Takarazuka, Hyōgo

Takarazuka (宝塚市, Takarazuka-shi) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

As of April 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 222,198 and a population density of 2,161 persons per km². The total area is 101.89 km².

Geography

Takarazuka is nestled between the Rokko Range to the west and Nagao Range to the north with the Muko River running through the center of the city.

A bedroom community for Osaka and Kobe, there are quiet, upscale residential neighborhoods like Nigawa, Sakasegawa, and Hibarigaoka.

Known as the inner parlor of Kansai, Takarazuka is famous for the Takarazuka Revue, hot springs, and the Takarazuka Tourism Fireworks Display held since 1913. It is also famous as a choice residential area along with Ashiya and Nishinomiya.

At one time, the idea was raised of merging Takarazuka with Itami, Kawanishi, and Inagawa, but it is currently on hold.

Government

Mayor: Tomoko Nakagawa (中川智子) (re-elected April 2013)

Economy

HI-LEX Corporation, a manufacturer of remote-controlling cables and accessories for multiple applications is headquartered in the city.

Sister Cities/Partner Cities

Domestic

• Matsue, Shimane

International

• Augusta, Georgia (United States of America)
• Melville, Western Australia (Australia)
• Alsergrund, Vienna (Austria)

Locality

Education

Elementary Schools

Ryogen Municipal, Takarazuka Number 1 Municipal, Kohama Municipal, Takarazuka Municipal, Nagao Municipal, Nishitani Municipal, Nigawa Municipal, Nishiyama Municipal, Mefu Municipal, Nagao South Municipal, Suenari Municipal, Akura Municipal, Nakayama-Sakuradai Municipal, Nagaodai Municipal, Sakasedai Municipal, Miza Municipal, Koumyo Municipal, Suehiro Municipal, Nakayama-Satsukidai Municipal, Maruhashi Municipal, Takatsukasa Municipal, Akura North Municipal, Sumiregaoka Municipal, Yamatedai Municipal, Hibarigaoka Academy

Junior High Schools

Takarazuka Number 1 Municipal, Takarazuka Municipal, Nagao Municipal, Nishitani Municipal, Houbai Municipal, Takatsukasa Municipal, South Hibarigaoka Municipal, Akura Municipal, Nakayama-Satsukidai Municipal, Gotenyama Municipal, Hikarigaoka Municipal, Yamatedai Municipal, Hibarigaoka Academy, Obayashi Seishin Women's Institute

Senior High Schools

Takarazuka Prefectural, Takarazuka West Prefectural, Takarazuka East Prefectural, Takarazuka North Prefectural, Hibarigaoka Academy, Obayashi Seishin Women's Institute

Miscellaneous Schools

Takarazuka Music School

Vocational Colleges

Municipal Nursing College

Universities

Koshien University, Takarazuka University of Art and Design

Neighboring Municipalities

Inagawa, Itami, Kawanishi, Kobe (Kita-ku), Nishinomiya, Sanda.

Specialty Products

• Ornamental trees and flowers (dahlias, irises, etc.)
• Tansan senbei

Famous People from Takarazuka

• Osamu Tezuka (cartoonist, deceased)
• Makoto Imaoka (professional baseball player, Hanshin Tigers infielder)
• Shinji Okazaki (footballer)
• Taro Kida (composer)
• Tadashi Masumoto, known by the stage name "Crazy Cool Joe" (bassist of Dead End)
• Koji Higashino (comedian)
• Yoshiaki Kanemura (former professional baseball player (Seibu Lions, Kintetsu Buffaloes), baseball commentator)
• Masaaki Onishi (stuntman)
• Taro Yamamoto (actor)
• Kiyoko Taniguchi (disc jockey, celebrity)
• Seiko Nakajo (NHK announcer)
• Kyoko Kamei (TV Tokyo announcer)
• Yuichi Uwaizumi (Mainichi Broadcasting System announcer)
• Tomomi Sekine (former Asahi Broadcasting Corporation announcer)
• Kyoko Hikami (voice actress)
• Saki Aibu (celebrity, actress)
• Akira Raijin (professional wrestler)
• Toshiyuki Yasuda (musician)
• Missa Fukuma (musician)

Facilities

• Takarazuka Grand Theatre (宝塚大劇場, Takarazuka Dai Gekijō)
• Takarazuka Bow Hall
• Flower Road (花のみち, Hana-no Michi)
• Hanshin Racecourse (阪神競馬場, Hanshin-keibajō)
• Takarazuka Hot Spring (宝塚温泉, Takarazuka Onsen)
• Takarazuka Garden Fields
• Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum (手塚治虫記念館, Tezuka Osamu Kinen-kan)
• Takarazuka Hotel
• Tessai Art Museum (鉄斎美è¡"館, Tessai Bijutsu-kan)
• Takedao Hot Spring (æ­¦ç"°å°¾æ¸©æ³‰, Takedao Onsen)
• Shōji Residence (正司邸): Mixed Western- and Japanese-style mansion built in 1918-1919. (Designed by Masaharu Furuzuka. National Registry of Tangible Cultural Properties. Filming location for NHK drama Twins (ふたりっ子, Futarikko).)
• Takarazuka City Historical Archives (former Matsumoto Residence): Western-style mansion built in 1937. (National Registry of Tangible Cultural Properties)
• Kohama Inn Resource Center (小浜宿資料館, Kohama-juku Shiryō-kan)

Sightseeing and Festivals

• Takarazuka Revue
• Flower Road
• Takarazuka Garden Fields
• Takarazuka Tourism Fireworks Display
• Takarazuka Memorial (horse race)

Notes

1. ^ The kanji å¡š (UTF-8 code FA10₁₆), which is part of Takarazuka's official name (宝塚市), is not available on all systems. (It can be entered in Wikipedia with HTML character 塚.) When not available, the kanji å¡š (UTF-8 code 585A₁₆, HTML character 塚) is used as a substitute, rendering Takarazuka as 宝塚市. ("Shirabetemimashita 'Takarazukashi' no zuka to ZU" (PDF). Kōhō Takarazuka (in Japanese) 1026: 8. 2004-06-15. Retrieved 2007-03-05. )
2. ^ "HI-LEX". Retrieved 5 March 2014. 

External links

• Takarazuka City official website (Japanese)
• Takarazuka City official website
• Takarazuka Revue
• Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum (Japanese)