Akita

Akita (秋田市 Akita-shi^?) is the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region ofJapan.

As of June 1, 2007, with the merger of the former Kawabe District (including the former towns of Kawabe and Yūwa), the city has an estimated population of 336,250 anddensity of 364.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (944.3 /sq mi). The total area is 905.67 square kilometres (349.68 sq mi).

While the modern city was officially founded on April 1, 1889, Akita has been one of the most important cities in the Tohoku region since the medieval period. The Ashina and Satake daimyo clans established their capital in present-day Akita.

History

Historically, Akita has seen changes throughout at least four historical Japanese periods; Edo, Meiji, Showa and Heisei. The beginnings of Akita were in the Edo period. A settlement, known as Kubota Castle Town, was formed which would later become the center of Akita. Construction is dated to 1604.

[edit]Meiji

Progress in the Meiji era included the renaming of the "Taihei" School (太平学校) to "Akita Normal" School (師範学校) on April 12 of 1878. In July, the school system was divided into 2 systems, the Kitaakita and Minamiakita districts. A year later, on April 1, 1889, Akita was officially established. In July the city hall of Akita is located inside the former Minamiakita District office. Transportation by horsecar began in July from Shindaikumachi to Tsuchizaki. This later became the Akita City Rail service. In May the first bank opened.

[edit]Showa

War devastated the city on August 14, 1945. 137 people were killed in an air raid of 134B-29s, attacking the city from midnight to the early dawn of August 15. A Nippon Company oil refinery in the Tsuchizaki area was targeted. This was reportedly the farthest-range and also the last bombing mission in World War II, coming only hours before Japan announced its surrender.^[1]

[edit]Heisei Era

On April 1, 1997 Akita was designated as a core city in Japan. In August 2001 TheWorld 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.

[edit]Merger with Kawabe District

On January 11, 2005, the city added the towns of Kawabe and Yūwa to become the new city of Akita. The merger celebration was held at AL☆Ve.

The location of Akita City Hall did not change, and former Kawabe and Yūwa Town Halls are used as civic centers.