Japan > Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshu, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits.

Nicknamed the "Fugu Capital," it is known for the locally caught pufferfish and is the largest harvester of the pufferfish in Japan.

As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 265,684 and a population density of 370 persons per km². The total area is 716.14 km².

History

The Heike and Genji fought at Dan-no-ura near the present Kanmonkyo Bridge.

The city prior to 1902 was commonly known as Bakan (馬關) and formally Akamagaseki (赤間關).

On February 13, 2005, Shimonoseki absorbed the towns of Hōhoku, Kikugawa, Toyota and Toyoura (all from Toyoura District) to create the new and expanded city of Shimonseki. Since October 1, 2005, the city has been designated as a core city by the Japanese Government.

The geographical position of Shimonoseki has given it historical importance, especially with the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1864 and the Treaty of Shimonoseki, where a defeated China handed over Taiwan, Penghu, and Port Arthur to the victorious Japanese in 1895.

An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Shimonoseki as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.

On January 7, 2006, the wooden station building at Shimonoseki station, which had dated back to 1942, was destroyed in a fire, the cause of which is suspected to be arson.

Climate

Shimonoseki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heavier in summer.

Economy

Major companies and institutes

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Shimonoseki Shipyard and Machinery Works
• Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc.
  • The Yamaguchi Bank, Ltd.
  • Momiji Bank,Ltd.
  • YM Securities Co.,Ltd.
• Hayashikane Sangyo Co., Ltd.
• Chofu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
• Harakosan Co., Ltd.
• Minato-Yamaguchi Co., Ltd.
  • Yamaguchi Shimbun
  • Minato Shimbun

Transportation

Ferries from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal

• The Kanpu ferry to Pusan in South Korea regularly.
• The Gwangyang Beech to Gwangyang in South Korea regularly.
• The Orient ferry to Shanghai in China regularly.
• The Orient ferry to Qingdao in China was suspended in November 2015.

Trains

• The main Shinkansen station
  • Sanyō Shinkansen
    • Shin-Shimonoseki Station
• The main JR West stations
  • Sanyō Main Line
    • Shimonoseki Station
    • Hatabu Station - Hatabu Station is a railway station on the Sanyō Main Line and the San'in Main Line.
    • Shin-Shimonoseki Station - Shin-Shimonoseki Station is a railway station on the Sanyō Shinkansen Line and the Sanyō Main Line.
    • Chōfu Station
    • Ozuki Station
  • San'in Main Line
    • Hatabu Station
    • Ayaragi Station
    • Kajikuri-Gōdaichi Station
    • Yasuoka Station
    • Fukue Station
    • Yoshimi Station
    • Umegatō Station
    • Kuroimura Station
    • Kawatana-Onsen Station
    • Kogushi Station
    • Yutama Station
    • Ukahongō Station
    • Nagato-Futami Station
    • Takibe Station
    • Kottoi Station
    • Agawa Station
    • Nagato-Awano Station

Buses

Regular bus services are provided by Sanden Kohtsu, as well as by group companies of Sanden Kohtsu.

• Bus companies (A loop-line bus in the city.)
  • Sanden Kohtsu Co.,Ltd.
  • Blue Line Kohtsu Co.,Ltd.
• Intercity bus services (arrival and departure in Shimonoseki city) go to the following destinations: Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Airport, etc.

Expressway

Chūgoku Expressway

• Shimonoseki interchange
• Ozuki interchange

Bypasses

• Ozuki Bypass
• Shimonoseki-Kita Bypass

National Highways

• National Route 2
• National Route 9
• National Route 191
• National Route 435
• National Route 491

Airports

Shimonoseki is served by four airports outside the city.

• Kitakyūshū Airport
• Kokura Airport
• Yamaguchi Ube Airport (only for domestic flights)
• Fukuoka Airport

Education

Universities and colleges

• National Fisheries University (水産大学校, Suisan daigakkō) (Yoshimi)
• Shimonoseki City University (Daigaku-cho)
• University of East Asia (Shin-Shimonoseki Station)
• Baiko Gakuin University (Higashieki)
• Shimonoseki Junior College (Sakurayama-cho)

Primary and secondary schools

The city has a North Korean school, Yamaguchi Korean Elementary and Junior High School (山口朝鮮初中級学校). It formerly housed two other North Korean schools, Yamaguchi Korean High School and Shimonoseki Korean Elementary and Junior High School (下関朝鮮初中級学校).

As a city of a quarter million people, it has some public schools too.

Culture

Regional specialties

• Fugu (blowfish)
• uni Sea urchin
• Whale
• Anko Goosefish
• Kawara Soba
• Ganryu Yaki (Dorayaki)
• Mentaiko Roe

Specialty products

• Fuku Chochin (lanterns)
• Akamagaseki Suzuri
• Jourou Ningyo

Festivals

Shimonoseki is home to many festivals that are held throughout the year. Of these, the most famous are Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival and Shimonoseki Bakan Festival.

• Shimonoseki Fugu (Blowfish) Festival (February) : Haedomari Market
• Kawatana Onsen(hot spring) Festival (April)
• Shimonoseki Kaikyo Festival (May) : Karato, Ganryujima Island
• Suhouteisai Festival (August) : Castle town Chofu
• Kanmon Kaikyo Fireworks Festival (August) : Karato(Aruka Port area)
• Shimonoseki Bakan Festival (August) : Along the street from Karato-cho to Shimonoseki Station
• TOUR de Shimonoseki (October/November)
• Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon (November)
• Shimonoseki Fish Festival (November) : Shimonoseki Fishing Port
• Little Busan Fest (November) : Green Mall

Architecture

• Kōzan-ji - The butsuden completed in 1320 is a National Treasure of Japan.
• Akama Shrine
• Kaikyō Yume Tower

Museums

• Shimonoseki City Art Museum
• Shimonoseki Chofu Museum
• Shimonoseki City Archaeological Museum
• Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum (Shimonoseki City Aquarium) (Kaikyo Kan)
• Doigahama Site Anthropological Museum
• The firefly museum of toyota town
• The Yamagin Archive (やまぎん史料館) of the Yamaguchi Bank

Professional Teams

• FC Baleine Shimonoseki (Football)

Sporting venues

• Shimonoseki Baseball Stadium
• Shimonoseki Boat Race Stadium (Shimonoseki Kyōtei)
• Shimonoseki City Gymnasium
• Shimonoseki Track and field stadium
• Shimonoseki city swimming pool
• Nogihama General Park (Football stadium)

Crime and safety

The Goda-ikka yakuza syndicate is headquartered in Shimonoseki. A designated yakuza group, the Goda-ikka is the largest yakuza syndicate in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Twin cities

Shimonoseki has one Japanese and six international sister cities:

• Santos (São Paulo), Brazil, since 1971
• Istanbul, Turkey, since 1972
• Busan, South Korea, since 1976
• Qingdao, China, since 1979
• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, since 1995
• Pittsburg, California, U.S., since 1998
• Kikugawa, Shizuoka, Japan

Notable people

• Shinzo Abe (90th Prime Minister of Japan)
• Takasugi Shinsaku
• Duncan Gordon Boyes
• Richard Henry Brunton
• Kinuyo Tanaka
• Yusaku Matsuda
• Atsushi Tamura (Comedian, actor and singer)

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