Hitachi, Ibaraki
Encyclopedia
is a city
located on the Pacific Ocean
in Ibaraki Prefecture
, Japan
. Its name could be directly translated as "sunrise", but probably more appropriately adapted to "prosperous wealth" (the historical kanji name for the area is 常陸).
of 195,844 and the density
of 868 persons per km². The total area is 225.55 km².
, was merged into Hitachi.
The name Hitachi is well known throughout the world due to Hitachi company founded in the city in 1910 by Namihei Odaira
. Today, Hitachi company is one of the world's largest manufacturing and consumer electronics companies.
, including shelling by the Iowa
, and very few older buildings now remain in the downtown area. Industry continued after the war, and Hitachi was a small urban center for northern Ibaraki. Some factories have since closed, and Hitachi is now losing population, like much of Japan. Moreover, the downtown area, especially Ginza Dori, a busy pedestrianized shopping street into the 1990s, has experienced urban decay
due to supermarkets and big box stores being built outside of downtown. Because of the increasing car traffic related to the urban sprawl, a bypass around central Hitachi was built, destroying a local beach.
Nevertheless, the city is not without interesting local sites. Like many Japanese cities, many of the public spaces are dedicated to symbolising the struggle for peace
in the post-war world. It is in this spirit that one must consider Heiwa Dori (Peace Street), considered Hitachi's prettiest street. Every April there is a major procession down the broad tree-lined boulevard to celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossom season (Sakura
Matsuri). Giant colourful floats called furyumono are carried by the local people. Hitachi also has a small zoo
on the nearby Mount Kamine and an impressive Civic Center complex near the main station.
and Joban Expressway
which connect it to Tokyo
, Mito
and Iwaki
. The closest airport is Ibaraki Airport while Fukushima Airport
is also close.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in 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...
, 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...
. Its name could be directly translated as "sunrise", but probably more appropriately adapted to "prosperous wealth" (the historical kanji name for the area is 常陸).
Demographics
As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated populationPopulation
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 195,844 and the 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 868 persons per km². The total area is 225.55 km².
History
Hitachi was officially designated a city on September 1, 1939. On November 1, 2004 the neighboring town of Jūō, from Taga DistrictTaga District, Ibaraki
Taga was a district located in Ibaraki, Japan. On November 1, 2004 the only town in the district merged into the neighboring city of Hitachi at which point the district ceased to exist....
, was merged into Hitachi.
The name Hitachi is well known throughout the world due to Hitachi company founded in the city in 1910 by Namihei Odaira
Namihei Odaira
Namihei Odaira was a Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded what is now known as Hitachi Ltd.Odaira was born in Tochigi Prefecture, about 100 km from Tokyo, Japan....
. Today, Hitachi company is one of the world's largest manufacturing and consumer electronics companies.
Urban Development
Being a predominantly industrial city Hitachi was badly damaged in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including shelling by the Iowa
USS Iowa (BB-61)
USS Iowa was the lead ship of her class of battleship and the fourth in the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 29th state...
, and very few older buildings now remain in the downtown area. Industry continued after the war, and Hitachi was a small urban center for northern Ibaraki. Some factories have since closed, and Hitachi is now losing population, like much of Japan. Moreover, the downtown area, especially Ginza Dori, a busy pedestrianized shopping street into the 1990s, has experienced urban decay
Urban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
due to supermarkets and big box stores being built outside of downtown. Because of the increasing car traffic related to the urban sprawl, a bypass around central Hitachi was built, destroying a local beach.
Nevertheless, the city is not without interesting local sites. Like many Japanese cities, many of the public spaces are dedicated to symbolising the struggle for peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
in the post-war world. It is in this spirit that one must consider Heiwa Dori (Peace Street), considered Hitachi's prettiest street. Every April there is a major procession down the broad tree-lined boulevard to celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossom season (Sakura
Sakura
A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is sometimes called sakura after the Japanese . Many of the varieties that have been cultivated for ornamental use do not produce fruit...
Matsuri). Giant colourful floats called furyumono are carried by the local people. Hitachi also has a small zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
on the nearby Mount Kamine and an impressive Civic Center complex near the main station.
Transportation
Hitachi is located on the Joban LineJoban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
and Joban Expressway
Joban Expressway
The , abbreviated , is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Jōban is a kanji acronym consisting of two characters...
which connect it to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Mito
Mito, Ibaraki
is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 263,748 and a total area is 217.45 km², giving a population density of 1,212.91 persons per km²...
and Iwaki
Iwaki, Fukushima
is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
. The closest airport is Ibaraki Airport while Fukushima Airport
Fukushima Airport
, is an airport serving Sukagawa, a city in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan. The airport is located southeast of Kōriyama Station in Kōriyama.A popular TV drama, Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World, was filmed there.-Airlines and destinations:...
is also close.