Omihachiman, Shiga
Encyclopedia
is a city
in Shiga Prefecture
, Japan
.
The city was founded on March 31, 1954. In the quinquennial census of 2010, it had a population
of 81,730 (2005: 80,610). With a total area of 76.97 km² (30 sq mi), the population density
is 1,062 persons per km².
On March 21, 2010, the town of Azuchi
from Gamō District
merged with the city to create the current city of Ōmihachiman.
". This is caused when Hachiman Town (the forerunner of this city) became a city, there was the city of Yahata in Fukuoka Prefecture
. In Japanese, "Hachiman" and "Yahata" are written by same kanji
, so "Ōmi" was added to avoid being confused. "Hachiman
" is the Shinto god of war. Ironically, from the western point of view, his symbol is the dove.
built a castle and gathered many merchants in the last part of 16th century. Fomer merchant's residences and a canal used for transport are preserved in an old city area, designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings
and an Important Cultural Landscape
.
In 1905, an American architect William Merrell Vories
came to Ōmihachiman as an English language teacher at commercial high school. Two years later he resigned the original work, but he spent most of his productive life here. He handed down western-style buildings, a pharmaceutical company, an educational foundation and a hospital to the city.
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...
in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
, 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...
.
The city was founded on March 31, 1954. In the quinquennial census of 2010, it had a 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 81,730 (2005: 80,610). With a total area of 76.97 km² (30 sq mi), the 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...
is 1,062 persons per km².
On March 21, 2010, the town of Azuchi
Azuchi, Shiga
was a town located in Gamō District, Shiga, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,217 and a density of 502.76 persons per km². The total area was 24.30 km²....
from Gamō District
Gamo District, Shiga
is a district located in Shiga, Japan.As of September 1, 2011, the district has an estimated population of 35,629 and a density of 220 persons per km²...
merged with the city to create the current city of Ōmihachiman.
The naming
"Ōmihachiman" means "Hachiman in ŌmiOmi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
". This is caused when Hachiman Town (the forerunner of this city) became a city, there was the city of Yahata in Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
. In Japanese, "Hachiman" and "Yahata" are written by same kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
, so "Ōmi" was added to avoid being confused. "Hachiman
Hachiman
In Japanese mythology, is the Japanese syncretic god of archery and war, incorporating elements from both Shinto and Buddhism. Although often called the god of war, he is more correctly defined as the tutelary god of warriors. He is also divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people...
" is the Shinto god of war. Ironically, from the western point of view, his symbol is the dove.
History
Ōmihachiman had been a developed commercial town even since Toyotomi HidetsuguToyotomi Hidetsugu
was a nephew and retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who lived during the Sengoku period of the 16th century of Japan.A practitioner of the shudō tradition, Hidetsugu had a number of Wakashū...
built a castle and gathered many merchants in the last part of 16th century. Fomer merchant's residences and a canal used for transport are preserved in an old city area, designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings
Groups of Traditional Buildings
The Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs recognizes and protects the country's cultural properties under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. is a category introduced by a 1975 amendment of the law which mandates the protection of groups of traditional buildings which,...
and an Important Cultural Landscape
Cultural Landscapes of Japan
Landscapes which have evolved together with the way of life and geocultural features of a region, and which are indispensable for understanding the lifestyle of the Japanese people, are recognized by the government of Japan as under article 2, paragraph 1, item 5 of the Law for the Protection of...
.
In 1905, an American architect William Merrell Vories
William Merrell Vories
William Merrell Vories or Hitotsuyanagi Mereru was an educator, architect, missionary and entrepreneur born in the United States who worked mainly in Shiga prefecture in Japan.-Biography:...
came to Ōmihachiman as an English language teacher at commercial high school. Two years later he resigned the original work, but he spent most of his productive life here. He handed down western-style buildings, a pharmaceutical company, an educational foundation and a hospital to the city.
Outside Japan
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