Oita, Oita
Encyclopedia
is the capital city
of Ōita Prefecture
located on the island of Kyushu
, Japan
.
of 475,861 with 205,639 household
s and a population density
of 949.35 persons per km².
The total area of the city, after the merger with Town of Notsuharu
and Town of Saganoseki
on January 1, 2005, is 501.25 km².
The city is bordered by City of Beppu
to the northwest, City of Yufu
to the west, City of Taketa
to the southwest, City of Bungo-ōno
to the south, and City of Usuki
to the southeast. The north of the city faces Beppu Bay
and the Seto Inland Sea.
was formed along the Beppu Gulf coast. Among the plants in the region were flagship plants of Nippon Steel
and Showa Denko
.
In the 1970s, Toshiba
and Canon built and expanded their plants in inland area. By then, the city emerged as a major production center of electronics products such as LSIs and digital camera
s.
The downtown and shopping districts are located to the north of Oita Station
. Recently, however, the area has been gradually declining, because the main commercial areas have been dispersed due to the construction of big shopping mall
s in the suburbs.
During the Sengoku period
(15th - 16th century), the powerful Ōtomo clan
based in Funai and the area prospered as a key port of trade with Portugal
and Ming Dynasty
China. Ōtomo Sōrin
, a famous Christian Daimyo
, first introduced western culture. It was in Funai that the first western style hospital was built and the first Japanese choir was formed.
.
At the entrance to the Takasaki-yama park is the "Marine Palace" aquarium, also known as "Umi Tamago", or "Sea Egg".
The Ōita Stadium
, also known as Big Eye or Kyushu Oil Dome, is situated along the city expressway. It is the home field of the J. League
football club Oita Trinita
and is used for large local events.
In the middle of the city, there are many shops and department stores. Some major departmental stores include Tokiwa, Parco
, Frespo Kasugaura, and D Plaza. There are also shopping mall
s in the suburbs, such as Tokiwa Wasada Town and Park Place Oita.
Outside the city, scenic spots include mountain plateaus, seaside villages and towns renowned for onsen
(geothermal hot springs).
Ōita is also famous for the intestines of puffer fish.
is another famous food in this city.
where Nippō Main Line
, Kyudai Main Line
, and Hohi Main Line
of JR Kyushu
gathers.
Buses are the primary mode of transportation in Oita, run by two main bus service companies. The Oita Bus Company operates bus routes in the city. The Oita Kotsu Company runs north of the city. For long distance bus services, these two companies, as well as Kamenoi Bus Company operate bus routes from Oita to main place of Kyushu, such as Fukuoka
and Kumamoto, and Osaka
, Nagoya and more.
Oita Airport
is located nearby, at Kunisaki
, and used to be accessible via hovercraft
, which takes about 30 minutes. However, this service has been suspended since late 2009. Other ways of accessing the airport is by bus, taxi or a private vehicle.
The Ōita Expressway
, Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, Japan National Route 10 and Japan National Route 210 all run through the city.
Many ships depart from the Port of Oita, to places such as Kansai
, and Shikoku
.
Sporting events held in Oita include:
National Universities
Prefectural University
Private Universities
Prefectural high schools
, China (1979) Austin, Texas
, USA (1990) Guangzhou
, China (1997) Vitória, Brazil
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 Ōita Prefecture
Oita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island. The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.- History :Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, and Toyo no kuni...
located on the island of Kyushu
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...
.
Demographics and geography
Ōita is the most populous city in Ōita Prefecture. As of June 30, 2011, the city has an estimated populationPopulation
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 475,861 with 205,639 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 949.35 persons per km².
The total area of the city, after the merger with Town of Notsuharu
Notsuharu, Oita
was a town located in Ōita District, Ōita, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Notsuharu, along with the town of Saganoseki, from Kitaamabe District, was merged with the expanded city of Ōita....
and Town of Saganoseki
Saganoseki, Oita
was a town located in Kitaamabe District, Ōita, Japan.On January 1, 2005 Saganoseki, along with the town of Notsuharu, from Ōita District, was merged with the expanded city of Ōita....
on January 1, 2005, is 501.25 km².
The city is bordered by City of Beppu
Beppu, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan, at the west end of Beppu Bay. As of January 1, 2011, the city has an official population of 125,664 and a total area of 125.13 km², with a population density of 977 persons per km²....
to the northwest, City of Yufu
Yufu, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on October 1, 2005 as a result of the merger between the towns of Hasama, Shōnai and Yufuin, all from Ōita District....
to the west, City of Taketa
Taketa, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 16,807 and a density of 83.69 persons per km². The total area is 200.83 km²....
to the southwest, City of Bungo-ōno
Bungo-ono, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2005 as a result of the merger between the municipalities of Asaji, Chitose, Inukai, Kiyokawa, Mie, Ogata and Ōno ....
to the south, and City of Usuki
Usuki, Oita
is a city located on the east coast of Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It is famous for its Usuki Stone Buddhas, a national treasure, and its soy sauce production. Recently it has become known for having the look and feel of a Japanese castle town...
to the southeast. The north of the city faces Beppu Bay
Beppu Bay
Beppu Bay is an arm of the western end of the Seto Inland Sea of Japan.Beppu Bay is located on the northeast coast of Kyushu in Ōita Prefecture. The city of Ōita lies on its southern coast and the city of Beppu at its western end....
and the Seto Inland Sea.
Economy
During the 1960s and 1970s, an industrial regionIndustrial region
Industrial region or industrial area refers to a region with extremely dense industry. It is usually heavily urbanized.-Brazil:*ABCD Region, sometimes called ABC is an industrial region made up of seven municipalities with the greater metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil.-Korea:*Kaesŏng...
was formed along the Beppu Gulf coast. Among the plants in the region were flagship plants of Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel
, also referred to as , was formed in 1970. Nippon Steel Corporation is the world's 4th largest steel producer by volume.-Early years:Nippon Steel was created by the merger of two giants, Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel...
and Showa Denko
Showa Denko
is a leading Japanese chemical engineering firm.Formed in 1939 by the merger of Nihon Electrical Industries and Showa Fertilizers, Showa Denko K.K. manufactures chemical products and industrial materials. SDK's products serve a wide array of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic...
.
In the 1970s, Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
and Canon built and expanded their plants in inland area. By then, the city emerged as a major production center of electronics products such as LSIs and digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s.
The downtown and shopping districts are located to the north of Oita Station
Oita Station
is a JR Kyushu railway station located in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan.The station opened on November 1, 1911.-Limited Express Trains:* Sonic * Nichirin * Yufuin-no-mori, Yufu...
. Recently, however, the area has been gradually declining, because the main commercial areas have been dispersed due to the construction of big shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s in the suburbs.
History
The Ōita area is historically known as , the capital of .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...
(15th - 16th century), the powerful Ōtomo clan
Otomo clan
The Ōtomo clan was a Japanese clan whose power stretched from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, spanning over 400 years. The clan's hereditary lands lay in Kyūshū....
based in Funai and the area prospered as a key port of trade with Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
China. Ōtomo Sōrin
Otomo Sorin
, also known as Fujiwara no Yoshishige and Ōtomo Yoshishige , was a Japanese feudal lord of the Ōtomo clan, one of the few to have converted to Christianity. The eldest son of Ōtomo Yoshiaki, he inherited the domain of Funai, on Kyūshū, Japan's southernmost main island, from his father...
, a famous Christian 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...
, first introduced western culture. It was in Funai that the first western style hospital was built and the first Japanese choir was formed.
Landmarks and points of interest
Takasaki mountain (高崎山) that borders Beppu is famous for wild monkeys, specifically the Japanese MacaqueJapanese Macaque
The Japanese macaque , historically known as saru , but now known as Nihonzaru to distinguish it from other primates, is a terrestrial Old World monkey species native to Japan....
.
At the entrance to the Takasaki-yama park is the "Marine Palace" aquarium, also known as "Umi Tamago", or "Sea Egg".
The Ōita Stadium
Oita Stadium
Ōita Bank Dome is a multi-purpose stadium in the city of Ōita in Ōita Prefecture on Kyushu Island in Japan.The stadium is currently called , or as an abbreviated form, by naming rights. It was formerly called as sponsored by the Kyushu Oil until early 2010. It is primarily used for soccer, and is...
, also known as Big Eye or Kyushu Oil Dome, is situated along the city expressway. It is the home field 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...
football club Oita Trinita
Oita Trinita
is a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita...
and is used for large local events.
In the middle of the city, there are many shops and department stores. Some major departmental stores include Tokiwa, Parco
Parco
Parco is a town in Dêngqên County, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.-See also:*List of towns and villages in Tibet*Pak Arab Refinery...
, Frespo Kasugaura, and D Plaza. There are also shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s in the suburbs, such as Tokiwa Wasada Town and Park Place Oita.
Outside the city, scenic spots include mountain plateaus, seaside villages and towns renowned for onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
(geothermal hot springs).
Ōita is also famous for the intestines of puffer fish.
is another famous food in this city.
Transportation
The principal railway station of the city is Ōita StationOita Station
is a JR Kyushu railway station located in Ōita, Ōita Prefecture, Japan.The station opened on November 1, 1911.-Limited Express Trains:* Sonic * Nichirin * Yufuin-no-mori, Yufu...
where Nippō Main Line
Nippo Main Line
frame|Nippō Main LineThe is a railway line in Kyūshū, in southern Japan. Part of the Kyushu Railway Company system, it follows the east coast of the island. The line originates at Kokura Station in Kokura, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka...
, Kyudai Main Line
Kyudai Main Line
is a railway line in Kyūshū. It originates at Kurume Station, Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture and ends at Ōita Station, Ōita in Ōita Prefecture. It is also known as the Yufu Kōgen Line....
, and Hohi Main Line
Hohi Main Line
frame|tight|Hōhi Main LineThe is a railway line on Kyūshū, in southern Japan. Part of the Kyushu Railway Company system, it connects the west coast and the east coast of the island...
of JR Kyushu
Kyushu Railway Company
The , also referred to as , is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group . It operates intercity rail services in Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait between Fukuoka and Busan, South Korea.When Japan Railways was divided in...
gathers.
Buses are the primary mode of transportation in Oita, run by two main bus service companies. The Oita Bus Company operates bus routes in the city. The Oita Kotsu Company runs north of the city. For long distance bus services, these two companies, as well as Kamenoi Bus Company operate bus routes from Oita to main place of Kyushu, such as Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
and Kumamoto, and Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Nagoya and more.
Oita Airport
Oita Airport
is an airport in Kunisaki, Ōita, Japan, northeast of Ōita.-Airlines and destinations:...
is located nearby, at Kunisaki
Kunisaki, Oita
is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.Kunisaki City was founded on March 31, 2006, as a result of the merger between the towns of Kunisaki , Aki, Kunimi and Musashi, all from Higashikunisaki District....
, and used to be accessible via hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
, which takes about 30 minutes. However, this service has been suspended since late 2009. Other ways of accessing the airport is by bus, taxi or a private vehicle.
The Ōita Expressway
Ōita Expressway
' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Tosu to Oita linking with the Higashi Kyushu Expressway. It runs through the southern half of Fukuoka prefecture, and the northern half of the Oita prefecture...
, Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, Japan National Route 10 and Japan National Route 210 all run through the city.
Many ships depart from the Port of Oita, to places such as Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
, and Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
.
Sports
Annual sporting events include:- Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon, which traces a path between Ōita and its neighbouring city of Beppu. The competition has been held every year since 1952 and is classed as an IAAF Silver Label road race.
- The Kyūshū Ekiden, beginning in Nagasaki and ending in FukuokaFukuoka, Fukuokais the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
, the world's longest relay raceRelay raceDuring a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
Sporting events held in Oita include:
- 1966 National Sports Festival of JapanNational Sports Festival of Japanis the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...
- 2001 Kirin CupKirin CupThe Kirin Cup is an annual association football tournament sponsored in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 as an international club competition. From 1992 onwards the format was changed to a round robin national...
- 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World CupThe 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
- 2003, 2006, 2007 Kirin Challenge Cup
- 2005 J. League All-Star SoccerJ. League All-Star SoccerThe J. League All-Star Soccer, called JOMO All-Star Soccer for sponsorship reasons, is an annual exhibition match organised by the Japan Football Association and J. League. It has been played each year since the inception of J. League in 1993. The players are chosen by the fan voting and the...
Sports teams and facilities
| Club | Sports | League | Venue | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oita Trinita Oita Trinita is a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita... |
Football Football (soccer) Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball... |
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... Division 1 |
Ōita Stadium Oita Stadium Ōita Bank Dome is a multi-purpose stadium in the city of Ōita in Ōita Prefecture on Kyushu Island in Japan.The stadium is currently called , or as an abbreviated form, by naming rights. It was formerly called as sponsored by the Kyushu Oil until early 2010. It is primarily used for soccer, and is... |
1994(year of starting as Oita Trinity, changed to current name from 1999) |
| Vasagey Oita | Futsal Futsal Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"... |
F. League F. League The F. League is the top league for Futsal in Japan. The winning team obtains the participation right to the AFC Futsal Club Championship.- Overview:... |
Oita Prefectural General Gymnasium | 2003 |
| Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler was a former men's volleyball team based in Oita city, Oita, Japan. It played in V.League, the top tier of the Japanese volleyball hierarchy.Weisse Adler means "white eagle" in German.-History:... |
Volleyball Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... |
V.League V.League (Japan) The V.Premier League is the top-level volleyball league for both men and women in Japan. The league started in 1994.The competitions are organized by the Japan Volleyball Association.... |
TOTO TOTO (company) was founded in 1917. It is a company based in Kitakyushu, Japan. It is the world's largest toilet manufacturer.The name "TOTO" is an abbreviation of the two Japanese words forming its full name, . The company invented and patented the Washlet. Plants outside Japan are:*Beijing Toto, China*Taiwan... Oita factory gymnasium (TOTO大分工場体育館) |
1996(year of starting as Miyoshi Department of Cardiology EKG, changed to current name from 2006) |
Education
Oita City operates all public elementary and junior high schools, while the prefecture operates the high schools.National Universities
- Oita UniversityOita Universityis a national university in Ōita, Ōita, Japan. The precursor of the school was founded in 1921 and was chartered as a university in 1949....
Prefectural University
- Oita University of Nursing and Health SciencesOita University of Nursing and Health Sciencesis a public university in Ōita, Ōita, Japan, established in 1998.-External links:*...
Private Universities
- Nippon Bunri UniversityNippon Bunri Universityis a private university in Ōita, Ōita, Japan. The school was established in 1967 and adopted its present name in 1982.-External links:* *...
- Beppu UniversityBeppu Universityis a private university in Ōita Prefecture, Japan. It has campuses at the cities of Beppu and Ōita.The predecessor of the school was founded in 1908, and it was chartered as a university in 1954.-External links:*...
- Oita Campus
Prefectural high schools
- Oita Uenogaoka High School
- Oita Oginodai High School
- Oita Kogyo High School
- Oita Shogyo High School
- Oita Tsurusaki High School
- Oita Nishi Highs School
- Oita Higashi High School
- Oita Hofu High School (middle and high school)
- Oita Maizuru High School
- Oita Minami High School
- Geijutsu Midorigaoka High School
- Jouhou Kagaku High School
- Tsurusaki Kogyo High School
Famous people from Ōita
See also :Category:People from Ōita (city).- Arata IsozakiArata IsozakiArata Isozaki is a Japanese architect from Ōita. He graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1954. Isozaki worked under Kenzo Tange before establishing his own firm in 1963. He was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 1986.In 2005, Arata Isozaki founded the Italian branch of his office: Arata Isozaki &...
, architect - Akira Nishikino, singer
- Atsuhiro Miura, football player
- Chiyotaikai RyūjiChiyotaikai RyujiChiyotaikai Ryūji , is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1992 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for 65 consecutive tournaments from 1999 until 2009, making him the longest serving ōzeki in the modern...
, sumo wrestler - Daisuke MiyazakiDaisuke Miyazakiis a Japanese handball player. He played for BM Alcobendas in 09/10 season, currently plays for Osaki Osol.He has competed in Pro Sportsman No. 1 five times. He has won three times in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He came close in 2007, resulting in 4th place, with Paul Terek as the winner, and in 2010 he...
, handball player - Eri FukatsuEri FukatsuEri Fukatsu , nicknamed , is a Japanese actress.Eri Fukatsu was born in Ōita, Ōita, Japan. Among other things, she has appeared in the TV series and the subsequent spin-off movies of the series. She is managed by Amuse Inc...
, actress - Kiyoshi Imaizumi, rugby player
- Kosetsu Minami, singer
- Mao AbeMao Abeis a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted in 2009 with the album Free.- Biography :Abe started learning the piano from age three, and from junior high school she had begun to want to be a singer. She stopped learning the piano in favour of the guitar, wanting to be an acoustic pop...
, singer-songwriter - Naomi Zaizen, actress
- Seiichi UchikawaSeiichi UchikawaSeiichi Uchikawa is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He rose to prominence in 2008 with a league-leading .378 batting average...
, baseball player - Shigeichi NaganoShigeichi NaganoBorn on 30 March 1925 in Ōita City, Nagano studied economics at Keio University . On graduating, he joined a trading company, but soon resigned. He was recruited by Natori Yōnosuke for Weekly Sun News ; and in 1949 moved to Iwanami Shoten where, again under Natori, he did the photography for about...
, photographer - Teppei Tsuchiya, baseball player
- Tomiichi MurayamaTomiichi Murayamais a retired Japanese politician who served as the 81st Prime Minister of Japan from June 30, 1994 to January 11, 1996. He was the head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan and the first Socialist prime minister in nearly fifty years...
, 81st Prime Minister of JapanPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office... - Yūko KotegawaYuko Kotegawais a Japanese actress from the city of Ōita.- Biography :Yūko graduated from high school in the city of Ōita. She placed first in the 1976 Miss Salad Girl contest . She landed a part in a Kanebo cosmetics commercial and joined Toho Entertainment. Her sister Nobuko is also in acting.Yūko made her...
, actress - Yūsuke SantamariaYusuke Santamaria, born , is an actor and singer born March 12, 1971 in Ōita Ōita Prefecture, Japan who premiered primarily on Japanese networks such as JDTV and JHJ. He was best known for his work on many popular game shows, television programs, and shorts. He is also known simply as "Yūsuke"...
, tarentoTarentois a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line... - Yuya AndoYuya AndoYuya Ando is a professional baseball player from Ōita City, Japan. He is part of the starting rotation for the Hanshin Tigers Japanese baseball team.-Career:...
, baseball player - Sashihara Rino, AKB48AKB48AKB48 is a Japanese female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto.The group has achieved enormous popularity in Japan. Its ten latest consecutive singles topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart...
Team A member
Sister cities
Aveiro, Portugal (1978) WuhanWuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, China (1979) Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, USA (1990) Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, China (1997) Vitória, Brazil