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Okayama

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Okayama
岡山市
Skyline of Okayma in front of Okayama Station

Skyline of Okayma in front of Okayama Station
Location of Okayama
Okayama's location in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
Okayama is located in Japan
Okayama
Okayama's location in Japan.
Location
Country Flag of Japan Japan
Region Chūgoku
Prefecture Okayama Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area 789.88 km2 (304.97 sq mi)
Population (as of March 2007)
     Total 698,948
Location 34°39′N 133°55′E / 34.65°N 133.917°E / 34.65; 133.917Coordinates: 34°39′N 133°55′E / 34.65°N 133.917°E / 34.65; 133.917
Symbols
Emblem of Okayama
Flag
Okayama Government Office
Mayor Shigeo Takaya
Address Okayama-shi,Daiku1-1-1
700-8544
Phone number 086-803-1000
Official website: Okayama City

Okayama (岡山市 Okayama-shi?) is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.

The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of March 2007, the city has an estimated population of 698,946 and the density of 884.87 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km². After the merger and part of the negotiation with the Okayama Prefecture, the city became a designated city on April 1, 2009.[1]

Contents

[edit] Outline

Statue of Momotarō

The city is known as the site of the Korakuen Garden and the black Okayama Castle, which was chosen the best 100 of Japanese castle. And the city is famous for the stage of Japanese fable called "Momotarō". Okayama University is located in the city, which founded as a medical school in 1870 and established in 1949 as a national university. The city is one of few Japanese cities to have kept an operational tram system. And the JR West Okayama Station is a major rail interchange as trains from Shikoku and San'in region connect with the Sanyō Shinkansen. And Okayama Airport also serves the city.

[edit] History

[edit] Sengoku period to Tensho era

Before the Muromachi period, Okayama was one corner of a farm area and there was a small castle build by the Kanemitsu. In the Sengoku period, Ukita Naoie attacked Okayama and robbed the castle. Because Naoie thought Okayama was a very convenient place due to its advantages of transportation and broad acres. After this, Naoie remodeled the castle, build the old Sanyo road to the central part of the castle town and called in tradesmen from inside and outside of Bizen province. Okayama became the political and economical capital of Bizen province.

[edit] Edo period

Okayama Castle

In 1600, Ukita Hideie, who was son of Naoie and the lord of Okayama, lost at the Battle of Sekigahara. The next year, Kobayakawa Hideaki came to Okayama and became the feudal lord of Okayama Domain. But Hideaki died in 1602 and ended the Kobayakawa line. So, Ikeda Tadatugu, who was the feudal lord of Himeji Domain, became the lord of Okayama. After this time, Okayama was ruled over by the Ikedas until the latter part of the 19th century. Continuting its economic development, Okayama became one of the 10 best large castle towns in Japan around in the 1700s. The Korakuen Garden was developed by the 4th feudal lord, Ikeda Tsunamasa.

[edit] Meiji Restoration to World War II

On August 29, 1871, the new Meiji government of the Empire of Japan replaced the traditional feudal domain system and to introduced centralized government authority (Prefectures of Japan). Okayama became the capital of Okayama Prefecture. And then, 1889, Okayama city was founded. In the Meiji period, the railroad was built in Okayama city. After then, the railroad helped the development of the city. For example, the Sixth Higher Middle School (第六高等学校 Dairoku kōtōgakkō?)and Okayama Medical College (岡山医科大学 Okayama ika daigaku?)　was established in Okayama city. Okayama became on of the most important places in western Japan for transportation and education. But World War II broke out in the 1940s. Okayama city had a Japanese Army base camp, and so, on June 29, 1945, the city was attacked by the US Army withincendiary bombs. Almost all the city was burned out and many people died. Okayama suffered terrible damage in the war.

[edit] After World War II

The Okayama Government Office

After the 1950s, Japan displayed drastic economical development. Okayama was also developed as one of the centre cities in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.　In 1972, Sanyō Shinkansen was opened from Shin-Ōsaka Station to Okayama Station. Two years later, Shinkansen services started from Okayama Station to Hakata Station. Then in 1988, Seto-Ōhashi Line and Seto-chuō Highway was opened and connected Okayama with Shikoku directory by train and road. Okayama became a very important place for traffic. The city became a core city in 1996. Later in March 22, 2005, the town of Mitsu from Mitsu District and Nadasaki from Kojima District were merged into the city, and on January 22, 2007, the town of Takebe from Mitsu District and Seto from Akaiwa District were also merged into the city. All three districts have since been dissolved.

[edit] Geography

Momotarō Main Street

The city of Okayama is located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture, which in turn is located in western part of the island of Honshū. The city is bounded on the south by the Inland Sea.

The city Okayama became a designated city on April 1, 2009. Since then, the city has had wards (ku).

Emblem Ward Population Area (km²) Density
(per km²)
Kita-ku 295,312 451.03 655
Naka-ku 138,949 51.24 2,711
Higashi-ku 96,718 160.28 603
Minami-ku 165,193 127.36 1,297
Population as of October 1, 2005

[edit] Climate

Okayama has a mild climate in comparison to most of Japan. Okayama is ranked as the second driest as well as the fourth sunniest City in the Chūgoku region.[2] Okayama's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical Cfa(Köppen Climate Classification)[3] [4]

The local climate is warm enough throughout the year to locally support olive trees. Okayama is often called “The Sunny Country”, because of its light rain.[5]

[edit] Economy

Omotechō Shopping Street

[edit] Agriculture

The city is located in the Okayama Plain. Farmers raise rice, grow eggplant and white Chinese chives[6]. The northern part of the city is mountainous, and white peaches and grapes are cultivated.

[edit] Industry

Okayama is prosperous in industry as well as in agriculture. The amount of industrial products shipment is about 8,000 hundred million yen(in 2005)[7]. This is almost 10% of that of Okayama Prefecture. The main types of industry are machine, chemistry, food and printing. Kōnan District, in the southern part of the city, is the most developed industrial zone in the city.

[edit] Commerce

Okayama is the core of the Okayama metropolitan area, which includes cities of Kurashiki and Sōja cities.

The main commercial district is Omotechō and the surroundings of the JR West Okayama Station. Omotechō is near Okayama Castle and the Korakuen Garden. It has shopping arcades and is always crowded.

[edit] Culture

Okayama Kōrakuen Garden

Okayama has many sightseeing spots, for example, the Okayama Castle and the Korakuen Garden. Okayama Castle (nicknamed Ujō, meaning Cormorant Castle) was constructed in 1597, by Ukita Naoie, a Japanese feudal lord. Okayama Castle was burnt down in 1945 during World War II, but reconstructed in 1966. The castle is bounded on the north Korakuen Garden, which is called one of the best three gardens in Japan. The Korakuen Garden was developed by Ikeda Tsunamasa. It completed spending 14 years in 1700.

Nowadays, Okayama has a professional symphony orchestra, called Okayama Symphony Orchestra, which has mainly performed at the Okayama Symphony Hall.There are many museums in the city, like Okayama Prefectural Museum, Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Hayashibara Museum of Art, Yumeji Art Museum and Okayama Digital Museum. And also, there are some libraries, like Okayama Prefectural Library.

[edit] Cuisine

Okayama has traditional food. For example, barazushi (ばらずし?), one of rice salad. It contains fresh fish caught in Seto Inland Sea. Kibidango (吉備団子?) is also famous. Kibidango is one of rice cakes made by powder of millet and rice.

[edit] Media

The headoffice of The Sanyo Shimbun and TV Setouchi

The Sanyo Shimbun and The Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun are the local newspaper serving Okayama. The former publishes both morning paper and evening editions, the later publishes evening edition only. There are five private television stations and NHK serving Okayama Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture. People who live in Okayama can watch the five large television networks of Japan. In addition, they can listen to three FM radio stations and three AM radio stations.

TV Stations
Channel ID Name Network Established year Call sign
1 NHK General TV Okayama NHK General TV 1957 JOKK-(D)TV
2 NHK Educational TV Okayama NHK Educational TV 1963 JOKB-(D)TV
4 Nishinippon Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.(RNC) NNN 1958 JOKF-(D)TV
5 Setonaikai Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.(KSB) ANN 1969 JOVH-(D)TV
6 Sanyo Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.(RSK) JNN 1958 JOYR-(D)TV
7 TV Setouchi Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.(TSC) TXN 1985 JOPH-(D)TV
8 Okayama Broadcasting Co.,Ltd.(OHK) FNN 1969 JOOH-(D)TV
Radio Stations
Channel Name Network Established year Call sign
AM603kHz NHK Radio Daiichi Okayama NHK Radio Daiichi 1931 JOKK
AM1386kHz NHK Radio Daini Okayama NHK Radio Daini 1946 JOKB
AM1494kHz Sanyo Broadcasting Co,Ltd.Radio (RSK) JRN,NRN 1958 JOYR
FM88.7MHz NHK FM Okayama NHK FM 1964 JOKK-FM
FM76.8MHz FM Okayama JFN 1999 JOVV-FM
FM79.0MHz Radio MOMO (Okayama City FM) J-WAVE 1997 JOZZ8AD-FM

[edit] Sports

Okayama has a lot of sports teams, however, for a long time, there were no professional teams. But in recent years, volleyball team Okayama Seagulls and soccer team Fagiano Okayama FC were established. Fagiano Okayama FC gained promotion to the J. League, the highest soccer league in Japan, in 2009.

Club Sport League Venue Established
Fagiano Okayama FC Soccer J. League Division 2 Momotaro Stadium (Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Athletic Stadium) 2004
Okayama Seagulls Volleyball V.League Momotaro Arena (Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Grounds Gym) 1999
Serio Standing Bears American football X-League Momotaro Stadium (Okayama Prefectural Multipurpose Athletic Stadium)  ?
Citylight Okayama Baseball Team Baseball Semi-professional baseball 2008

[edit] Education

Okayama University

Okayama University　is a national university, which was established in 1949, as part of a national restructuring of the education system. Today, Okayama University is one of big universities, which has 11 faculties and 6 graduate schools. The university consortium Okayama was started in 2006, work in cooperation with 16 universities, Okayama Prefectural Government and the Committee of companies.

There are 7 private universities, 3 junior colleges, 24 high schools(Public:16,Private:8), 7 six-year secondary education schools(Public:2,Private:5), 37 junior high schools(National:1,Civic:36) and 93 elementary schools(Civic:91,Private:2) in the city.

Universities

[edit] Transportation

JR West Okayama Station

[edit] Railway

A lot of routes ride into Okayama by the junction of the railway traffic that connects Shinkansen with the San'in region and Shikoku. The JR West Okayama Station is one of terminal stations in Japan, offers Sanyō Shinkansen, Sanyō Main Line (including Hakubi Line and Akō Line), Uno Line (including Seto-Ōhashi Line), Tsuyama Line and Kibi Line.

[edit] Tramway

Okayama has tram system from Meiji period. The tram system is managed by Okayama Electric Tramway, and offers two lines, Higashiyama Main Line and Seikibashi Line, from Okayama Station. The fare is only 100yen or 140yen.

[edit] Bus

There are many bus services offered by 7 bus companies.

  • Okayama Electric Tramway(Okaden bus) (岡電バス?)
  • Ryōbi bus (両備バス?)
  • Shimoden bus (下電バス?)
  • Chūtetsu bus (中鉄バス?)
  • Uno bus (宇野バス?)
  • Tōbi bus (東備バス?)
  • Bihoku bus (備北バス?)

[edit] Airport

Okayama Airport, located northern part of the city, provides air service within Japan to Tokyo-Haneda, Sapporo-Chitose, Okinawa-Naha, and Kagoshima. International air service is provided to Seoul-Incheon, Guam, Beijing-Capital ,Shanghai-Pudong, and Dalian. Commuter air service is also available at Kōnan Airport.

[edit] Attractions

  • Sōgenji, famous temple for very large zen monastery belonging to the Rinzai sect, is located near the central part of the city. Sōgenji has produced several of the abbots of the major monasteries in Kyoto. Under the direction of Shodo Harada Roshi it is now a training center for foreign practitioners and allows women and lay people and as well as those participating on a part-time basis to as well as ordained men to participate.

[edit] Others

  • Okayama is the hometown of Aeon Corporation, which is a private English language school with more than 3,000 employees.[8]
  • Every February, men descend on Okayama for Hadaka Matsuri or the 'naked man festival'.[9]
  • Masashi Kishimoto, famous for creating the anime/manga series Naruto, was born in Okayama. The town was also the inspiration for the village of Konoha, where most of the protagonists of Naruto live. Okayama was host to Naruto Shippūden Ninmu Tour: Kurashiki, Okayama Edition (NARUTO -ナルト- 疾風伝忍務ツアー 岡山・倉敷の巻 NARUTO -Naruto- Shippūden Ninmu Tsuā Okayama・Kurashiki no Maki?), a temporary Naruto-themed living museum. The attraction featured select areas modeled after various fictional locations from the Naruto universe, and was open from April 1 through September 30, 2007.[10]

[edit] Photo Gallery

Okayama City proper in front of the train station

Okayama Airport

Hayashibara Museum of Art

Sōgenji

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] Notables

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.kokudo.or.jp/marge/c_okayama.html (Japanese)
  2. ^ http://www.pref.okayama.jp/kikaku/kokusai/momo/e/gaiyou/gaiyou.html
  3. ^ http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/
  4. ^ http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/JAXX0065?from=36hr_bottomnav_business
  5. ^ http://www.pref.okayama.jp/soshiki/detail.html?lif_id=2143
  6. ^ http://www.city.okayama.okayama.jp/kankou/aji/index.html
  7. ^ http://www.city.okayama.okayama.jp/soumu/toukei/kougyou/17kougyou/gaiyou.pdf
  8. ^ Aeon Corporate Structure
  9. ^ "Try Your Luck at Okayama’s Naked Man Festival". thecircumference.org. http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/try-your-luck-at-okayamas-naked-man-festival. Retrieved on 2008-10-23. 
  10. ^ "Naruto Shippuuden Ninmu Tour". Nippon Travel Agency. http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z4&mo=10&d=1. Retrieved on 2008-10-18. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Shadow picture of Okayama PrefectureOkayama Prefecture
Cities Flag of Okayama Prefecture
Districts
See also: Towns and villages by district
v • d • e
Metropolitan cities of Japan
Designated cities
Chiba · Fukuoka · Hamamatsu · Hiroshima · Kawasaki · Kitakyūshū · Kobe · Kyoto · Nagoya · Niigata · Okayama · Osaka · Saitama · Sakai · Sapporo · Sendai · Shizuoka · Yokohama
Core cities
Tokyo Metropolis
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