Ashio, Tochigi
Encyclopedia
Ashio was a town
located in Kamitsuga District
, Tochigi
, Japan
.
On March 20, 2006 Ashio, along with the town of Fujihara
, the village of Kuriyama
, both from Shioya District
, and the old city of Imaichi
, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō
.
, the town had an estimated population
of 3,465 and a density
of 18.65 persons per km.² The total area was 185.79 km².
Ashio
was the location of a copper
mine
that caused a major pollution
problem in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. Subsequent environmental problems related to the mine are still evident along the river, in Tochigi
, Gunma
and Ibaraki Prefecture
s. In 1907 the miners here riot
ed.
The following communities agreed to seek the permission of the governor of the prefecture to merge on March 1, 2006:
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Kamitsuga District
Kamitsuga District, Tochigi
was a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 20,718 and a density of 52.44 persons per km². The total area was 395.11 km².-Towns and villages:*Ashio*Awano*Nishikata-Mergers:...
, Tochigi
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
On March 20, 2006 Ashio, along with the town of Fujihara
Fujihara, Tochigi
Fujihara was a town located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Fujihara, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the village of Kuriyama, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō.As of 2001, the town had an...
, the village of Kuriyama
Kuriyama, Tochigi
Kuriyama was a village located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Kuriyama, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
, both from Shioya District
Shioya District, Tochigi
Shioya is a district located in Tochigi, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 57,656 and a density of 60.91 persons per square kilometer...
, and the old city of Imaichi
Imaichi, Tochigi
was a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Imaichi, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, and the village of Kuriyama, both from Shioya District, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō
Nikko, Tochigi
is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists...
.
, the town had an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 3,465 and a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 18.65 persons per km.² The total area was 185.79 km².
Ashio
Ashio Copper Mine
The Ashio Copper Mine, Ashio, Tochigi prefecture, Japan became very significant from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. It was the site of major pollution in the 1880s and the scene of the 1907 miners riots....
was the location of a copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
that caused a major pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
problem in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. Subsequent environmental problems related to the mine are still evident along the river, in Tochigi
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
, Gunma
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
and Ibaraki Prefecture
Ibaraki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
s. In 1907 the miners here riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
ed.
The following communities agreed to seek the permission of the governor of the prefecture to merge on March 1, 2006:
- Nikkō
- ImaichiImaichi, Tochigiwas a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Imaichi, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, and the village of Kuriyama, both from Shioya District, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
- Ashio
- FujiharaFujihara, TochigiFujihara was a town located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Fujihara, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the village of Kuriyama, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō.As of 2001, the town had an...
- KuriyamaKuriyama, TochigiKuriyama was a village located in Shioya District, Tochigi, Japan.On March 20, 2006 Kuriyama, along with the town of Ashio, from Kamitsuga District, the town of Fujihara, also from Shioya District, and the old city of Imaichi, was merged into the expanded city of Nikkō...
External links
- Ashio official website (in Japanese)