Tosashimizu, Kōchi

Tosashimizu
土佐清水市
City

View of Pacific Ocean and Cape Ashizuri

Symbol

Location of Tosashimizu in Kōchi Prefecture
Tosashimizu

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 32°47′N 132°57′E / 32.783°N 132.950°E / 32.783; 132.950Coordinates: 32°47′N 132°57′E / 32.783°N 132.950°E / 32.783; 132.950
Country Japan
Region Shikoku
Prefecture Kōchi Prefecture
Government
  Mayor Shinichirō Nishimura
Area
  Total 266.54 km2 (102.91 sq mi)
Population (February 29, 2012)
  Total 16,069
  Density 60.29/km2 (156.2/sq mi)
Symbols
  Tree Akō (Ficus superba Miq. var. japonica Miq.)
  Flower Camellia
  Bird Blue Rock-thrush
  Fish Mejika
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address 11-2 Tenjinmachi, Tosashimizu-shi, Kōchi-ken
787-0392
Website www.city.tosashimizu.kochi.jp

Tosashimizu (土佐清水市 Tosashimizu-shi) is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on August 1, 1954.

As of February 29, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 16,069, with 7,984 households and a population density of 60.29 persons per km². The total area is 266.54 km².

The village of Nakanohama in what is now Tosashimizu City is the birthplace of John Manjiro (Manjiro Nakahama), the first Japanese to reach the United States. Manjiro, a young fisherman, was shipwrecked off the coast of Japan in 1841 and rescued by whaling captain William Whitfield of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Whitfield brought the young Manjiro back to Fairhaven and New Bedford at the end of the whaling voyage, and Manjiro spent several years there before eventually making his way back to Japan. Because of this history, Tosashimizu became the sister city of both Fairhaven and New Bedford in 1987.

Sister cities

External links

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