Niigata, Niigata

Niigata (æ–°æ½Ÿå¸‚, Niigata-shi) is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, in the ChÅ«bu region and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.

As of January 31, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 804,193 and a population density of 1,107.57 persons per kmÂ². The total area is 726.09Â kmÂ².

With a long history as a port town, Niigata became a free port following the Meiji Restoration. Niigata's city government was established in 1889. Mergers with nearby municipalities in 2005 allowed the city's population to jump to 810,000. The annexation of the surrounding area has also given the city the greatest rice paddy field acreage in Japan. On April 1, 2007, it became the first government-designated city on the Japan Sea coast of Honshu.

History

People have inhabited the Niigata area since the JÅmon period, though much of the current land was still beneath the sea at the time. According to the Nihon Shoki, a fortress was built in the area in AD 647.

In the 16th century, a port called Niigata was established at the mouth of the Shinano River, while a port town with the name Nuttari developed at the mouth of the Agano River. The area prospered beneath the rule of Uesugi Kenshin during the Sengoku Period.

A system of canals was constructed on the main island of Niigata in the 17th century. During this period, the courses of the Shinano and Agano rivers gradually changed until they poured into the Sea of Japan at the same location. As a result, Niigata prospered as a port town, serving as a port of call for Japanese trade ships traversing the Sea of Japan.

The Matsugasaki Canal was constructed in 1730 to drain the Agano River area, but in 1731, flooding destroyed the canal and caused it to become the main current of the Agano River. As a result, the volume of water flowing into the port of Niigata decreased, which in turn allowed land reclamation efforts and the development of new rice fields to proceed.

In 1858, Niigata was designated as one of the five ports to be opened for international trade in the Japanâ€"U.S. Treaty of Amity and Commerce. However, the shallow water level in the port delayed the actual opening to foreign ships until 1869. The port also served as a valuable base for fishermen who roamed as far north as the Kamchatka Peninsula to catch salmon and other fish.

In 1886, the first Bandai Bridge was built across the Shinano River to connect the settlements of Niigata on the east and Nuttari on the west. Niigata annexed Nuttari in 1914.

During World War II, Niigata's strategic location between the capital of Tokyo and the Sea of Japan made it a key point for the transfer of settlers and military personnel to the Asian continent, including Manchukuo.

In 1945, near the end of the war, Niigata was one of four cities, together with Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, picked as targets for the atomic bomb if Japan did not surrender. The governor of Niigata Prefecture ordered the people to evacuate as rumors of an impending bombing spread, and the city was completely deserted for days. Poor weather conditions and its distance from B-29 bases in the Mariana Islands meant that it was removed from the list of targets during deliberations; Nagasaki was bombed instead.

In 1950, construction of Niigata Station was completed, extending the downtown area from Bandai Bridge. A devastating fire in 1955 destroyed much of the downtown area, but eventually the city recovered. In 1964, the old canals that flowed throughout the city were filled in to make way for more roads.

On June 16, 1964, at 13:23 Japan Standard Time an earthquake of 7.5 Richter scale struck the city, killing 29 people and causing large-scale property damage, with 1,960 totally destroyed buildings, 6,640 partially destroyed buildings, and 15,298 severely inundated by liquefaction.

In 1965, the Agano River running through Niigata was polluted with methylmercury from the chemical plant of the Showa Electrical Company. Over 690 people exhibited symptoms of Minamata disease and the outbreak became known as Niigata Minamata disease.

In 1982, Shinkansen (bullet train) service on the JÅetsu Shinkansen line began between Niigata and Omiya, with service to Ueno added in 1985. The line was extended all the way to Tokyo in 1991.

Big Swan Stadium in Niigata City hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

The 2004 ChÅ«etsu earthquake did not cause any significant damage in Niigata City itself, allowing the city to work as a relief base.

The size and the population of Niigata city increased over the four-year period between 2001 and 2005, due to a series of municipal mergers. On April 1, 2007, Niigata City became first city on the west coast of Honshu to become a government-designated city.

In July 2007, the ChÅ«etsu offshore earthquake, measuring 6.9 on Richter scale, rocked Niigata Prefecture. Though the earthquake was felt in the city, there was little damage, which allowed Niigata City to provide aid to the devastated areas.

In May 2008, the city hosted the 2008 G8 Labor Ministers Meeting.

On March 12, 2011, several hours after the massive 9.0 Tohoku earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Niigata and Nagano Prefectures experienced an estimated magnitude 6.6 earthquake.

Mergers

On April 1, 1889 - the village of Sekiya was amalgamated into the town of Niigata to become the city of Niigata.
On April 1, 1914 - The town of Nuttari (from Nakakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On June 1, 1943 - The village of Ohgata (from Nakakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On December 8, 1943 - The villages of Ishiyama and Toyano (both from Nakakanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On April 5, 1954 - The village of Matsugasakihama (from Kitakanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On November 1, 1954 - The villages of Nigorikawa and Minamihama (both from Kitakanbara District) and the village of Sakaiwa (from Nishikanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On May 3, 1957 - The villages of Ryokawa, Sonoki and Oheyama (all from Nakakanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On January 11, 1960 - The town of Uchino (from Nishikanbara District), and the Hamaura hamlet of the town of Toyosaka (from Kitakanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On June 1, 1961 - The villages of Nakanokoya and Akatsuka (both from Nishikanbara District) were amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On January 1, 2001 - The town of Kurosaki (from Nishikanbara District) was amalgamated into the city of Niigata.
On March 21, 2005 - The city of Niitsu, Shirone and Toyosaka, the towns of Kameda, Kosudo and Yokogoshi (all from Nakakanbara District), the town of Nishikawa, and the villages of Ajikata, Iwamuro, Katahigashi, Nakanokuchi and Tsukigata (all from Nishikanbara District) were all merged into the expanded city of Niigata.
On October 10, 2005 - The town of Maki (from Nishikanbara District) was merged into the expanded city of Niigata.

Climate

Niigata City features a humid subtropical climate, despite receiving more yearly snowfall than cities such as Moscow, Montreal or Oslo. The climate in Niigata City is characterized by its high humidity and strong winds from the Sea of Japan. While many other parts of Niigata Prefecture tend to have heavy snow, Niigata City itself usually receives less due to its low-lying elevation and the shielding effect of Sado Island.

However, Niigata City does receive much precipitation, mostly in the form of rainfall. On average, Niigata City has 269 days of precipitation each year, about 170 days of which see rain or snowfall measuring over 1Â mm. The rainy season in July brings large amounts of rain, while the winter months, especially November and December, also have much precipitation.

In summer, the south wind makes the weather rather hot. Typhoons usually bring strong foehn winds to this area, generally causing somewhat higher temperatures than in other parts of Japan. The weather on the west coast of Honshu tends to be better during the summer months than on the Pacific coast.

Geography

Niigata is situated on a fertile coastal plain on the Sea of Japan coast, facing Sado Island. The Shinano River and Agano River flow through the city.

Numerous wetlands, such as the Fukushimagata wetlands, can be found within the city limits. The Sakata lagoon is registered as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Niigata City's low elevation and abundant water have made flood control and land reclamation important issues for the area throughout its history.

The city is sometimes called the "City of Water" (æ°´ã®éƒ½, Mizu-no-miyako) because of the two rivers that flow through it, its position next to the Japan Sea, its many wetlands, and the canals that used to run through the city. It is also sometimes referred to as the "City of Willows" (æŸ³ã®éƒ½, Yanagi-no-miyako) or Ryuto (æŸ³éƒ½) because of the willow trees that lined the old canals. In recent years, the city has been promoting itself as a "Designated City of Food and Flowers" (é£Ÿã¨èŠ±ã®æ"¿ä»¤å¸‚, Shoku to hana no seireishi), highlighting its agricultural areas outside of the city center.

Wards

Niigata has had system of wards (ku) since April 1, 2007: Each ward has its own "image color".

Adjoining communities

From the north, following Niigata's border clockwise:

In addition Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.

Sister cities

Niigata maintains sister city ties with six cities:

Galveston, Texas, United States (1965)
Khabarovsk, Russia (1965)
Harbin, China (1979)
Vladivostok, Russia (1991)
Birobidzhan, Russia (Once a sister city of Toyosaka, Niigata assumed the sister city honors in 2005)
Nantes, France (2009, shifted from friendship city since 1999)

In addition, special exchange agreements have been set up with

Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
Ulsan, South Korea (2007)

Sports

J. League (Football)
- Albirex Niigata play at Big Swan Stadium
Bj league (Basketball)
- Niigata Albirex BB play at Toki Messe

Transportation

Rail

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) runs a number of stations in the Niigata urban area. The largest station in Niigata City is Niigata Station. It is centrally located in the Bandai area, one of the two main shopping districts in downtown Niigata. Approximately 37,000 passengers use the station daily. The JÅetsu Shinkansen, whose last stop is Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. The Shinetsu Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line, Uetsu Line, and Ban'etsu West Line are also serviced by Niigata Station. These serve Kanazawa, Toyama, Aomori, Akita, Sakata and Aizuwakamatsu.

Niigata Kotsu Dentetsu Line and Kambara Dentetsu trains used to run through the city until the late 1990s; however, they no longer exist.

Airport

Niigata Airport is located about 6Â km north of central Niigata. It handles some international destinations as well as many domestic ones. The domestic destinations available are: Osaka (8 times a day), Sapporo (twice a day), Fukuoka (once a day), Okinawa (once a day), Nagoya (7 times a day) and Sado Island (3 times a day).

Niigata Airport's international destinations are Khabarovsk (twice a week), Vladivostok (twice a week), Harbin (4 times a week), Seoul (daily), Shanghai (3 times a week) and Guam (twice a week).

Sea

Niigata also used to be the terminus of the Mangyongbong-92 ferry, one of the direct connections between Japan and North Korea.

Education

Colleges and universities

Niigata University
International University of Japan
The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata
Niigata University of International and Information Studies
Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences
Niigata Seiryo University
Niigata University of Health and Welfare

Sightseeing

Cultural facilities and points of interest

Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden
Toki Messe
Tohoku Denryoku Big Swan Stadium
Niigata City Performing Arts Center "Ryutopia"
Niigata Prefectural Civic Center
Nature Aquarium Gallery
Furumachi - Downtown shopping district

Events

Niigata Festival (every August)
Niigata Comic Market
Niigata Manga Competition

Notable people from Niigata

Mina Fujii (actress)
Makoto Kobayashi (manga artist)
Shinji Mizushima (manga artist)
Takeshi Obata (manga artist)
Ango Sakaguchi (author)
Fujisawa Shu (writer)
Rumiko Takahashi (manga artist)
Aizu Yaichi (poet, calligrapher, and historian)

Actors and voice actors

Toshihito Ito (actor)
Masashi Mikami (actor)
Bin Shimada (voice actor)
Keiko Yokozawa (voice actor)

Musicians

Double (singer)
Yoko Ishida (singer)
Kazuya Kato (bassist)
Katsutaro Kouta (singer)
KÃ¶zi (guitarist)
Akira Yamaoka (composer)

Others

Kunio Maekawa (architect)
Tadao Sato (film critic and film theorist)
Megumi Sato (high jumper)
Meiko Satomura (professional wrestler)
Megumi Yokota, abduction victim

References

External links

Â "Niigata". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.Â

Niigata (city) travel guide from Wikivoyage
Niigata City official website (Japanese)
Niigata City official website (Japanese)

Niigata, Niigata