Chiba (千葉市,Chiba-shi;Japanese pronunciation:[tɕiꜜ.ba,tɕi.baꜜ,tɕi.baꜜɕi][1]) is the capitalcity ofChiba Prefecture, Japan. It sits about 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of the centre ofTokyo onTokyo Bay.[2] The city became agovernment-designated city in 1992. In March 2025, its population was 983,045, with a population density of 3,617 people per km2. The city has an area of 271.77 square kilometres (104.93 sq mi).
Chiba City is one of theKantō region's primary seaports, and is home toChiba Port, which handles one of the highest volumes of cargo in Japan. Much of the city is residential, although there are many factories and warehouses along the coast. There are several major urban centres in the city, includingMakuhari, a prime waterfront business district in whichMakuhari Messe is located, and Central Chiba, in which the prefectural government office and the city hall are located.
Chiba is famous for theChiba Urban Monorail, the longest suspendedmonorail in the world. Some popular destinations in the city include: Kasori Shell Midden, the largestshell mound in the world at 134,000 m2 (160,000 sq yd), Inage Beach, the first artificial beach in Japan which forms part of the longest artificial beach in Japan, and theChiba Zoological Park, popular on account of the standingred pandaFuta.
The name of Chiba in theJapanese language is formed from twokanji characters. The first,千, means "thousand" and the second,葉 means "leaves". The name first appears as an ancientkuni no miyatsuko, or regional command office, as Chiha no Kuni no Miyatsuko (千葉国造).[3] The name was adopted by a branch of theTaira clan, which moved to the area in present-day Chiba City in the lateHeian period. The branch of the Taira adopted the name and became theChiba clan, which held strong influence over the area of the prefecture until theAzuchi–Momoyama period. The name "Chiba" was chosen for Chiba Prefecture at the time of its creation in 1873 by theAssembly of Prefectural Governors (地方官会議,Chihō Kankai Kaigi), an earlyMeiji-period body of prefectural governors that met to decide the structure of local and regional administration in Japan.[4]
The first records related to the city of Chiba record the emigration ofTaira Tsuneshige (1083?–1088), a powerfulbushi warlord of the late Heian period, toShimōsa Province, which historically occupied the north of Chiba Prefecture. Tsuneshige was appointed asgunji administrator ofSōma District, but was transferred to the same position inChiba District two years later. Here he proclaimed himselfChiba Tsuneshige (千葉常重), became akokushi governor of the province, and used the area around present-day Chiba City as a power base to rule over Shimōsa Province,Kazusa Province, as well as establish himself as a military force in theKantō region.[5] Tsuneshige's son,Chiba Tsunetane (千葉常胤) (1118–1201) was instrumental in aidingMinamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) with the establishment of theKamakura shogunate. Tsuneshige built a spacious residence and numerous temples in present-day Chiba City, and in the same period he transferred his power base fromŌji Castle to a mansion in present-day Chiba City.[6][7] The area of present-day Chiba City becamejōkamachi(城下町), orcastle town, and prospered under the Chiba clan.[8] The clan's power extended in the region until theMuromachi period.[9][10]
The Chiba clan's power and influence declined because of wars around theKantō region during theNanboku-chō andMuromachi periods. In the 16th century, theHara clan, which were vassals of Chiba clan, took control of the region from the Chiba clan and builtInohana Castle.[6] In theSengoku period, the Hara clan was forcibly removed by Ashikaga Yoshiaki (足利義明, not to be confused with足利義昭). Then, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was also removed by the Sakai (酒井 not to be confused with theSakai clan inMikawa) clan, which was one of the servants of theSatomi (里見) clan. Finally both theChiba and Sakai clans were annihilated byToyotomi Hideyoshi.
After theMeiji Restoration in 1868, Chiba Prefecture was established in 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture. The border between Kisarazu and Inba was the location of Chiba Town and was thus chosen as the location of the prefectural government. With the opening of theSōbu Main Line, Chiba developed rapidly, becoming the political, economic, and cultural capital of Chiba Prefecture. The town of Chiba was established within Chiba District with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Chiba City formed on January 1, 1921.[8] Numerous small villages and towns were merged into the previous town of Chiba (千葉町), a process that continued until 1944. Large-scaleland reclamation added to the area of the city throughout the 20th century. The city was a major center of military production leading up to the Pacific War, and the aerialbombing of Chiba in 1945. The city was almost completely destroyed by the end of the war. Post-war industrialization led to the city becoming a major part of theKeiyō Industrial Zone.[8] Chiba became aDesignated City of Japan on April 1, 1992.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[11] Chiba's population has expanded significantly over the past 70 years.[12]
As of March 2025, the total population is 983,045 people, with 39,537 registered foreign residents.It is the15th most populous city in Japan as of 2024.
Chiba was governed byKeiichi Tsuruoka, anindependent (elected with support ofLDP andKōmeitō), until May 1, 2009. He was arrested in April 2009 during a corruption investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.[13] He was succeeded byToshihito Kumagai of theDPJ, who won election in June 2009.[14]The current Mayor is Shunichi Kamiya, who was first elected in 2021. Mayor Kamiya was subsequently re-elected as mayor for a second term on the 16th of March 2025.
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