categorized as a fu. Located in the center of Kai, Kōfu's name was derived from a combination of kanji used in both Kai and fu. Alternate pronunciation of the characters resulted in the modern name of Kōfu.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kōfu area dating back as far as 6000 years BCE. However, the town of Kōfu was not formally established until 1519.
Kōfu is designated as one of the special cities of Japan
. On March 1, 2006 the city, with a population of 193,795, was amalgamated with the town of Nakamichi
, from Higashiyatsushiro District
, and the northern part of the village of Kamikuishiki
, from Nishiyatsushiro District
, increasing the population to 201,184.
, though it is less wet than either the south or Sea of Japan
coast due to its location in a shielded
mountain valley. Temperature ranges are noticeably greater than in coastal regions: in 2004 Kōfu reached a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F) previously almost unknown in Japan, and it has fallen below 0 °C (32 °F) as early as 26 October, which is about a month before the earliest freezing temperatures in such coastal cities as Kanazawa
or Tokyo.
is based in Kōfu. They play in the J. League division 2, and their home ground is the Kose Sports Stadium
.
, South Korea Chengdu
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, 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...
of Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
in 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 May 1, 2011, the city had a estimate population of 197,540, with 85,794 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. The total area is 212.41 km².
History
Kai Province
, also known as , is an old province in Japan in the area of Yamanashi Prefecture. It lies in central Honshū, west of Tokyo, in a landlocked mountainous region that includes Mount Fuji along its border with Shizuoka Prefecture....
". 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...
, it was the stronghold of Takeda Shingen
Takeda Shingen
, of Kai Province, was a preeminent daimyo in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the late stage of the Sengoku period.-Name:Shingen was called "Tarō" or "Katsuchiyo" during his childhood...
.
Centuries ago the area which today is referred to as Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
was known as Kai Province
Kai Province
, also known as , is an old province in Japan in the area of Yamanashi Prefecture. It lies in central Honshū, west of Tokyo, in a landlocked mountainous region that includes Mount Fuji along its border with Shizuoka Prefecture....
. At that time the geographical denomination of ken (prefecture), was not yet in use, and the area was categorized as a fu. Located in the center of Kai, Kōfu's name was derived from a combination of kanji used in both Kai and fu. Alternate pronunciation of the characters resulted in the modern name of Kōfu.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kōfu area dating back as far as 6000 years BCE. However, the town of Kōfu was not formally established until 1519.
Kōfu is designated as one of the special cities of Japan
Special cities of Japan
of Japan are cities with populations of at least 200,000, and are delegated a subset of the functions delegated to core cities.This category was established by the Local Autonomy Law, article 252 clause 26...
. On March 1, 2006 the city, with a population of 193,795, was amalgamated with the town of Nakamichi
Nakamichi, Yamanashi
was a town located in Higashiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi, Japan.On March 1, 2006 Nakamichi, along with the northern part of the village of Kamikuishiki , was merged into the city of Kōfu....
, from Higashiyatsushiro District
Higashiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi
Higashiyatsushiro was a district located in Yamanashi, Japan.As of March 2006, the district has an estimated population of 513. The total area is 37.15 km²....
, and the northern part of the village of Kamikuishiki
Kamikuishiki, Yamanashi
was a village located in Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2006, the village had an estimated population of 1,501 and a density of 17 persons per km²...
, from Nishiyatsushiro District
Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi
is a district located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.As of February 1, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 17,878 and a density of 238 persons per km²...
, increasing the population to 201,184.
Climate
Kōfu has the typical Honshū humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, though it is less wet than either the south or Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
coast due to its location in a shielded
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
mountain valley. Temperature ranges are noticeably greater than in coastal regions: in 2004 Kōfu reached a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F) previously almost unknown in Japan, and it has fallen below 0 °C (32 °F) as early as 26 October, which is about a month before the earliest freezing temperatures in such coastal cities as Kanazawa
Kanazawa, Ishikawa
is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
or Tokyo.
Notable places
- Kai-Zenkō temple
- Maizuru Castle ParkMaizuru Castle ParkMaizuru Castle Park is a park and historical site in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan. It contains the ruins of Kōfu Castle , also called Maizuru Castle, which is about 400 years old and has been designated as a Yamanashi Historical Site...
- Takeda ShrineTakeda Shrineis a Shinto shrine located in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, and houses the kami of Takeda Shingen.-History:After the end of the Meiji Restoration, a push began to honor the loyalists who had served during the time. Also, with the completion of the Russo-Japanese War, a shrine was needed to...
- Yumura Spa
- Yamanashi Science MuseumYamanashi Science Museumis a science museum located in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The museum introduces mainly the topics related to Astronomy, and Technology.- History :...
Notable people
- Hidetoshi NakataHidetoshi Nakata, is a retired Japanese football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation.Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S...
, footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who last played with the Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the Premier League, but has since retired following the 2006 World Cup. - Naoko TakeuchiNaoko Takeuchiis a Japanese manga artist who lives in Tokyo, Japan. Takeuchi's works have a wide following among anime and manga fans worldwide. Her most popular work, Sailor Moon, rose to become one of the most recognized manga and anime products to date.-Early life:...
, Creator of Sailor MoonSailor MoonSailor Moon, known as , is a media franchise created by manga artist Naoko Takeuchi. Fred Patten credits Takeuchi with popularizing the concept of a team of magical girls, and Paul Gravett credits the series with "revitalizing" the magical-girl genre itself...
and other comics. - K.A.ZK.A.Z, better known by his stage name K.A.Z, is a Japanese musician and songwriter. He is known for his work with Oblivion Dust, hide with Spread Beaver and Vamps.- Career :...
, a Japanese musician, songwriter and Guitarist of Oblivion DustOblivion DustOblivion Dust is a Japanese post-grunge/alternative rock band very influenced by early 90’s American rock bands, but with a trademark sonority that makes the band unique...
, Spin AquaSpin AquaSpin Aqua were a short-lived indies musical project between the model Anna Tsuchiya and the former Oblivion Dust guitarist K.A.Z. The duo performed music together for a year and seven months; releasing music for less than a year under the indies label Ki/oon Records.-Information:The band debuted...
and most recently, VAMPSVampsVamps is a Japanese rock band formed in 2008 by Hyde and K.A.Z, and signed to Hyde's record label Vamprose.- History :...
.
Sport
A J-League football team, Ventforet KofuVentforet Kofu
are a Japanese football club from Kofu. They compete in the J. League Division 1, and their home ground is the Kose Sports Stadium.The word "Ventforet" is coined combining two French words Vent and Forêt...
is based in Kōfu. They play in the J. League division 2, and their home ground is the Kose Sports Stadium
Kose Sports Stadium
Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kofu, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It serves as a home ground of Ventforet Kofu. The stadium holds 17,000 people and was built in 1985....
.
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Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
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Lodi, California
Lodi is a city located in , in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. The population was 62,134 at the 2010 census. The California Department of Finance's population estimate as of January 1, 2011 is 62,473....
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, Japan