Aioi, Hyōgo

Aioi
相生市
City

Flag

Location of Aioi in Hyōgo Prefecture
Aioi

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 34°48′N 134°28′E / 34.800°N 134.467°ECoordinates: 34°48′N 134°28′E / 34.800°N 134.467°E
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Prefecture Hyōgo Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Yoshiki Taniguchi (since May 2000)
Area
 • Total 90.43 km2 (34.92 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Total 32,584
 • Density 369.14/km2 (956.1/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree Camellia
- Flower Cosmos
Address Asahi 1-1-3, Aioi City, Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県相生市旭１丁目１番３号)
678-8585
Phone number 81(0)791-23-7111

Aioi (相生市 Aioi-shi) is a city located between Himeji and Okayama, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 32,584 and a population density of 369.14 persons per km². The total area is 90.43 km².

History

Aioi city

Aioi City was founded on October 1, 1942, and was enlarged to its present size on August 1, 1955. The city's name comes from the name of one of the villages that were merged to create the city. (Curiously, the name of the village was pronounced "Au", but used the same kanji characters as the present-day city.)[1] During the Edo period, these villages were part of the Akō han (fiefdom of feudal lords) of Harima Province.[2]

The main industry in Aioi is shipbuilding, which, despite many years of decline, still maintains a strong presence through Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI).

Aioi is known for the annual dragon boat races held during the Aioi Peron Festival （相生ペーロン祭）, which takes place on the last weekend of May each year. In 1655, the dragon boat races were brought from China to Nagasaki. Later in 1922, some Nagasaki IHI workers were transferred to Aioi. They brought the dragon boat races with them.

Transportation

Trains

Aioi is well connected with transportation. Aioi has two train stations and several major expressways and roads.

The two train stations in Aioi are: Aioi Station （相生駅） and Nishi-Aioi Station (West Aioi Station) （西相生駅）. Two train lines run though Aioi Station: Sanyō line (山陽本線, Sanyō-honsen) and the Akō Line (赤穂線 Akō-sen). The Sanyō line is the main train line running west and east along the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海, Seto Naikai). The Akō line begins in Aioi and runs west through Nishi Aioi Station and Akō City and continues into Okayama Prefecture to Okayama City.

The city has a shinkansen station. It is commonly asserted that this was due to the influence of Toshio Kōmoto （河本敏夫）, a Diet member from the area when the Sanyo Shinkansen line was approved in the 1960s. Today, Aioi Station serves as a gateway to Harima Science Garden City, which hosts SPring-8, the largest synchrotron in the world, among other scientifically-oriented institutes and companies.

Roads

Schools

Aioi has two high schools, four junior high schools, and seven elementary schools.

High School （高校学校 kōtōgakkō）

Junior High School （中学校 chūgakkō）

Elementary School （小学校 shōgakkō）

Daikon

On November 2005, the city was mentioned in world news reports after a large daikon radish that grew though the pavement was found slashed.[3][4] According to a city spokesperson, the radish was seen as an inspiration due to "its tenacity and strong will to live."[5] The tenacious daikon, nicknamed "Daichan," has since been celebrated in a children's book.[6] In 2006, a special firework representing the daikon was set off at the annual firework display preceding the dragon boat races.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia Japan: 赤穂郡
  2. ↑ Wikipedia Japan: 赤穂藩
  3. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4677262.stm
  4. ↑ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1877039,00.html
  5. ↑ http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10078798/
  6. ↑ http://www.kosei.info/contents/b-ISBN907856-53-9.html
  7. ↑ 27 May 2007: Date of the annual Aioi 'Peron' festival which includes boat racing for the whole of that day. Fireworks the previous night in Aioi.

External links

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