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| Fujisawa 藤沢市 |
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| Fujisawa's location in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. | |
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  Fujisawa, Kanagawa
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| Fujisawa's location in Japan. | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Kanagawa Prefecture |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 69.51 km2 (26.84 sq mi) |
| Population (as of 2003) | |
| Total | 394,990 |
| Location | 35°20′N 139°29′E / 35.333°N 139.483°ECoordinates: 35°20′N 139°29′E / 35.333°N 139.483°E |
| Symbols | |
| Tree | Japanese Black Pine |
| Flower | Wistaria |
| Bird | European Kingfisher |
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| Fujisawa Government Office | |
| Mayor | Yasunori Ebine |
| Official website: Fujisawa City | |
Fujisawa (藤沢市 Fujisawa-shi) is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan.
The population of Fujisawa has been gradually rising, in line with other popular commuter cities in Kanagawa that feed Yokohama and Tokyo. As of 2005, the city had an estimated population of 394,990 and a density of 5,682.49 persons per km². As of April 2009, the population had risen to 405,939 (203,117 male, 202,822 female), distributed among 170,674 households. The total area is 69.51 km².
The rise in population mirrors that of other parts of Japan, whereby rural areas tend to develop into feeder suburbs for major metropolitan areas, with expanding populations, or suffer significant population and commercial decline. Areas such as Shonandai, in the more northerly plateau area of the city, have benefited from the influx of students for Keio and Bunkyo universities, while improved transport links, such as the Yokohama Subway line and express train services on the Odakyu line, have made it an increasingly attractive and cost-effective commuter suburb for Tokyo and Yokohama.
The coastal plain has seen increased population, with ever more dense housing, attracted by the maritime climate, proximity to good beaches, and the various traits of a 'Shonan lifestyle', often characterized by surfing, a relaxed beachside manner, and an attraction, that may seem a little baffling to visitors and some residents, for all things Hawaiian, such as quilts and dance. The Shonan image was forged at a time when the coastal area of Fujisawa was in transition from a seaside weekend hideaway, with holiday homes for city dwellers, into a medium sized city in its own right, and a significant commuter domicile. A leap forward, in terms of development and population, was made by the transfer of a vast area of coastal land, and former Imperial Navy training ground, from the US military to the Japan Defense Agency in the 1950s, that was subsequently transferred to civil use, and developed as a large public apartment complex in Tsujido Nishi Kaigan, at the extreme west of Fujisawa, bordering on Chigasaki City. Fujisawa remains at the centre of the 'Shonan Lifestyle' image, and its excellent rail and adequate road connections make it a very popular destination for day trippers from all over the Kanto area. Surfing and beach volleyball tournaments in summertime attract visitors, especially younger people, and they are also drawn to the seasonal bars and rest houses that are erected along the beach from Kugenuma Kaigan to Enoshima Kaigan. Fujisawa has two major firework displays (花火大会 Hanabi Taikai) in the summer, in late July and early August, usually sandwiched in between the similar festivals in Chigasaki, Hiratsuka, Kamakura, and Yokohama. Visitors are also attracted by temperatures usually being a few degrees cooler than further inland during summer, while being somewhat milder during winter. As such, it attracts both young people, especially as a marine sports or dating location, and older people.
The city was founded on October 1, 1940.
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Geography
Fujisawa is located in the central part of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It faces Sagami Bay of the Pacific Ocean. The northern part of the city is situated on the Sagamino plateau while the southern part is on the Shonan Dunes. The city lies on the path of the old Tōkaidō (東海道 とうかいどう lit. Eastern Sea Road), between the ancient capital of Kamakura to the east, and the city of Chigasaki to the west. North of Fujisawa are the cities of Yamato and Ebina, while Yokohama is to the north east. Fujisawa has three major topographical features: the island of Enoshima to the south connected to the Katase shoreline area by a road bridge, and two rivers, the Hikichigawa (引地川) and the Sakaigawa (境川), which run north-south. The Hikichigawa can be traced from an area now designated as a nature reserve park in Yamato City, and flows directly along the boundary of the joint US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Atsugi air base, Camp Zama, where General Douglas MacArthur first arrived in Japan in 1945. The Sakaigawa runs directly from the mountains between Machida City and Hachioji City, and for quite some distance forms the border between the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and Kanagawa Prefecture, but from Machida City centre the river can be directly followed by a foot and cycle path all the way to Fujisawa City centre, a distance of approximately 35 kilometers.Another cycle path runs along the Shonan Coastal path, from the Sagami River, Hiratsuka, to the Enoshima Bridge, Fujisawa.
History
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Fujisawa was mentioned in a document (Taiheiki) in the late 14th century. Fujisawa developed around Yugyo-ji temple, which was established in 1325. Fujisawa-shuku was a post town (宿場町 Shukuba-machi) along the Tōkaidō during the Edo period. Edward S. Morse started biological studies at Enoshima island in 1877. Koza county public office was established in 1878. Fujisawa Station of Tōkaidō Main Line was established in 1887. Fujisawaosaka town and Fujisawaotomi town were founded in 1889. Fujisawaosaka town and Fujisawaotomi town were united in 1907. Fujisawaosaka town, Kugenuma village, and the Meiji village were united and it became Fujisawa town in 1908. Fujisawa town became Fujisawa city in 1940. Muraoka village and Fujisawa city were united in 1941. Mutsuai village and Fujisawa city were united in 1942. Katase town and Fujisawa city were united in 1947. Goshomi village, Chogo, Takakura, Endo, and Fujisawa city were united in 1955.
Economy
Sony operates the Shonan Technology Center in Fujisawa.[1] In recent years, IBM, Panasonic, and other companies have closed factories in Fujisawa as part of broader restructuring programmes. However, Fujisawa maintains a considerable industrial base. Isuzu retains a large truck factory near Shonandai, Kobe Steel has a factory in the east of the city, as does NSK Microprecision, a maker of bearings and precision parts.
Fujisawa has extensive shopping facilities and has probably the largest commercial city centre on the Shonan coast.
Sightseeing and Points of Interest
In Fujisawa, popular sightseeing places are Kugenuma Beach and Enoshima Island. Kugenuma Beach is the birthplace of surfing and beach volleyball in Japan. In 1964, the sailing portion of the Tokyo Olympics were based at the Enoshima Marina on the north east side of the island. Enoshima also boasts a new aquarium, although it is actually on the mainland beside the Shonan Kaigan Park, and many attractions on the island, such as the botanical gardens, which include the Enoshima Lighthouse which is open to visitors and with a height of 119.6 meters above sea level affords an excellent view of the area and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji. There are also a number of famous shrines, caves on the south side of the island near an area of rock pools where many locals fish, and several ways in which visiting and traversing the small but hilly island can be made a little easier, such as the Sea Bus that operates between the Enoshima bridge and the rock pools on the south side, as well as an extensive network of outdoors escalators on the eastern side of the island. Enoshima is also famous for its population of cats, many strays, cared for by local residents.
Each year, in April, Mongolian sumo wrestlers visit a temple in Katase, near Enoshima, with the Mongolian ambassador, to give thanks for some of their compatriots having been rescued by locals during a shipwreck in the Edo era. The visiting wrestlers include top ranking grand champions, such as Asashōryū and Hakuhō.
Like many places in Japan, Fujisawa has its 'meibutsu' or famous,signature products. One of the most popular seasonal products is shirasu (しらす) very small sardines, similar to but much smaller and softer than whitebait, Koza pork (高座豚), originally made famous by its popularity within the foreign community of Yokohama, and Enoshima senbei (rice crackers).
Education
Fujisawa has the usual range of city and prefectural schools, including Shonan High School, one of the leading high schools in Kanagawa with present Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro as one example graduate, as well as a number of similar private institutions. There are four university campuses in Fujisawa; prestigious Keio University's Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) with three faculties and a graduate school in Endo, Nihon University's School of Natural Science at Mutsuai, and Tama University's Global Studies Faculty near Shonandai, all in the northern part of the city, and the Shonan Institute Of Technology (SIT) in Tsujido Nishikaigan to the south.
Sister city and Friendship city
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Sister city
- Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America (1959)
- Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (1961)
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada (1987)
- Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea (2002)
Friendship city
- Kunming, Yunnan province, People's Republic of China (1981)
Transportation
- Route 1, to Tokyo or Kyoto
- Route 134, to Yokosuka via Kamakura, or Hiratsuka
- Route 467, to Yamato
- Tōkaidō line (rail), to Tokyo or Atami
- Odakyu line (rail), to Shinjuku
- Enoden line (rail), to Kamakura
- Sagami Railway, to Futamatagawa
- Yokohama Municipal Subway, to Azamino
Tourist Attractions
- Enoshima Island
- Grand Stage Fujisawa
- Shirahata Shrine
- Shirahata Jinja is a shinto shrine, dedicated to Samukawahiko-no-Mikoto and Minamoto no Yoshitsune. There are two portable shrines, Yoshitsune and Benkei. Yoshitsune and Benkei were major Japanese historical figures of the late Heian period.
- Shojyoko-ji（Yugyo-ji） - Center temple of Ji-shu Buddhism.
- Kugenuma Beach
- The Ruin of Oba Castle
Religion
- Amazing Grace Church is a non-denominational Christian church
- Fujisawa Baptist Church founded in 1962
- United Church of Christ in Fujisawa is a Protestant church
References
- ^ "Access & Map." Sony. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fujisawa, Kanagawa |
- Official website in Japanese, Official website in English
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