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Niigata, Niigata
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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, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.
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.
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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, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.
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 Jomon period, though much of the current land was still beneath the sea at the time. According to the Nihonshoki, 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 Japan-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, including Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, picked as a target 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 prevented the bomb from being dropped; 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 somehow 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 1:23 p.m. Japan Standard Time, (0423 UT same day) 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, bullet train service on the Joetsu 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 Chuetsu 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.
Recent mergers
In July 2007, the Chuetsu 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.
Climate
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 250 days of precipitation each year, about 170 days of which see rain or snowfall measuring over 1 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"(??? 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"(??? Yanagi-no-miyako or ?? Ryuto) 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" (??????? 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:
Adjoining Communities
From the north, following Niigata's border clockwise:
Sister Cities
Niigata maintains sister city ties with five cities:
In addition, special exchange agreements have been set up with two cities :
Sports
Professional
Amateur
- Granscena Niigata FC (Football/Soccer)
Transportation
Railroad
East Japan Railway Company 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 Joetsu Shinkansen, whose last stop is Niigata Station, provides daily service to Tokyo. The Shin'etsu Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line, Uetsu Line, and Ban'etsu West Line are also serviced by Niigata Station. From there you can reach Kanazawa, Toyama, Aomori, Akita and Sakata.
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 15 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 (twice a day), Okinawa (once a day), Kobe (3 times 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 an North Korea.
Education
Colleges and Universities
Sightseeing
Cultural Facilities and Points of Interest
Events
Cultural Events
Famous People from Niigata
Actors & Seiyu
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Musicians
Others
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External links
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