Takaoka is a city in the northwestern portion of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Takaoka has the second largest population after Toyama City. The area that is east of Kureha hill has been called Goto, which means the east of Kureha and the area that is west of Kureha hill has been called Gosei, which means the west of Kureha. Toyama city is a center city of "Goto," meanwhile Takaoka city is a center of this "Gosei." , the city had an estimated population of 173,086 in 68,350 households and a population density of 819 persons per km². Its total area was.
Geography
Takaoka covers an area which equates to roughly 5% of the surface area of Toyama Prefecture. The surface area of the city comprises 36.96 km2 of real estate, 61.02 km2 of agricultural land, 22.69 km2 of mountains and forests, 80.43 km2 of public property, 6.10 km2 of wasteland, and 2.18 km2 of moorland. The Takaoka region extends 19.2 km from north to south, 24.5 km from east to west with a perimeter of 125.9 km – which is roughly equal to the length of coastline in Toyama Prefecture. Takaoka borders four cities in Toyama Prefecture and two towns in Ishikawa Prefecture. From its border with Himi down to the southwest area of the city, a range of mountains stretch for roughly 150 m to 300 m with a particularly high stretch of mountains centering on Mt. Futagami near Himi. Shogawa River and the Oyabegawa River run through Takaoka and tributaries weave their way through the city center. Including small rivers, a total of 10 rivers flow through the city. The Amaharashi coast lies to the north of the region. Just off the coast lies the uninhabited offshore rock of Otokoiwa. Another uninhabited rock, Onnaiwa, lies nearby and the view of this island against the backdrop of the Tateyama range of peaks is famous and features in promotional media for the region. A section of the Imizu plains runs from the central district of the city to the eastern district, and the Tonami plains which stretch from the west to the south are dotted with dispersed settlements in certain areas.
The climate of Takaoka is a humid subtropical climate, similar to that of much of the Sea of Japan coast. All of the regions in Toyama Prefecture can experience large quantities of snow in winter. Depending on the year, the city can experience extraordinarily heavy snowfall, like, for example in 2006 when snow 1.4m high and in 2011 1.27m was recorded. According to weather records, the average temperature in 2010 was 14.5 °C, the average level of humidity was 79%, the yearly rainfall was roughly 2,665.5mm and there were 1,634 hours of sunlight.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Takaoka has declined over the past 40 years.
Census Year
Population
1970
170,841
1980
186,900
1990
187,869
2000
185,682
2010
176,061
Foreign population
As of 2011, the Brazilian population of Takaoka was approximately 1,430 residents and the Chinese population was approximately 700, and the Philippine population was approximately 360.
History
The area of present-day Takaoka was part of ancient Etchū Province, and the provincial capital was located in what are now the outskirts of the modern city. Ōtomo no Yakamochi took position as a government official in this area in the 8th century. During his five-year stay he wrote many waka poems. This is the reason for Takaoka being nicknamed Manyō City. Originally, the Takaoka region was called Sekino, but when Maeda Toshinaga of Kaga Domain took control of the city in 1609, he named it after a verse from the religious poem Shihen which includes the word Takaoka. In addition to this, the fact that Takaoka Castle was built on a slightly elevated shoreline is thought to be another possible origin for the name Takaoka, since Taka means "high" and "Oka" means "hill or elevated land". Despite the loss of its castle due to orders from the Tokugawa shogunate in 1615, the Maeda clan pursued policies regulating the relocation of Takaoka citizens and promoting the development of Takaoka as an industrial city. This resulted in the start of Takaoka's role as a city of commerce and industry. Takaoka copperware and lacquerware also took off at this time. Following the Meiji restoration, with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, Takaoka was registered as one of Japan's first 30 cities. The area around Fushiki Port was declared an open port for foreign trade by Imperial decree in July 1899. On November 1, 2005, the town of Fukuoka was merged into Takaoka. Therefore, Nishitonami District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Government
Takaoka has a mayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 27 members. The city contributes seven members to the Toyama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Toyama Third Electoral District for the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Takaoka has 26 public elementary schools and 12 public junior high schools operated by the town government, and eight public high schools operated by the Toyama Prefectural Board of Education. There are also three private high schools. The city also operates one special education school, and an additional four special education schools are operated by the Toyama Prefectural government.
Reaching a height of nearly 16 m, the Great Buddha of Takaoka is the third largest in Japan. The current Buddha made of Takaoka bronze was completed in 1933 after the previous statue made of wood burnt down. The Buddha is situated next to the Daibutsu Temple in the middle of a residential area in Takaoka town centre.
Kojo Park
Kojo Park, the former site of the Takaoka Castle, is situated a short walk from the centre of Takaoka. Within the park grounds there are the Imizu Shrine, the Takaoka Museum, Takaoka Zoo, the Civic Hall, and Civic Gymnasium plus abundant nature. The moat surrounding the centre of the park is a common spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring.
Completed in 1663, Zuiryū-ji temple, is just south of Takaoka Station and a designated National Treasure of Japan. This Zen temple was constructed to mourn for the death of Maeda Toshinaga who fortified Takaoka and is celebrated as being reminiscent of architecture from the early Edo period.
The Amaharashi Coast
The Amaharashi Coast, located north of Takaoka city has sandy beaches and views of the Onnaiwa Rock against the backdrop of the Tateyama mountains.
Kanayamachi
Kanayamachi is an area of Takaoka which has traditional buildings, both warehouses and houses, which have been preserved since the Meiji period. It is the birthplace of the manufacture of Takaoka copperware.
The tradition of this festival started when Maeda Toshinaga received a float from Hideyoshi, a powerful figure at the time, and gave it to the people of Takaoka. The festival features seven floats, crafted in the brightly colored Momoyama style, which make their way around the streets of Takaoka.
Fushiki Hikiyama Festival
The Hikiyama festival in the port town of Fushiki is called ‘Kenkayama’ by locals. During the day the floats are adorned with flowers, and at night they are decorated with paper lanterns. The floats are rammed into each other to the beat of the yamaga war drums.
Goin Festival
The Goin festival celebrates the kindness of Maeda Toshinaga who took care of the city's casters, by worshipping documents with his seal on. During the festival, the Yagaefu dance is also performed on the streets of Kanayamachi.
Toide Tanabata Festival
A large collection of around 1,000 tanabata of various sizes, including 20 m tall jumbo tanabata, make a large tunnel that serves as an archway into the town's main street.
Takaoka Tanabata Festival
The Takaoka Tanabata Festival is a symbol of summertime, when the streets are lined with thousands of large tanabata to celebrate the union of Orihime and Hikoboshi, two deities who, according to legend, are only allowed to meet once a year.
Fukuoka Machi Tsukurimon Festival
The Tsukurimon festival is a festival with over 300 years of history. Sculptures depicting local sights and famous characters are made out of fruits and vegetables and displayed throughout the town.
Nakada Scarecrow Festival
Depicting current events and famous characters, scarecrows are made using everyday materials such as straw and wood and displayed around the main shopping area of the Nakada district.
Takaoka Manyō Festival
This major autumn event celebrates the Manyō tradition with a marathon poetry recital lasting three days and three nights. The entire Manyō poetry anthology is recited by a large number of participants in a relay fashion.
Takaoka Nabe Festival
Fresh fish and shellfish from the Sea of Japan are cooked in large cauldrons made with local casting techniques.
Notable people from Takaoka
Takamine Jōkichi, scientist specializing in engineering and pharmacology. Joint founder of the RIKEN Natural Sciences Institute and discoverer of Adrenaline.
Sosen Mishima, author and theatre critic whose career took off at the start of the 20th century after his work ‘Kaiboshitsu’ was published in the Chuo Koron literary magazine.
Kingetsu Murozaki, composer and founder of the Chuo School of Music, Tokyo. Known for ‘Yuhi’, a song which he wrote about the view of sunset at Takaoka's Kojo Park.
Fujiko Fujio, the pen name of Hiroshi Fujimoto, who together with and Abiko Motoo, created several characters including the world-famous ‘Doraemon’.
Komin Ozawa, a recognized Important Intangible Cultural Asset, Ozawa is known as the master of the Chukin casting technique of making utensils and vessels by pouring molten metal into a mould.
