Shizuoka (静岡市,Shizuoka-shi;Japanese pronunciation:[ɕi.(d)zɯꜜ.o.ka,ɕi.(d)zɯ.o.kaꜜ.ɕi][2]) is the capital city ofShizuoka Prefecture,Japan, and the prefecture's second-largest city in both population and area. It has been populated since prehistoric times. As of 1 September 2023,[update] the city had an estimatedpopulation of 677,867 in 106,087 households,[3] and apopulation density of 480 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,200/sq mi).
The city's name is made up of twokanji,静shizu, meaning "still" or "calm"; and岡oka, meaning "hill(s)".[4] In 1869, Shizuoka Domain was first created out of the olderSunpu Domain, and that name was retained when the city was incorporated in 1885. In 2003, Shizuoka absorbed neighboring Shimizu City (nowShimizu Ward) to create the new and expanded city of Shizuoka, briefly becoming the largest city by land area in Japan. In 2005, it became one of Japan's "designated cities".
Shizuoka City lies in centralShizuoka Prefecture, about halfway betweenTokyo andNagoya along theTōkaidō Corridor, betweenSuruga Bay to the south and theMinami Alps in the north. Shizuoka had the largest area of any municipality in Japan after merging with Shimizu City in April 2003, until February 2005, whenTakayama inGifu Prefecture superseded it by merging with nine surrounding municipalities.
The total area of the city is 1,411.90 km2 (545.14 sq mi).[5] Shizuoka is the 5th largest city in Japan in terms of geographic area after Takayama,Hamamatsu,Nikkō, andKitami. It is also the 2nd largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture in terms of both geographic area and population afterHamamatsu, but ranks higher as anUrban Employment Area,[6] and leads as ametropolitan area and business region.
The fan-like shape of the Shizuoka Plain and Miho Peninsula were formed over the ages by the fast-flowingAbe River, carrying along collapsed sand and earth. These areas form the foundations of the city today.[7]: 242 The isolatedMount Kunō separates the Suruga coastline from the Shimizu coastline.
On the south-central Pacific coast Shizuoka has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa), which is hot and humid in the summer, and rarely snows in the winter.[8] It is close to the warmKuroshio Current and is wet even by Japanese standards with only slightly less precipitation thanKanazawa on the opposite side of Honshū, but it is paradoxically the sunniest of Japan's major cities owing to the absence of summer fog and its sheltered location from the northwesterly winds off theSea of Japan. Further north, the mountainousIkawa area is part of the Japanesesnow country, where there are ski areas.
Climate data for Shizuoka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1940−present)
As of August 2019,[update] the city had an estimatedpopulation of 704,989 in 286,013 households[3] and apopulation density of 507 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,310/sq mi).
The area that is now the city of Shizuoka has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Numerouskofun have been found within the city limits, and theToroarchaeological site indicates that a majorYayoi period (circa 400 BC–300 AD) settlement existed in what is now part of the central city area.
Suruga was established as a province of Japan in the earlyNara period. At some point between the year 701 and 710, the provincial capital was relocated from what is nowNumazu, to a more central location on the banks of theAbe River at a location named Sunpu (駿府) (a contraction of "Suruga no Kokufu" (駿河の国府)) or alternatively "Fuchū" (府中).
In April 1606, Ieyasu officially retired from the post ofshōgun, and retired to Sunpu, where he established a secondary court, from which he could influenceShōgunTokugawa Hidetada from behind the scenes. Subsequently, aside for brief periods, Sunpu wastenryō (territory under direct administration by the Shogunate), ruled by theSunpu jōdai (駿府城代), an appointed official based in Sunpu.
The modern city was founded on 1 April 1889. At the time, the population was 37,681, and Shizuoka was one of the first 31 cities established in Japan.
An electrictram service began in 1911. In 1914, due to heavy rains caused by atyphoon, theAbe River flooded, inundating the downtown area.[12] In the national census of 1920, the population of Shizuoka was 74,093. The area of the city continued to expand through the 1920s and 1930s through merger with outlying towns and villages. In 1935, the city was struck by a 6.4 magnitudeearthquake, resulting in much damage. Although soon rebuilt, a large fire in 1940 again destroyed much of the center of the city.
DuringWorld War II, Shizuoka lacked targets of major military significance, and was initially only lightly bombed during severalAmerican air raids. However, in a majorfirebombingraid of 19 June 1945, the city suffered an extreme amount of damage with high civilian casualties.
The area of the city continued to expand through the 1950s and 1960s through merger with outlying towns and villages. On 1 October 1964, theTōkaidō Shinkansen began services to Shizuoka, and on 25 April 1969 the city was connected to theTōmei Expressway. On 7 July 1974, the Abe River flooded, and landslides occurred during heavy rains, killing 23 people.[citation needed]On 16 August 1980, a major gas leak in an underground shopping center near Shizuoka Station resulted in an explosion, killing 15 people and seriously injuring 233 others. The Shizuoka City Hall moved to new premises in 1986. On 1 April 1992, Shizuoka was designated acore city by the central government, giving it increased autonomy.[13]
The 1 April 2003merger with Shimizu City (currentShimizu Ward) greatly expanded the area and population of Shizuoka,[14] which then became adesignated city on 1 April 2005,[15] and was divided into three wards.[citation needed]
Despite being somewhat geographically isolated from the rest of the city, the town ofKanbara (fromIhara District) was merged into Shizuoka on 31 March 2006,[16] becoming part of Shimizu-ku. On 1 November 2008, the town ofYui (also fromIhara District) was also merged into Shimizu-ku, resulting in the dissolution of Ihara District.[17]
Shizuoka has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city legislature of 48 members. The city contributes 13 members to the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided betweenShizuoka 1st district and Shizuoka 4th district in thelower house of theJapanese Diet.
Varieties such asMotoyama andYabukita are grown in all corners of the city, and the varieties grown especially in the Warashina area in Aoi Ward and the Ryōgōchi area of Shimizu Ward are known for their high quality
"Stonewall strawberries" (石垣いちご,ishigaki ichigo) are strawberries that grow in holes on inclined stone walls, grown especially along an 8 km (5 mi) stretch of Kunō Kaidō (route 150), also known as "Strawberry Road", along the coast ofSuruga Bay.[25]
Shimizu Port boasts the largest haul oftuna in all Japan.[citation needed] Kanbara Harbour enjoys a prosperous haul ofsakura ebi, and Mochimune Harbour enjoys a prosperous haul ofshirasu sardines.
Abekawa Mochi is a type of rice cake (ormochi) made withkinako soy flour that is a specialty of Shizuoka.
Shizuoka has a long history of being involved in the craft industries going back over 400 years ago, using trees, includinghinoki cypress. The model industry goes back to the late 1920s when wood was used to produce model toys, usingsashimono woodworking joinery techniques, purely for educational purposes. Craftsmen later moved on to lighter woods includingbalsa, but following the war, with the importation of US built scale models, many companies either turned to plastic models to compete or went under.[30][31]
The town has since become internationally notable for its plasticscale model kits[32] and is resident to long-established companies such asAoshima,Fujimi,Hasegawa, andTamiya. Another model brand,Bandai, produces itsGundam models exclusively at its Bandai Hobby Center plant in the city.[33] The city hosts the long-running Shizuoka Hobby Show annually in May atTwin Messe Shizuoka.[34]
Co-educationalprivate university inSuruga Ward, founded by missionaries from theMethodist Church of Canada with the support of the Shizuoka prefectural government. First institution in Shizuoka Prefecture to offersecondary education for girls, it became a four-year coeducational university in 2002.
Shizuoka lies on theTōkaidō Main Line, theJR Central main railway line from Tokyo to Osaka, and is well-served by theTōkaidō Shinkansen, limited express and regional trains. The central station of Shizuoka is in the city centre. Shizuoka also has anLRT line, theShizuoka Railway, administered by theShizuoka Railway Co., Ltd. atShizuoka Station. The under constructionChūō Shinkansen will pass through the mountainous area in the northern tip of the city. However, the line is not planned to have a station in Shizuoka.
The Port of Shimizu-ku, in Shimizu City (nowShimizu Ward), is a long established mid-size sea port, catering to container ships, dry bulk ships and cruise ships.[36]
It is well located, being in between the two major port areas of Japan, i.e. theTokyo Bay ports of Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama (Keihin ports) and theOsaka Bay ports of Osaka and Kobe (Hanshin ports). The Port of Shimizu has a water depth of about 12 metres (39 ft); its attractiveness has been enhanced over the past years by the construction of new road and rail links which contribute to expanding its commercial hinterland.
In tonnage, imports (about 6.5 million tonnes (6,400,000 long tons; 7,200,000 short tons)) are close to twice export volumes, but in trade value exports are twice as valuable as imports.
The Port of Shimizu container traffic is about balanced, with over 250,000TEU in each direction, with auto parts and chemicals amongst the main cargo types. Major international container lines provide weekly services on major trade routes, including North America, Europe and Asia, with about 110 calls per months on 28 trade routes.
The port of Shimizu also includes a terminal to receiveLNG tankers and store imported Liquefied natural gas; it is operated by Shimizu LNG, a subsidiary of Shizuoka Gas (Japan is the world's largest importer ofLNG).
The Port of Shimizu is also connected to other Japan ports. In particular, it is served by a Roll-on/roll-off service serving the port ofŌita, on the north-east coast of the southern island ofKyushu. This service, which sails three times a week and has a transit time of 20 hours, has enabled a modal shift of freight trucks from road to sea, thereby contributing to decreasing congestion and pollution on roads.
The castle of theImagawa andTokugawa clans, originally built in 1599, was destroyed in 1869. Today, only the moats remain. The rest was turned into a park, and is now a popular place forhanami.
Late Yayoiarchaeological site notable as the first archaeological site excavated in Japan in which remains of a 1st-century AD Yayoi-era wet-ricePaddy fields were found.
Shinto shrine that was the original burial place ofShōgunTokugawa Ieyasu, and the oldest of theTōshō-gū shrines in Japan. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on 17 April, although its spring festival from 17–18 February is a larger event.[37]
Famous for the scenicMiho no Matsubara (三保の松原,Miho Pine Grove), renowned as a seashore with beautiful greenpine trees and white sands spanning over seven kilometers, designated as one ofNew Three Views of Japan (新日本三景,Shin Nihon Sankei). Also known as the scene of the legend ofHagoromo, which is based on the traditionalswan maiden motif.
Daidogei World Cup (大道芸ワールドカップ,Daigougei Waarudo kappu)
TheDaidogei World Cup is an annual internationalstreet performers' festival, held over various locations around the city in November over four days. It was first held in 1992.[38]
Shizuoka Festival (静岡まつり,Shizuoka Matsuri)
The festival, which begun in 1957 but whose origins date back to traditions hundreds of years old, takes place in April, during the high point of the year forcherry blossoms. A flower-viewing procession echoes theshōgunTokugawa Ieyasu's custom of takingdaimyōs (feudal lords) toSengen Shrine to view the cherry blossoms in the 17th century.[39]
Abekawa Fireworks (安倍川花火,Abekawa Hanabi)
A gigantic fireworks display held upstream on Shizuoka'sAbekawa River in late July. It was first held 1953, to remember those who died duringWorld War II and to pray for a national revival. Today, around 15,000 fireworks are .[40]
a Japanese dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs,daikon radish,konnyaku, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light,soy-flavoureddashi broth. Oden in Shizuoka uses a dark coloured broth flavoured with beef stock and dark soy sauce. All ingredients are skewered. Dried, ground fish (sardine, mackerel, orkatsuobushi) andaonori powder (edible seaweed) are sprinkled on top before eating.
The Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC) was founded in 1995 by the Shizuoka Prefecture.[41] The building was designed by architectArata Isozaki[42] and was opened in 1999 for the secondTheatre Olympics.[43]
Thearts center is the first publicly funded cultural organization in Japan to have its owntroupe of actors and other staff to manage its own venues and facilities for artistic purposes. Suzuki Tadashi was the firstArtistic Director, appointed in 1997 and staying in the position until March 2007, after which Miyagi Satoshi took up the appointment.[41] SPAC has organised the World Theatre Festival Shizuoka each year since 2011,[44] as well as creating its own theatre productions (some of which tour abroad), having students to learn at the center, and other theatrical activities.[41]
The World Theatre Festival Shizuoka was formerly called the Shizuoka Spring Festival (2000-2010[44]), being changed to "World Theater Festival Shizuoka under Mt. Fuji" in 2012 by the artistic director of the centre, Miyagi Satoshi. His intention was "to connect Shizuoka to the world through theater", to have performances from every corner of the world, for "people to see that the world isn't a set and finished quantity and there is still plenty of room for change. I wanted to communicate that theater is a window to the world".[42] The festival includes stage plays, puppetry, film, dance and other performance arts.[44]
In 2020, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on 3 April that the festival, scheduled to begin from 25 April to 6 May, would be cancelled. Instead, Miyagi staged an online version of the festival.[45]
^"Foreign Languages".City of Shizuoka (in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese). Public Relations Section, Mayor's Office, General Affairs Bureau. 10 September 2019.Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved30 October 2020.
^NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, ed. (24 May 2016).NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典 (in Japanese). NHK Publishing.
^abcdef"Tsukibetsu jinkō dēta（Shizuoka shi no jinkō setaisū"月別人口データ（静岡市の人口・世帯数 [Monthly population data (population and number of households in Shizuoka City)].City of Shizuoka (in Japanese). Shizuoka City Planning Bureau, Planning Division, Statistics Section. 10 October 2020.Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved30 October 2020.
^Inoue, Kimio; Kanbara, Junichi; Motohashi, Kazushi; Watanabe, Yasuhiro (15 July 2008).安倍川中流・蕨野地区の西側山腹崩壊で生じた河道閉塞と１９１４年の水害 [The landslide dam and outburst floods at Warabino area of the Abe River in 1914].Journal of the Japan Society of Erosion Control Engineering (in Japanese and English).61 (2).Japan Society of Erosion Control Engineering:30–35.doi:10.11475/sabo.61.2_30.
^"International Exchange".List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived fromthe original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved21 November 2015.
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