Map showing location of Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture (as of 2006).

Ube (宇部市, Ube-shi^?) is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan on the Seto Inland Sea.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 172,793 and the density of 821.10 persons per km². The total area is 210.44 km².

The city was founded on November 1, 1921 and merged with neighbouring Kusunoki Town on November 1 2004.

Its industrial base is in chemicals, concrete and steel. The presence of Ube Industries in the city's economy is significant.

Previously a coal-mining town the city has developed an effective policy to improve its environment. In particular it has combatted the problem of air pollution and its success in doing so saw it being recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was added to the UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1997 Globabl 500 entry.

The city participates in an extensive recycling program that separates garbage types in 4 major categories with specified pick-up times and locations each week.

Tokiwa Park (Tokiwa Koen)

Tokiwa park from the coal-mining museum tower in the park

Ube publicises itself as 'a city of greenery, flowers and sculptures'. Tokiwa Park is the centrepiece of this marketing, as it covers a large area near the centre of the city and houses a large number of modern, mostly domestic sculptures on the shores of the Lake Tokiwa. The sculptures can be found dotted around the city. A sculpture competition is held biennially to provide new additions, see the following page[1] for more information and images of some the current exhibits.

One of the main attractions of the park is a pelican called 'Katta-kun' born in 1985, so named after his parents who were from Calcutta, India. There are many pelicans and swans in the park, including black swans. There is also a coal mining museum with a good view over the city and airport from the top of the tower.

Sister cities

In 2005 the city celebrated 25 years of sister city relations with Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. A sister relationship with Weihai, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China has been in place since May 1992. Ube holds two festivals each year, one in May and the other in November featuring food stands and carnival games.

Transportation

The city is served by Yamaguchi Prefecture's only airport, Yamaguchi Ube Airport, with daily flights to and from Tokyo and by three Japan Railway train lines. The main train station located in 'downtown' Ube is called Ube-Shinkawa Station. Ube Station is farther inland and is located in a more suburban area known as Kōnan (厚南). The closest Shinkansen (bullet train) stations are Asa Station and Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

External links

• Ube official website (in Japanese)
• Ube official website (English version)

Coordinates: 33°57′06″N, 131°14′48″E

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