Takehara, Hiroshima
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Template:Nihongo is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 23,350 in 12,034 households and a population density of 200 persons per km2.<ref name="Takehara-hp">Template:Cite web</ref> The total area of the city is Template:Convert.
Geography
Mihara is located in south-central Hiroshima Prefecture. It faces the Seto Inland Sea to the south. The urban area is broadly divided into a fan-shaped public office/commercial district centered on Takehara Station, a harbor/industrial district centered around the port, and a townscape preservation district that includes temples and other cultural properties. Ōkunoshima, the island where a poison gas plant of the Imperial Japanese Army was located, belongs to Takehara.
Adjoining municipalities
Climate
Takehara has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Takehara is Template:Convert. The average annual rainfall is Template:Cvt with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around Template:Convert, and lowest in January, at around Template:Convert.<ref name=normals/> The highest temperature ever recorded in Takehara was Template:Cvt on 6 August 2017; the coldest temperature ever recorded was Template:Cvt on 26 February 1981.<ref name=extremes/> Template:Weather box
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Takehara in 2020 is 23,993 people.<ref name=zensus/> Takehara has been conducting censuses since 1960. Template:Historical populations
History
The Takehara area is part of ancient Aki Province and has been settled since prehistoric times. During the Heian period, it was the location of a shōen landed estate controlled by Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto Known as a port town since the Muromachi period, it prospered as a center of the salt industry in the latter half of the Edo period under the control of Hiroshima Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the area become part of Kamo District, Hiroshima. On April 1, 1889 the village of Shimoichi was formed with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. On April 17, 1889 Shimoichi was elevated to town status to become the town of Takehara. Takehara was elevated to city status on November 3, 1958. Takehara's Special Historical District of old warehouses was selected as one of Japan's "100 Most Scenic Towns".Template:Citation needed
Government
Takahara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Mihara, collectively with the town of Ōsakikamijima, contributes one member to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Hiroshima 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Takehara's economy is based on agriculture, commercial fishing and food processing. The city is also promoting its historical district as a tourist destination as the "Little Kyoto of Aki".
Education
Takehara has eight public elementary schools, and three public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education. Hiroshima University's Fisheries Experiment Station is located in Takehara.
Transportation
Railway
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Highways
Sister city relations
Local attractions
Museums
- Takehara Museum <ref>Takehara Museum</ref>
- Kaguyahime Bamboo Princess Museum <ref>Kaguyahime Bamboo Princess Museum</ref>
- Masayuki Imai (Ceramic Artist) Museum <ref>Masayuki Imai (Ceramic Artist) Museum Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
- History of Takehara Museum <ref>History of Takehara Museum</ref>
- Ozasaya Sake Museum <ref>Ozasaya Sake Museum</ref>
Mountains and Islands
- Mount Asahi (Otake) <ref>Mount Asahi (Otake) Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
- Mount Kurotaki <ref>Mount Kurotaki</ref>
- Ōkunoshima Island <ref>Ōkunoshima Island</ref>
"Little Kyoto of Aki Province"
- Takehara Historical Heritage <ref>Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan</ref>
- Okakae Jizo Statue <ref>Okakae Jizo Statue</ref>
- Chosei-ji Temple <ref>Chosei-ji Temple Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
- Saihō-ji (Takehara) Temple <ref>Saiho-ji (Takehara) Temple</ref>
- Shoren-ji Temple <ref>Shoren-ji Temple</ref>
- Kodo Ebisu-do Shrine <ref>Kodo Ebisu-do Shrine Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
Hot spring and Sakura (Cherry Blossom Tree) Park
- Yusaka Onsen-kyo <ref>Yusaka Onsen-kyo Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
- Comprehensive Park Bamboo Joy Highland <ref>Comprehensive Park Bamboo Joy Highland Template:In lang</ref> Template:In lang
Festivals and Events
- Miyatoko Children's Festival at Tadanoumi <ref>Miyatoko Children's Festival at Tadanoumi Template:In lang</ref> (April) Template:In lang
- Nika Village Renge (Lotus) Festival <ref>Nika Village Renge (Lotus) Festival</ref> (April)
- Takehara Take (Bamboo) Festival in the Conserved Townscape <ref>Takehara Take (Bamboo) Festival in the Conserved Townscape</ref> (May)
- Tadanoumi Gion (Purification Ritual) Festival <ref>Tadanoumi Gion (Purification Ritual) Festival Template:In lang</ref> (July) Template:In lang
- Takehara Tanabata Festival <ref>Takehara Tanabata Festival Template:In lang</ref> (July) Template:In lang
- Tadanoumi Tenjin Yoichi Summer Festival <ref>Tadanoumi Tenjin Summer Festival</ref> (July)
- Takehara Sumiyoshi Shrine Sea Festival <ref>Takehara Sumiyoshi Shrine Sea Festival Template:In lang</ref> (August) Template:In lang
- Takehara Summer Festival Fireworks <ref>Takehara Summer Festival Fireworks Template:In lang</ref> (August) Template:In lang
- Fukuda Shishimai Lion Dance<ref>Fukusa Shishimai Lion Dance Template:In lang</ref> (October) Template:In lang
- Bamboo Candle Light Festival Shokei no Michi <ref>Bamboo Candle Light Festival Shokei no Michi Template:In lang</ref> (October) Template:In lang
- Takehara Ekiden <ref>Takehara Ekiden</ref> (October)
- Rabbit Cross Country Short Running Race on Ōkunoshima Island <ref>Rabbit Cross Country Short Running Race on Ōkunoshima Island</ref> (November)
- Shinmeisai Fire Festival at Futamado,Tadanoumi <ref>Shinmeisai Fire Festival at Futamado,Tadanoumi Template:In lang</ref> (February) Template:In lang
Notable people from Takehara
- Shōgo Hamada, singer-songwriter
- Hayato Ikeda, Prime Minister from 1960 - 1964
- Naganori Ito, Chief development engineer of Nissan Skyline<ref>Naganori Ito - Designer's emotion over the Skyline Nissan Motor Official Website (Japanese) July 22, 2008</ref>
- Masataka Taketsuru, founder of Japan's whisky industry
In popular culture
Takehara is the setting for the slice-of-life anime series Tamayura.<ref>Takehara: Home of Tamayura</ref>
- Massan - NHK Asadora (morning drama) television series inspired by the life of Taketsuru and his wife Rita<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>