Yoshida, Shizuoka
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Haibara District
, southern Shizuoka
, Japan
. As of February 2010, the town has an estimated population
of 29,872 and a density
of 1430 persons per km². The total area was 20.84 km².
on the Pacific Ocean
. The Ōi River
passes to the west of town. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current
, the area enjoys a temperate maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
, Yokosuka was a castle town
in the Sengoku period
, with Koyama castle built by the Takeda clan in 1568. The castle was destroyed by Tokugawa Ieyasu
in 1582 and never rebuilt, although the town continued to prosper during the Edo period
as a regional commercial center due to its proximity to the Tōkaidō
. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
in 1889, the area was reorganized into Yoshida Village from the merger of 6 pre-Meiji hamlets. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1889.
, which passes through the town. These include Fujifilm
, AGC Technologies, Sony
and Kurita Kogyo.
The town has no rail connections.
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 Haibara District
Haibara District, Shizuoka
Haibara is a district located in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 95,091 and a density of 126.88 persons per km²...
, southern Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, 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...
. As of February 2010, the town has 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 29,872 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 1430 persons per km². The total area was 20.84 km².
Geography
Yoshida is located on the coastal plains of southwest Shizuoka Prefecture, facing Suruga BaySuruga Bay
Suruga Bay is a bay on the Pacific coast of Honshū in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is situated north of an imaginary line joining Omaezaki Point and Irōzaki Point at the tip of the Izu Peninsula and surrounded by Honshū to the southwest and west and the Izu Peninsula to the east.-Geology:Suruga...
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...
. The Ōi River
Oi River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Geography:The Ōi River flows from the Akaishi Mountains, the branch of the Japanese Southern Alps which form the border between Shizuoka, Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. These mountains, with peaks ranging from 2000–3000 meters, are characterized by...
passes to the west of town. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current
Kuroshio Current
The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...
, the area enjoys a temperate maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
Surrounding municipalities
- MakinoharaMakinohara, Shizuokais a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 48,745 and a density of 436 persons per km². The total area was 111.68 km².-Geography:...
- ShimadaShimada, Shizuokais a city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population of 100,846 and a population density of 319 persons per km². The total area is 315.88 km².-Geography:...
- YaizuYaizu, Shizuokais a city located in central Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of March in 2011, the city has an estimated population of 146,717 and a population density of 2,080 persons per km². The total area is 70.55 km²...
History
Located in former Tōtōmi ProvinceTotomi Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Japan that is today western Shizuoka Prefecture. Tōtōmi bordered on Mikawa, Suruga and Shinano Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .-History:...
, Yokosuka was a castle town
Castle town
A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns are common in Medieval Europe. Good example include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles...
in the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
, with Koyama castle built by the Takeda clan in 1568. The castle was destroyed by Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
in 1582 and never rebuilt, although the town continued to prosper during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
as a regional commercial center due to its proximity to the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
in 1889, the area was reorganized into Yoshida Village from the merger of 6 pre-Meiji hamlets. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1889.
Economy
Yoshida has a mixed economy based on agriculture, commercial fishing and light industry. Local specialities include eel, melons and iceberg lettuce. Several industries are located along the Tōmei ExpresswayTomei Expressway
The is a national expressway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. It is a part of Asian Highway Network -Naming:The word Tōmei is an acronym consisting of two kanji characters...
, which passes through the town. These include Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
, AGC Technologies, Sony
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
and Kurita Kogyo.
Transportation
Yoshida has an interchange on the Tōmei Expressway and is also serviced by Japan National Route 150.The town has no rail connections.
Sister city relations
Yoshida had formerly established sister city relations with other cities of the same name around Japan. All of these cities have now been merged into other cities and no longer exist as independent municipalites.- Yoshida (Saitama Prefecture)Yoshida, Saitamawas a town in Chichibu District, Saitama, Japan.In 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,728 and a population density of 86.66 persons per km²...
- (Became a sister city in 1995) (Now the city of ChichibuChichibu, Saitamais a city in Saitama, Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 68,701, with a household number of 26,230. The total area is 577.69 km²....
) - Yoshida (Niigata Prefecture)Yoshida, Niigatawas a town located in Nishikanbara District, Niigata, Japan. Yoshida is now a part of Tsubame.As of April 1, 2005, the town had an estimated population of 24,937. The total area was 32.00 km²....
- (Became a sister city in 1995) (Now the city of TsubameTsubame, Niigatais a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....
) - Yoshida (Hiroshima Prefecture) - (Became a sister city in 1995) (Now the city of AkitakataAkitakata, Hiroshimais a city located in north-central Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has a population of 31,565, with a household number of 13,223, and an area of 538.17 km²....
) - Yoshida (Ehime Prefecture)Yoshida, Ehimewas a town located in Kitauwa District, Ehime, Japan.On August 1, 2005 Yoshida, along with the towns of Mima and Tsushima, all from Kitauwa District, was merged into the expanded city of Uwajima....
- (Became a sister city in 1995) (Now the city of UwajimaUwajima, Ehimeis a city located in Ehime, Japan. In 1595, what is now Uwajima was known as Itajima village. Takatora Tohdo became lord of the Uwa region, and ordered the restoration of Marugushi Castle...
) - Yoshida (Kagoshima Prefecture)Yoshida, Kagoshimawas a town located in Kagoshima District, Kagoshima, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Yoshida, along with the towns of Kōriyama and Matsumoto, both from Hioki District, the town of Kiire, from Ibusuki District, and the town of Sakurajima, also from Kagoshima District, was merged into the expanded city of...
- (Became a sister city in 1995) (Now the city of KagoshimaKagoshima, Kagoshimais the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwestern tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin...
)
External links
- Yoshida official website in Japanese
- Kataoka Shrine (Commonly called "Sumiyoshi Shrine")