is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

located in

Fukui Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Fukui Prefecture has a population of 778,943 (1 June 2017) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north, Gi ...

, Japan. , the city had an estimated

population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using a ...

of 83,078 in 20.341 households and the

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

of 360 persons per km². The total area of the city was . The modern city of Echizen was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the city of

Takefu is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 83,078 in 20.341 households and the population density of 360 persons per km². The total area of the city was . The modern city of Echizen was establis ...

and the town of Imadate (from Imadate District); although the Echizen Basin has been an important regional center for over 1,500 years. The city is home to the largest number of cultural assets in Fukui Prefecture and has many former castle sites and prehistoric archeological sites.

Geography

Echizen is located in central Fukui Prefecture, bordered by mountains on three sides.

Neighbouring municipalities

*Fukui Prefecture **

Fukui is a Japanese name meaning "fortunate" or sometimes "one who is from the Fukui prefecture". It may refer to: Places * Fukui Domain, a part of the Japanese han system during the Edo period * Fukui Prefecture, a prefecture of Japan located in ...

Sabae is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 69,338 in 24,167 households and the population density of 820 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Geography Sabae is located in central Fuku ...

Ikeda Ikeda may refer to: * Ikeda (surname), a Japanese surname * Ikeda (comics), a character in ''Usagi Yojimbo'' * Ikeda clan, a Japanese clan * Ikeda map, chaotic attractor * Ikeda (annelid), ''Ikeda'' (annelid) a genus of the family Ikedidae Places< ...

** Minamiechizen ** Echizen (town)

Climate

Echizen has a Humid climate (Köppen ''Cfa'') influenced by its proximity to the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it h ...

, and is characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Echizen is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2402 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Awara peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

History

Pre-modern history

Echizen is part of ancient

Echizen Province was a province of Japan in the area that is today the northern portion of Fukui Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Echizen bordered on Kaga, Wakasa, Hida, and Ōmi Provinces. It was part of Hokurikudō Circuit. Its abbreviated form ...

, and was the location of the

provincial capital A capital city or capital is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state, province, department, or other subnational entity, usually as its seat of the government. A capital is typically a city that physically encompasses the g ...

and

provincial temple were Buddhist temples established in each of the provinces of Japan by Emperor Shōmu during the Nara period (710 – 794). History Shōmu (701 – 756?) decreed both a ''kokubun-ji'' for monks and a for nuns to be established in each ...

of the province from the

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the cap ...

onwards. During the

Nanboku-chō period The Nanboku-chō period (南北朝時代, ''Nanboku-chō jidai'', "North and South court period", also known as the Northern and Southern Courts period), spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Mur ...

, a number of battles were fought, and numerous castles were built during this time.

Shiba Takatsune 　 was the Constable (''shugo'') of Echizen Province during the 14th century Nanboku-chō Wars in Japan. He acted to block the northward progress of Nitta Yoshisada, who supported the Emperor's Southern Court against the ''shōgun''s Northern C ...

, who supported the

Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

during the war, fought with

Yoshisada Nitta was a samurai lord of the Nanboku-chō period Japan. He was the head of the Nitta clan in the early fourteenth century, and supported the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in the Nanboku-chō period. He famously marched on Kamakura, besieging ...

in the

Battle of the Hino River A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

. Shiba lost the battle, and fled north to Asuwa Castle in

. Nitta pursued him but was defeated and killed at the

Sieges of Kuromaru The , or "Black Fortress", was a fortress of the ''Kanrei'' Shiba Takatsune located in Echizen Province (present-day Nittazuka, Fukui, Fukui, Fukui, Fukui Prefecture) in the Hokuriku region of Japan. It was attacked twice during the Nanboku-chō ...

. Shiba returned to Echizen-Fuchū and conquered both

Fuchū Castle is the name of several places in Japan. The name means capital of a province (Kokufu). According to the provisions of the 8th-century Ritsuryō system, there was a ''fuchū'' in every administrative province. The placename Fuchū remains in many ...

and Ōtaki Castle. The outcome of the war between the Northern and the

Southern Court The were a set of four emperors (Emperor Go-Daigo and his line) whose claims to sovereignty during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392 were usurped by the Northern Court. This period ended with the Southern Court definitively ...

s was decided around Echizen. Today a plaque marking the site of Shinzenkōji Castle can be seen at Shōgaku-ji temple in Echizen, and remains of other castles can be found throughout the city. In the

Sengoku period The was a period in History of Japan, Japanese history of near-constant civil war and social upheaval from 1467 to 1615. The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the Feudalism, feudal system of Japan under the ...

, the area prospered under the leadership of the

Asakura clan The is a Japanese kin group. Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). ''Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon''; Papinot, (2003).html" ;"title="DF 7 of 80">"Asakura", ''Nobiliare du Japon'', p. 3 DF 7 of 80">"Asa ...

, based at Ichijōdani, near modern Fukui city. The Asakura were defeated by Oda Nobunaga">Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins">Ichijōdani, near modern Fukui city. The Asakura were defeated by Oda Nobunaga, who divided the area among his generals Fuwa Mitsuharu, Sassa Narimasa, and Maeda Toshiie. Part of Sassa Narimasa's castle,

Komaru Castle was a Japanese castle located in what is now the city of Echizen Fukui Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. Built in the Sengoku period by Sassa Narimasa, the ruins are now a Fukui Prefectural Historic Site. History Komaru Castle wa ...

, still stands today. Maeda Toshiie took residence in Echizen-Fuchū Castle, on the current location of the Echizen city hall. Fuwa Mitsuharu took charge of Ryūmon-ji Castle, whose stone foundations and parts of the moat can be seen today at Ryūmon-ji temple. After the

Battle of Sekigahara The Battle of Sekigahara (Shinjitai: ; Kyūjitai: , Hepburn romanization: ''Sekigahara no Tatakai'') was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 (Keichō 5, 15th day of the 9th month) in what is now Gifu prefecture, Japan, at the end of ...

, the victorious

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fellow ...

awarded all of Echizen Province to his second son,

Yūki Hideyasu was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods. He was the ''daimyō'' of Fukui Domain in Echizen. Early life Hideyasu was born as in 1574, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, by Lady Oman (also known as L ...

, who what became Fukui Domain ruled from

Fukui Castle is a flatland-style castle located in what is now the city of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. During the Edo period, it was the headquarters of a branch of the Matsudaira clan, who were hereditary ''daimyō'' of Fukui domain under the Tokugawa ...

Appert, Georges. (1888)
"Matsudaira" in ''Ancien Japon'', pp. 70
''compare'' Papinot, Jacques Edmond Joseph. (1906). Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie du Japon; Papinot, (2003)
''Nobiliare du Japon'', pp. 29-30
retrieved 2013-3-26. He changed his name to

Matsudaira The was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan. It originated in and took its name from Matsudaira village, in Mikawa Province (modern-day Aichi Prefecture). During the Sengoku period, the chieftain of the main line of th ...

, and the Matsudaira remained in control of the area until the end of the

Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characteriz ...

. At the start of Fukui Domain,

Honda Tomimasa is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...

, highly trusted by Tokugawa Ieyasu, was appointed as Hideyasu's ''

karō were top-ranking samurai officials and advisors in service to the ''daimyōs'' of feudal Japan. Overview In the Edo period, the policy of ''sankin-kōtai'' (alternate attendance) required each ''daimyō'' to place a ''karō'' in Edo and anoth ...

''. Honda received a small piece of land and became governor of Echizen-Fuchū. Devastated by years of war, Echizen-Fuchū had lost its castles, roads, and buildings, and Honda is responsible for a major reconstruction of the area. He rebuilt the roads, walls, and buildings, as well as irrigation systems connected to the

Hino river The is a major river in the western part of Tottori Prefecture. The river flows east-northeast for , and is the longest river in the prefecture. The Hino River emerges from the Chūgoku Mountains. The source of the river is at an elevation of ...

. Honda started the industries that still make up Echizen's base economy: blades, textiles, and industrial machinery. The Honda clan ruled the Echizen-Fuchū area for nine generations, until the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ...

. Their graves can be seen at the temple of Ryūsen-ji in Echizen.

Modern Echizen city

Following the

, the area of present-day Echizen city was organised into Nanjō District within Fukui Prefecture. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the town of

was created. It was named after an ancient

Min'yō , ''Nihon min'yō'', Japanese ''min'yō'' or Japanese folk music is a genre of traditional Japanese music. Characteristics Styles Many ''min'yō'' are connected to forms of work or to specific trades and were originally sung between work ...

(folk song) called "

Saibara () is a genre of accompanied vocal Japanese court music that existed during the Heian period in the Nara and Kyoto regions. It draws from traditional folk music () of the Nara period accompanied by '' togaku'' instruments, with the exception of t ...

", in the area of Echizen-Fuchū was known as "Takefu" during the Nara and Heian periods. After the Meiji Restoration, the ''daimyō'' system was abolished and the former ''daimyō'' were merged into the new ''

kazoku The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They succeeded the feudal lords () and court nobles (), but were abolished with the 1947 constitution. Kazoku ( 華族) should not be confused with ' ...

'' peerage. However, the Honda clan, being only a samurai retainer of the Matsudaira and not a ''daimyō'', was moved into the ''

shizoku The was a social class in Japan composed of former ''samurai'' after the Meiji Restoration from 1869 to 1947. ''Shizoku'' was a distinct class between the ''kazoku'' (a merger of the former ''kuge'' and ''daimyō'' classes) and ''heimin'' (commo ...

'' class with lower ranking samurai. In 1870 the outraged Honda clan rebelled against the Meiji government against this perceived demotion. This riot is known as the Takefu Sōdō, which ended in 1879, and Honda Sukemoto was promoted ''danshaku'' in the ''kazoku'' system in 1884. Take was raised to city status on April 1, 1948. On September 20, 1949, an incident known as the Takefu Jiken took place. At around 5 am the District Court and the District Public Prosecutor's Office caught fire. Within an hour, all of the court records and documents were destroyed. The fire was blamed on arson related to gang activity, and scenes from the movie

Battles Without Honor and Humanity , also known in the West as ''The Yakuza Papers'', is a Japanese yakuza film series produced by Toei Company. Inspired by a series of magazine articles by journalist Kōichi Iiboshi that are based on memoirs originally written by real-life yaku ...

are said to be reminiscent of this incident. During the next 11 years, Takefu absorbed seven neighbouring villages and greatly increased in size and population. On October 1, 2005, Takefu and the neighbouring town of Imadate were merged to create the city of Echizen City.

Government

Echizen has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature, which consists of one house or assembly, that legislates and votes as one. Unicameral legislatures exist when there is no widely perceived need for multic ...

city legislature of 22 members.

Economy

Echizen has several large electronics and apparel factories, but it is known for the large number of small businesses that flourish. The area is traditionally known for its production of Echizen

washi is traditional Japanese paper. The term is used to describe paper that uses local fiber, processed by hand and made in the traditional manner. ''Washi'' is made using fibers from the inner bark of the gampi tree, the mitsumata shrub (''Ed ...

paper, and for cutlery. Agricultural production is centered on rice, with

watermelon Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieti ...

s also being a major crop.

Education

Echizen has 17 public elementary schools and seven middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Fukui Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school. The private

Jin-ai University is a private university in Echizen, Fukui, Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan, affiliated with the Jōdo Shinshū sect of Japanese Buddhism. The predecessor of the school was established in 1898, and it was accredited as a university in 2010. Refe ...

is located in Echizen.

Transport

Railway

Takefu Station * Shinkansen blue

JR West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

Hokuriku Shinkansen The is a high-speed Shinkansen railway line jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), connecting Tokyo with in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The first section, between and in Nagano Pr ...

** (under construction) * JR logo (west)

Hokuriku Main Line The Hokuriku Main Line ( ja, 北陸本線, ) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting the Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with the Naoetsu Station in Joetsu, Niigata. The section betwee ...

** , *

Fukui Railway is a bus and railway company located in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. It owns and operates the Fukubu Line between Tawaramachi Station in Fukui and Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen. Overview Although Fukui Railway's name refers to its fo ...

Fukubu Line The is a 21.4 km railway line operated by Fukui Railway in Fukui Prefecture. The line runs from Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen to and stations in Fukui. Although it has its own right-of-way for most of the route, the Fukubu Line runs wi ...

** , , ,

Bus

Regular services are provided primarily by

Highway

* 25px

Hokuriku Expressway The , (abbreviated as , is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company. Overview The first section was opened in 1972 by Japan Highway Public Corpo ...

* * *

Local attractions

Shinto shrines

* Soja Shrine (総社大神宮) *

Ōshio Hachiman Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. This Hachiman shrine was established in 891 as a branch of the Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu in Kyoto as the primary shrine of Nanjō District. During the Genpei War, the sh ...

(大塩八幡宮): A national Important Cultural Property. * Omushi Shrine (大虫神社) * Hino Shrine (日野神社) * Ajimano Shrine (味真野神社) * Okafuto Shrine and

Ōtaki Shrine Otaki or Ōtaki may refer to: Places *Ōtaki (New Zealand electorate), a parliamentary electorate in New Zealand *Ōtaki, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand *Ōtaki River, a river in New Zealand *Ōtaki, Chiba, a town in Japan *Ōtaki, Saitama, a fo ...

(岡太神社、大瀧神社)

Temples

*Gekkō-ji (月光寺) *Hoyama-ji (帆山寺) *Inshō-ji (引接寺) *Ryūsen-ji (龍泉寺) *Ryūmon-ji (龍門寺) *Kongō-in (金剛院) *Reisen-ji (霊泉寺) *Gōshō-ji (豪摂寺) *Jōfuku-ji Garden (浄福寺庭園)

Parks

*Murasaki Shikibu Park (紫式部公園): Built in honor of

Murasaki Shikibu was a Japanese novelist, poet and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court in the Heian period. She is best known as the author of '' The Tale of Genji,'' widely considered to be one of the world's first novels, written in Japanese between abou ...

, author of '' The Tale of Genji'', who lived in Echizen for a year with her father, Tametoki Fukuwara, the governor of Echizen. The park was modeled after a nobleman's residence in the Heian period. A statue of Murasaki Shikibu stands in the park, gazing in the direction of

Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

. *Ajimano Park (味真野苑) *Kakyō Park (花匡公園) *Kojirō Park (小次郎公園) *Rozan Park (廬山公園): Built on top of Murakuni mountain, this park overlooks the entire plain from Takefu to Fukui city. Mt. Hakusan can easily be seen from here on a clear day. This vantage point also provides a night view of Echizen, Sabae, and Fukui cities. *Echizen no Sato (越前の里), in which are found: **Man'yōkan (万葉館) **Chrysanthemum Exhibition Hall (万葉菊花園)

Castles and forts

As an important military center for centuries, Echizen contains the sites of a number of former castles. Some remains, including former gates, sections of moats, and mounds, can be seen in the city. Archaeological digs have also uncovered roof tiles, tools, weapons, and other artifacts at these sites. * Kongōin Castle (金剛院城) *

(小丸城) * Kuratani Castle (鞍谷御所) *

(府中城) * Mount Buei Castle (武衛山城) * Gyōjidake Castle (行事岳城) * Ōtaki Castle (大滝城) * Ryūmonji Castle (龍門寺城) * Shinzenkōji Castle (新善光寺城) * Honpo Jin'ya (本保陣屋) * Shimomagara Magara Yakata (真柄館) * Shirosaki Jin'ya (白崎陣屋) * Tokuma Magara Yakata (真柄館)

Other

*Kura-no-Tsuji (蔵の辻): Echizen's historic area in central Takefu is full of old warehouses with white painted walls. Outdoor concerts and festivals often take place in the open square in the center of this neighborhood. *Takefu Town Hall Museum (武生公会堂記念館) *Teramachi-dōri (寺町通り) *Birthplace of

Chihiro Iwasaki was a Japanese artist and illustrator best known for her water-colored illustrations of flowers and children, the theme of which was "peace and happiness for children". Life Chihiro Iwasaki was born the first daughter of Masakatsu and Fumie Iw ...

(いわさきちひろの生家) *Takefu Knife Village (タケフナイフヴィレッジ) *Usuzumi Cherry Tree (薄墨桜) *Ōjigaike (皇子ケ池) *Washi no Sato (和紙の里): This neighborhood is dedicated to the traditional craft of Japanese papermaking. **Japanese Paper Plaza (和紙の広場) **Papyrus Center (パピルス館): This building holds information and a workshop about the art of traditional Echizen paper. **Cultural Museum of Paper (紙の文化博物館) **Udatsu Craftsman's Studio (卯立の工芸館) *Yanagi Falls (柳の滝) *Minowaki no Tokimizu (蓑脇の時水): This waterfall was selected as one of Japan's 100 best scenic views. *Uno Tea Ceremony Museum

Festivals (''matsuri'') and events

*Echizen ''Kami'' (paper) Festival: This festival is held annually at the Echizen ''Washi no Sato'' (paper village) to celebrate the local ''washi'' and the papermaking deity, Kawakami Gozen. *Takefu ''Kikuningyo'' (chrysanthemum doll) Festival: This festival is held annually at Takefu Central Park. *Echizen ''Kani'' (crab) Festival *Echizen ''Togei'' (pottery) Festival: This festival is held annually in May at the Echizen ''Togei Mura'' (pottery village). 200px, alt=A pagoda covered in chrysanthemums, Kikuningyo Festival's chrysanthemum pagoda

Specialty products

Local foods

*Buckwheat noodles ''

soba Soba ( or , "buckwheat") is a thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat. The noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or hot in a noodle soup. The variety ''Nagano soba'' includes wheat flour. In Japan, soba noodles can be found i ...

'' and ''oroshisoba'' (with grated ''

daikon Daikon or mooli, ''Radish, Raphanus sativus'' Variety (botany), var. ''longipinnatus,'' is a mild-flavored winter radish usually characterized by fast-growing leaves and a long, white, root. Originally native to continental East Asia, daikon ...

'') * Echizen crab *''Habutae maki'': sweet bean paste and ''

mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of , a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan, it is traditionally ma ...

'' covered in sponge cake *''Satsukigase'': a Japanese sweet *'' Mizuyōkan'': a firm sweet made from ''azuki'' beans *''Kenkera'': an old-fashioned Japanese sweet *''Baigetsu

senbei are a type of Japanese rice cracker. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment. ...

'': a rice cracker dusted with sugar *''Manshō'' beans

Traditional crafts

*Echizen ''

'' *Echizen cutlery *Echizen ''

tansu are traditional Japanese mobile storage cabinets. are commonly used for the storage of clothing, particularly kimono. were first recorded in the Genroku era (1688–1704) of the Edo period (1603–1867). The two characters, and , appear to ha ...

'' *Traditional

roof tiles Roof tiles are designed mainly to keep out rain, and are traditionally made from locally available materials such as terracotta or slate. Modern materials such as concrete, metal and plastic are also used and some clay tiles have a waterproof g ...

*Chrysanthemum dolls

Notable people from Echizen

Akiyama Tokuzō Akiyama (written: lit. "autumn mountain") is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *, general in the Imperial Japanese Army and considered father of the Japanese Cavalry * Denis Akiyama (1952–2018), Japanese-Canadian acto ...

, imperial chef *

, novelist, poet, author of one of the earliest novels in human history *

Keizan Keizan Jōkin (, 1268–1325), also known as Taiso Jōsai Daishi, is considered to be the second great founder of the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan. While Dōgen, as founder of Japanese Sōtō, is known as , Keizan is often referred to as . Keiza ...

, one of the founders of

Sōtō Sōtō Zen or is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Cáodòng school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dòngshān L ...

Zen Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...

Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...

* Hiromoto Watanabe, governor of Tokyo and founder of

Tokyo University , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

Kinya Machimura Machimura Kinya ( Jap. 町村金弥, February 14, 1859 – November 25, 1944) was a Japanese entrepreneur, "the father of Hokkaido dairy farming". Father of Kingo Machimura, grandfather of Nobutaka Machimura. Biography Born in Takefu (now part ...

, businessman and statesman *

, children's book illustrator *

Ichibei Iwano was a Japanese businessman who founded one of the fifteen largest industrial conglomerates in Japan, specializing in electrical goods, chemicals and metals. He bought the Ashio copper mine from the Japanese government in 1877, which he later org ...

, a paper maker and Living National Treasure *

Ryoichi Ikegami is a Japanese manga artist that usually works as the illustrator in collaboration with a writer. He is best known for ''Crying Freeman'' (1986–1988), written by Kazuo Koike, and ''Heat'' (1999–2004), written by Buronson. The latter won the 2 ...

, manga artist *

Michiko Neya is a Japanese voice actress. Prior to 1998, she was affiliated with Arts VisionAffiliation with Arts Vision in the 1990s:* 1998 profile: * Roster as of January 1998: * Roster as of May 1998: and is currently freelancing. Some of her major roles ...

, voice actress * Makara Naotaka, samurai *

Sasaki Kojirō was a Japanese swordsman who may have lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama and early Edo periods and is known primarily for the story of his battle with Miyamoto Musashi in 1612, where Sasaki was killed. Although suffering from defeat as well ...

, swordsman *

Machi Tawara is a contemporary Japanese writer, translator and poet. Tawara is most famous as a contemporary poet. She is credited with revitalizing the tanka for modern Japanese audiences. Her skill as a translator consist of translating classical Japanese ...

, writer, translator, and poet * Masatoki Minami (Fumitoshi Koshinaka), travel writer and railway photographer *

Akihisa Makida Akihisa Makida (牧田明久, born June 3, 1982) is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder and currently second squad coach for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played for the Golden Eagle ...

, professional baseball player for the

Rakuten Golden Eagles The , often shortened as the , are a baseball team based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It has played in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League since the team's formation in November 2004. The team is owned by the Internet shopping c ...

Tomomi Inada is a Japanese lawyer and politician serving as a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, representing the 1st Fukui Prefecture since September 2005. She previously served as the 14th Japanese Minister of Defense from August 2016 to Jul ...

, lawyer,

Minister of Defense (Japan) The , or , is a member of the Japanese cabinet and is the leader of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the executive department of the Japanese Armed Forces. The minister of defense’s position of command and authority over the military is s ...

Cityscape

Sister city relations

* - Takayama, Japan * -

Motosu Usuzumizakura is a city located in Gifu, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 34,453 in 12, 464 households, and a population density of 390 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Geography Motosu is located in western Gifu ...

, Japan * -

Montevallo, Alabama Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with approximately 3,000 students. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city o ...

, USA

References

External links

* *
Information for visitors of Echizen city
(Echizen City)

(Echizen City)

(Echizen City)
Castle Sites
{{Authority control Cities in Fukui Prefecture