| Hachinohe 八戸 |
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| — Special city — | |||
| 八戸市 • Hachinohe City | |||
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  Hachinohe
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| Coordinates: 40°30′N 141°29′E / 40.5°N 141.483°E | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Tōhoku | ||
| Prefecture | Aomori | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Makoto Kobayashi | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 305.17 km2 (117.8 sq mi) | ||
| Population (September 1 2009) |
238,421 | ||
| - Density | 781/km2 (2,022.8/sq mi) | ||
| City Symbols | |||
| - Tree | Japanese Yew | ||
| - Flower | Chrysanthemum | ||
| - Bird | Black-tailed Gull | ||
| Website | Hachinohe City | ||
| Phone number | 0178-43-2111 | ||
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1-1-1, Uchimaru, Hachinohe-shi, Aomori-ken |
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Hachinohe (八戸市 Hachinohe-shi) is a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 238,421and a density of 781 persons per km². Its total area was 305.17 km².
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Geography
Hachinohe is located in the flatlands on the east coast of Aomori prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Neighbouring municipalities
Aomori Prefecture
Iwate Prefecture
History
The area around Hachinohe has been occupied since prehistoric times, and was a major population center for the Emishi people. Numerous Jomon period remains have been discovered within the borders of Hachinohe. The area was nominally under control of the Northern Fujiwara in the Heian period, and became part of the holdings granted to the Nanbu clan after the defeat of the North Fujiwara by Minamoto Yoritomo in the Kamakura period. The Nanbu established numerous horse ranches, accompanied by numbered fortified settlements. During the Edo period, it was initially part of Morioka Domain, but in 1664 the Tokugawa Shogunate authorized the creation of a separate 20,000 koku Hachinohe Domain for a branch line of the Nanbu clan. The town prospered as a castle town centered on Hachinohe Castle, and served as a small commercial centre and port for the fishing grounds off southeastern Hokkaidō. Today, the port still serves the fishing industry as well as a number of international cargo vessels.
After the Meiji Restoration, Hachinohe Domain was abolished, and replaced by Hachinohe Prefecture, which was subsequently merged into Aomori Prefecture. Initially, there was a debate as to whether the capital of newly-formed Aomori Prefecture should be at Hachinohe or Hirosaki; however, due to strong rivalry between the former Nanbu domain and former Tsugaru Domain, the Meiji government decided to build a new town called Aomori is a central location, and to designate it as the capital of the prefecture. Per the cadastral reform of 1889, Hachinohe Town was created within Sannohe District. In 1901, it merged with neighboring Choja Village, and on May 1, 1929 with neighboring Konakano, Minato and Same villages to form Hachinohe City.
The city further expanded by annexing Shimonaganawashiro Village in 1942, Korekawa Village in 1954, Ichikawa, Kaminaganawashiro, Tachi and Toyosaki villages in 1955 and Odate Village in 1958. On March 31, 2005 the village of Nangō was also merged into Hachinohe.
From December 2002, the northern terminus of the Tōhoku Shinkansen is at Hachinohe Station, connecting it to Tokyo Station in under three hours.
Economy
Hachinohe is the largest city in eastern Aomori prefecture, and serves as the regional industrial and commercial center. Commercial fishing still plays a major role in the local economy, with Hachinohe port having one of the largest volumes of landed fish in Japan. However, since its designation as a new industrial city in 1964, Hachinohe has developed a large coastal industrial belt with a diverse range of chemical, steel, cement and fertilizer products. Major industrial parks include the Hachinohe High Tech Park and Hachinohe North-Interchange Industrial Complex. Hachinohe Port is a major international port for northern Japan.
Tourist attractions and festivals
- The symbol of Hachinohe is the Yawata-uma, with a wooden horse with gold saddle markings and a decorative plume attached to its head. The Hachinohe area has been known since the Kamakura period for its breed of war horses. Also, farming horses have supported the lives of the commoners and have often been used as the theme for dances and folk tales. The art of Yawata-uma figurines is a regional art form and popular souvenir.
- Kabushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine that also serves as a habitat for forty thousand seagulls. It is situated on the bayside. There is a festival there on the third Sunday of April each year.
- Enburi is a city-wide festival which is also celebrated in nearby towns. The object of the festival is to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. It originated as a dance with an agricultural tool (the eburi; enburi is a local pronunciation), which was used to teach people how to cultivate the land. Nowadays it is a parade of 15-20 people, with 3-5 dancers and a singer accompanied by wooden flutes, drums and bells. The festival takes place February 17–20, and marks the official end of the long, harsh winter.
- Sansha Taisai is another city-wide festival and is considered to be the main festival of the town. It is also billed as "Japan's Biggest Float Festival". Sansha means "three shrines" and Taisai means "festival": It is held by three Shinto shrines: Ogami Jinja, Shinra Jinja, and Shinmei-gu. Floats proceed through the main streets of the city, accompanied by people with drums, flutes and loud calls. 27 different floats are used, and they are proudly constructed and flourished by the members of various organizations, such as schools and the city hall. The floats are also accompanied by men in samurai costumes on horseback, and Tiger Dancers. On the second and third days of the festival, a traditional game of a sport similar to polo is held at the stables of Shinra Shrine. This sport (賀美流騎馬打毬 - Kaga BiRyu Kiba Dakyû) is officially an "intangible cultural asset" of Aomori Prefecture. Sansha Taisai takes place from July 31 to August 4 every year.
- The ruins of Edo period Hachinohe Castle and earlier Muromachi period Ne Castle (National Historic Landmark) are located in the city.
Transportation
Railway
- East Japan Railway Company
- Aoimori Railway
- Hachinohe Rinkai Railway (freight only)
Highway
Seaport
Notable people from Hachinohe
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) |
- Yuri Fujikawa - politician
- Motoko Hani - journalist
- Masako Katsuki - seiyu
- Yoichi Kitayama, musician
- Yoko Kudo - AV actress
- Conchita Matsumoto
- Tetsuo Miura - Akutagawa Award winning author
- Yuzuki Murai - writer
- Yoshio Otani - musician
- Marimo Ragawa - manga artist
- Shimpei Ruike - jazz musician
- Yoshitake Tanaka - actor, entrepreneur
- Mikako Umenai - singer
Sister City relations
Federal Way, Washington since 1993[1]
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hachinohe, Aomori |
- Hachinohe official website (Japanese)
- Hachinohe travel guide from Wikitravel (English)
- Hachinohe Information page (English)
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