is the capital and most populous

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

Akita Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in ; "Tōhoku" in . Its population is estimated 915,691 as of 1 August 2023 and its geographi ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

, and has been designated a

core city In urban planning, a historic core city or central city is the municipality with the largest 1940 population in the present metropolitan area (metropolitan statistical area). This term was retired by the US census bureau and replaced by the term ...

since 1 April 1997. , the city has an estimated

population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...

of 300,502 persons in 136,628 households and a

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...

of 332 persons per km². The total area of the city is .

History

The area of present-day Akita was part of ancient Dewa Province, and has been inhabited for thousands of years. The Jizōden ruins within the city limits are a major archaeological site with artifacts from the Japanese Paleolithic period through the Jōmon and

Yayoi period The Yayoi period (弥生時代, ''Yayoi jidai'') (c. 300 BC – 300 AD) is one of the major historical periods of the Japanese archipelago. It is generally defined as the era between the beginning of food production in Japan and the emergence o ...

s. During the

Nara period The of the history of Japan covers the years from 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 capita ...

, the imperial court established Akita Castle in 733 AD to bring the local Emishi tribes under its control. The area was ruled by a succession of local

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

clans in the Sengoku period, before coming under the control of the Satake clan of Kubota Domain during the

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

. Under the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

, a

castle town A castle town is a settlement built adjacent to or surrounding a castle. Castle towns were common in Medieval Europe. Some examples include small towns like Alnwick and Arundel, which are still dominated by their castles. In Western Europe, ...

developed around Kubota Castle.

Meiji and Taishō Eras

With the start of the

Meiji period The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...

, Kubota Domain was abolished, and its castle town divided into the towns of Akita and Kubota. Akita Prefecture was established in 1871, and Shima Yoshitake was named the first governor. Ancient Akita District was divided into Kitaakita and Minamiakita Districts in 1878. Most of Akita town burned down in a great fire on 30 April 1886. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, the city of Akita was officially established, including former Kubota and Akita towns. The port area was separated into Tsuchizaki-Minato Town, which became part of Minamiakita District. The first city hall was located inside the former Minamiakita District office. In September 1898, the

Imperial Japanese Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...

's 17th Infantry Regiment was based in Akita. The first public library was opened in 1898, electrification of Tsuchizaki began in 1901, and Akita Station was opened in 1902, as well as running water and telephone services in 1907. The Taishō period brought further development to Akita with Nippon Oil Corporation developing the nearby Kurokawa Oil Fields in 1914, and a branch of the Bank of Japan opening in Akita in 1917.

Shōwa Era

In 1935, Nippon Kogyo (the forerunner of Jomo) began development of the nearby Yabase Oil Fields. Akita Bank was established in 1941. War devastated the city on 14 August 1945. During the Tsuchizaki air raid, over 250 people were killed when 134

USAAF The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

B-29 Superfortress The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a retired American four-engined Propeller (aeronautics), propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to ...

, attacked the city from midnight to the early dawn. A Nippon Oil

oil refinery An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial processes, industrial process Factory, plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refining, refined into products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, Bitumen, asphalt base, ...

in the Tsuchizaki area was targeted. During the post-war period, the 16th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in Akita in 1961. During the

tsunami A tsunami ( ; from , ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions (including detonations, ...

following the 1983 Sea of Japan earthquake, three Akita residents were killed.

Heisei Era

On 1 April 1997, Akita was designated as a

with increased autonomy. The Akita Shinkansen began operations the same year. In August 2001, the World Games were held in Akita, with the opening ceremony held in the Yabase Track and Field Stadium. In 2004, the city celebrated its 400th anniversary and its beginnings as Kubota Castle town. On 11 January 2005, the towns of Kawabe and Yūwa (both from Kawabe District) were merged into Akita. Kawabe District was dissolved as a result of this merger. The location of Akita City Hall did not change, and former Kawabe and Yūwa Town Halls are used as civic centers. The 62nd National Sports Festival of Japan was held in Akita in 2007.

Geography

The city of Akita is located in the coastal plains of central Akita Prefecture, bordered by 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 ...

to the west. The Omono River runs through the center of the city.

Neighboring municipalities

*Akita Prefecture ** Kitaakita ** Katagami ** Yurihonjō ** Daisen ** Senboku ** Minamiakita District: Gojōme, Ikawa ** Kitaakita District: Kamikoani

Demography

Censuses have been conducted in Akita since as early as 1873. Per Japanese census data since 1950, the population of Akita peaked in around the year 2000 and has been in decline since then.

Climate

Akita belongs to a climatic transition zone

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...

''Cfa'') and is the most populous city having absolute northern extremity of this climate zone within Japan, bordering very closely with the

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers, and cold ...

(

''Dfa'') zone, comparable to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, USA. Akita is characterized with cold, very snowy, winters, and hot, humid summers. Monthly averages range from in January to in August. Due to its location near the

coast, it receives heavy snowfall, with just above per season, with accumulation occurring mostly from December to March. Precipitation is well-distributed and significant throughout the year, but is greater in the latter half. Over two thirds of all days see some precipitation, either rain or snow.

Government

Akita has a directly elected mayor and a

unicameral Unicameralism (from ''uni''- "one" + Latin ''camera'' "chamber") is a type of legislature consisting of one house or assembly that legislates and votes as one. Unicameralism has become an increasingly common type of legislature, making up nearly ...

city assembly with 39 members. The city contributes 12 members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 1 of the

lower house A lower house is the lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, where the other chamber is the upper house. Although styled as "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has come to wield more power or otherwise e ...

of the

Diet of Japan , transcription_name = ''Kokkai'' , legislature = 215th Session of the National Diet , coa_pic = Flag of Japan.svg , house_type = Bicameral , houses = , foundation=29 November 1890(), leader1_type ...

Economy

The economy of Akita remains heavily dependent on agriculture (particularly rice cultivation), forestry and mineral extraction. Akita contains one of the most important oil fields in Japan. Oil refining, woodworking, metalworking, and the production of silk textiles are the main industries. Akita is also home to two regional banks that serve Akita prefecture and the greater Tōhoku region: Akita Bank and Hokuto Bank. The Akita Thermal Power Station is located in the city.

Education

Universities

* Akita University * Akita University of Art * Akita Prefectural University * Akita International University * Akita Nutrition Junior College * Japanese Red Cross Tohoku College of Nursing * Misono Gakuen Junior College * North Asia University * Open University of Japan Akita learning center * Seirei Women's Junior College

Primary and secondary education

Akita has 44 city and one national elementary schools, 22 city, one prefectural, one national and one private middle schools, and one combined city middle/high school. There are eight prefectural, one city and seven private high schools, as well as four prefectural and one national special education school.

High schools

* Akita High School

Transportation

Airports

* Akita Airport

Railway

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...

– Akita Shinkansen ** Akita East Japan Railway Company -

Ōu Main Line The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Fukushima Station (Fukushima), Fukushima Station through Akita Station to Aomori Station. Since the opening of the Yamagata Shinkansen on July 1, 1 ...

* - - - - - - East Japan Railway Company -

Uetsu Main Line The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata, Niigata, Niigata and Akita Station in Akita, Akita, Akita. The name "Uet ...

* - - - - East Japan Railway Company - Oga Line * *Akita Rinkai Railway Company (freight)

Highway

* * * * * * *

Bus

Seaports

* Port of Akita

Mass media

* Akita Asahi Broadcasting * Akita Broadcasting System * Akita Community Broadcasting * Akita Television * Cable Networks Akita * FM Tsubakidai

Local attractions

*Site of Kubota Castle (Senshu Park) *Site of Akita Castle (Takashimizu Park), National Historic Site * Minato Castle (Tsuchizaki Gaiku Park, Shinmeisha) * Jizōden ruins, National Historic Site * Akita Prefectural Museum * Akita Senshū Museum of Art * Akita Museum of Art * Akita Omoriyama Zoo * Akita Port Tower Selion * CNA Arena Akita * Sakigake Yabase Baseball Stadium * Akita Prefectural Baseball Stadium * Akita Yabase Athletic Field * Akita Prefectural Gymnasium * Akita Prefectural Central Park * Akita Prefectural General Pool * Akita Prefectural Budokan * Akita Peace Pagoda * Koshiō Shrine

Local events

Akita Kanto Festival

This representative summer festival began 350 years ago, with similar to '' tanabata'' festivals held elsewhere in Japan. During this festival, participants balance 15 meter poles with 230 lanterns on their chins; the main event is held during the evening and night hours, between the 3rd and 6 August each year. During the festival, Kanto stunt events are held in Senshu Park during daylight hours involving many amateur participants. This event was first held in 1931 and every subsequent year, except between 1935 and 1946 and in 1953 and 1965. Overseas exhibitions of the festival were performed in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

, Germany, in 1988,

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

, in 2002,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, UK, in 2004, and as an opening event at the 2001 World Games.

Marian apparitions

Our Lady of Akita is the title of Marian apparitions reported in 1973 by Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa in Yuzawadai, Soegawa, Akita City. The apparitions were approved by the

Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...

in 1988. The 1988 approval was issued by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

Narayama Kamakura Festival

In the Narayama Otamachi district of central Akita each February 12–15 a Shinto festival honoring both ''Suijin'' and ''Kamakura Daimyojin'' is held inside a shrine made from walls of snow. A rice bale is set afire at the end of this festival.

Tsuchizaki Minato Festival

Each neighbourhood in Tsuchizaki Minato contributes a float decorated with giant figures from 20 to 21 July. In 1997 it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Sister cities

International sister cities

* Lanzhou,

Gansu Gansu is a provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. Its capital and largest city is Lanzhou, in the southeastern part of the province. The seventh-largest administrative district by area at , Gansu lies between the Tibetan Plateau, Ti ...

, China, since August 5, 1982 *

Passau Passau (; ) is a city in Lower Bavaria, Germany. It is also known as the ("City of Three Rivers"), as the river Danube is joined by the Inn (river), Inn from the south and the Ilz from the north. Passau's population is about 50,000, of whom ...

, Lower Bavaria, Germany, since 8 April 1984 * Malabon, Philippines, since 15 July 1987 * Kenai, Alaska, United States of America * St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States of America (with Yūwa, Akita, which merged with Akita), since 1993 * Vladivostok,

Primorsky Krai Primorsky Krai, informally known as Primorye, is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject (a krais of Russia, krai) of Russia, part of the Far Eastern Federal District in the Russian Far East. The types of inhabited localities in Russia, ...

, Russia, since 29 June 1992 *

Nanning Nanning; is the capital of the Guangxi, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China, southern China. It is known as the "Green City (绿城) " because of its abundance of lush subtropical foliage. Located in the South of Guangxi, Nanning ...

Guangxi Guangxi,; officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People's Republic of China, located in South China and bordering Vietnam (Hà Giang Province, Hà Giang, Cao Bằn ...

, China, since 22 November 2021

Domestic sister cities

* Daigo, Kuji District, Ibaraki Prefecture * Hitachiōta, Ibaraki Prefecture

Notable people

* Masamichi Amano, composer * Michio Ashikaga, professional soccer player * Yukiko Ebata, professional women's volleyball player * Hiroki Endo, manga artist * Yukio Endō, Olympic gymnast * Hiroyuki Enoki, professional boxer *

Shirō Fukai was a Japanese composer.The Japan biographical encyclopedia & who's who: Issue 3 Rengō Puresu Sha - 1964 "FUKAI Shiro (1907- ) Composer. Musical critic. Born in Akita Prefecture. Graduated from the Science Section of the Seventh Higher School ( ...

, composer *Takunosuke Funakawa, footballer * Masanori Ishikawa, professional baseball player * Taka Kato, adult movie actor *Yudai Koga (K), member of Japanese boy-group &Team * Chūji Machida, politician, cabinet minister * Hiroya Matsumoto, actor * Hiroko Nagasaki, Olympic swimmer * Emiko Okuyama, politician * Akira Ota, Olympic wrestler * Junko Sakurada, singer * Nozomi Sasaki, model, actress * Takenori Sato, professional mixed martial artist * Tadashi Settsu, professional baseball player * Kohei Shimoda, professional soccer player *

Taro Shoji was a popular Japanese ryūkōka singer. He also used the aliases , , and in his early recording career. Early life Shōji was born in Akita, Akita Prefecture. His father was an employee of the South Manchuria Railway, and his parents moved ...

, singer *, basketball player * Kenji Suzuki (footballer) * Mitsuhisa Taguchi, professional soccer player * Kenta Tateyama, professional basketball player * Go Togashi, footballer for Blaublitz Akita * Setsurō Wakamatsu, movie director * Ren Yamamoto (footballer, born 1999) * Koharu Yonemoto, professional badminton player * Yu Takahashi, singer-songwriter

Sports

*Basketball: Akita Northern Happinets, Prestige International Aranmare Akita *Football: Blaublitz Akita, Saruta Kōgyō S.C., Akita FC Cambiare *Rugby union: Akita Northern Bullets

Notes

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control Cities in Akita Prefecture Populated coastal places in Japan Port settlements in Japan