Kōriyama, Fukushima

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This article is about the city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Yamato-Kōriyama is the city in Nara Prefecture, Japan.
Kōriyama
郡山
Core city
郡山市 · Kōriyama
Downtown Kōriyama, looking south

Flag
Location of Kōriyama in Fukushima Prefecture
Kōriyama
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 37°24′N 140°23′E / 37.400°N 140.383°E / 37.400; 140.383Coordinates: 37°24′N 140°23′E / 37.400°N 140.383°E / 37.400; 140.383
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Fukushima Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Masao Hara
Area
 • Total 757.06 km2 (292.30 sq mi)
Population (1 May 2011)
 • Total 336,328
 • Density 440/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree Prunus serrulata (Japanese hill cherry)
- Flower Japanese iris
- Bird Cuckoo
Address 1-7-23 Asahi, Koriyama, Fukushima
963-8601
Phone number 024-924-2491
Website City of Kōriyama

Kōriyama (郡山市 Kōriyama-shi) is a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 336,328[1] and a population density of 440 persons per km². The total area is 757 km².

The city was founded on September 1, 1924. It is now designated as a "core city" and functions as a commercial city in Fukushima Prefecture. Kōriyama is the second largest conurbation in the Tōhoku region.

History

Kōriyama once thrived as a Shukuba town because of its importance as a traffic focal point. Kōriyama was formerly called Asaka (安積). In the Meiji period, the Meiji government had many samurai reclaim the land to help the poor. As a result, Asaka developed into a big food basket and the population grew.

Kōriyama was incorporated as a city on September 1, 1924.

In 1965, the city merged with some nearby towns and villages.

In 1997, the city was designated as a core city.

On March 11, 2011, Fukushima Daiichi experienced a nuclear disaster, which forced mandatory evacuations of cities within 30 km of the nuclear power plant. Koriyama is located approximately 34 miles (55 km) west of Fukushima Daiichi; therefore, it was not included in the evacuation zone, although most people refrained from outdoor activity.[citation needed]

Geography and climate

Kōriyama is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku region (37°24′N 140°23′E / 37.400°N 140.383°E / 37.400; 140.383). The Adatara mountains are to the north, Lake Inawashiro is to the west, and the Abukuma highlands are to the east. The Abukuma River flows through downtown Kōriyama.

The downtown area is in front (West) of Kōriyama Station.

Kōriyama, Fukushima
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
37
 
4
−3
 
 
38
 
5
−2
 
 
70
 
9
0
 
 
83
 
16
5
 
 
100
 
21
11
 
 
127
 
24
15
 
 
185
 
28
19
 
 
152
 
29
21
 
 
165
 
25
16
 
 
111
 
19
10
 
 
63
 
13
4
 
 
33
 
8
0
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Demographics

In a 2007 census the city's population was recorded as 339,118 and the population density as 447.94 people per square kilometer. The population of the conurbation is about 0.5 million, the second largest in the Tōhoku region after Sendai.

Economy

Kōriyama city is called the "commercial capital in Fukushima" and the economic bloc is the biggest in Fukushima Prefecture. There are many department stores and shops in front of Kōriyama Station.

Asiana Airlines operates a sales office on the second floor of the Nihonseimei Koriyama Nakamachi Building in Kōriyama.[2]

Principal companies
  • XEBIO; sports goods
  • Kourakuen; ramen shops
  • York Benimaru; the biggest supermarket in Kōriyama with networks in south Tōhoku, Nigata, and North Kanto
Banks

Transportation

Kōriyama is an important point because it is located in the center of Fukushima and it is linked to many cities like Tokyo, Sendai, Fukushima, Niigata, Mito, and Iwaki. The city serves as a hub for the railways and the expressways.

Railway

JR Koriyama Station
Central station: Kōriyama Station

JR East Lines

Kōriyama Station
Yamabiko, Nasuno, Tsubasa
Asaka-Nagamori - Kōriyama Station - Hiwada
  • East Ban'etsu Line
Kōriyama Station - Mōgi
  • West Ban'etsu Line
Kōriyama Station - Kikuta - Akogashima - Bandai-Atami - Nakayamajuku
Kōriyama Station - Asaka-Nagamori - Yatagawa - Iwaki-Moriyama

Roads

Koriyama Junction
  • National Route 4
  • National Route 49
  • National Route 228
  • National Route 294

Highway buses

Ports

Airports

None in the city. Some available airports are as follows.

Culture

Festivals

  • Kōriyama Uneme Festival
  • Koriyama Summer Festival - an Oktoberfest-style festival.
  • Koriyama Autumn Festival - includes children's activities, taiko and mikoshi parades.

Foods

Media

Television

analogue

CATY

  • Information Network Kōriyama

Newspaper

  • Fukushima Mimpō (Fukushima, Mainichi chain)
  • Fukushima Min-Yū (Fukushima, Yomiuri chain)
  • Kahoku Shimpō (Sendai)

Radio

FM Fukushima (JFN)

Education

Universities and colleges

  • Nihon University, Faculty of Engineering
  • Ohu University
  • Kōriyama Women's University & Colleges
  • Kōriyama Women's University Junior College
  • Open University of Japan, Fukushima Learning Center

Senior high schools

Public (prefectural)
  • Asaka High School
  • Asaka Mitate Branch High School
  • Asaka Reimei High School
  • Kōriyama High School
  • Kōriyama Higashi High School
  • Kōriyama Shōgyō High School
  • Kōriyama Kita Kōgyō High School
  • Asaka Kaisei High School
  • Konan High School
  • Kōriyama Hōsei High School
Private
  • Tohoku High School of Nihon University
  • Shōshi Gakuen Shōshi High School
  • Teikyō Asaka High School
  • High School affiliated with Kōriyama Women's Colleges

Junior high schools

Public
  • Koriyama First Junior High School
  • Koriyama Second Junior High School
  • Koriyama Third Junior High School
  • Koriyama Fourth Junior High School
  • Koriyama Fifth Junior High School
  • Koriyama Sixth Junior High School
  • Koriyama Seventh Junior High School
  • Tomita Junior High School
  • Asaka Junior High School
  • Asaka Second Junior High School
  • Ōtsuki Junior High School
  • Mihota Junior High School
  • Futase Junior High School
  • Nishida Junior High School
  • Katahira Junior High School
  • Kikuta Junior High School
  • Midorigaoka Junior High School
  • Moriyama Junior High School
  • Hiwada Junior High School
  • Meiken Junior High School
  • Koharada Junior High School
  • Kohken Junior High School
  • Miyagi Junior High School
  • Ose Junior High School
  • Konan Junior High School
  • Mitate Junior High School
  • Takase Junior High School
  • Atami Junior High School
Private
  • Xaverio Junior High School

People

Mayors

  • Acting Mayor: Yoshiya Ōmori (大森 吉弥, 1924–1925)
  • 1st: Yoshiya Ōmori (1925–1929)
  • 2nd: Jun Wada (和田 潤, 1929–1937)
  • 3rd: Hachirō Murai (村井 八郎, 1937–1940)
  • 4th: Ujirō Seki (関 卯次郎, 1940–1942)
  • 5th: Hachikurō Ōshima (大島 破竹郎, 1942–1947)
  • 6th: Shichiji Itō (伊藤 七司, 6 April - 2 May 1947)
  • 7th: Zenko Honma (本間 善庫, 1947–1951)
  • 8th: Morishige Tanji (丹治 盛重, 1951–1959)
  • 9th: Hiyoshi Hidese (秀瀬 日吉, 1959–1977)
  • 10th: Takashi Takahashi (高橋 堯, 1977–1985)
  • 11th: Hisashi Aoki (青木 久, 1985–1993)
  • 12th: Eiji Fujimori (藤森 英二, 1993–2005)
  • 13th: Masao Hara (原 正夫, current)

Sources:[3]

Notable people

Twinnings

Japanese sister cities

International sister city

Neighboring municipalities

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated population May 1, 2011". Official Fukushima Prefecture website. Retrieved 29 July 2011. (Japanese)
  2. ↑ "Worldwide Offices Japan." Asiana Airlines. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.
  3. ↑ "歴代の郡山市長の一覧" [List of previous mayors of Kōriyama] (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 November 2009. 
  4. ↑ "Masashi Ohuchi Passes On". International Weightlifting Federation. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-19. 

External links

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