Kasama, Ibaraki

Kasama (笠間市, Kasama-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 76,888, and a population density of 320 persons per km². Its total area is 240.40 square kilometres (92.82 sq mi).

Kasama 笠間市
City
Kasama city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture
Kasama
Coordinates: 36°20′42.6″N 140°18′15.5″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	240.40 km^2 (92.82 sq mi)
Population  (September 2015)
• Total	76,888
• Density	320/km^2 (800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Chrysanthemum
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0296-77-1101
Address	3-2-1 Kasama-chuo, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture 309-1792
Website	http://www.city.kasama.lg.jp/

Kasama Inari Jinja

Geography

Kasama is located in the central Ibaraki Prefecture. Kasama is surrounded by mountains on all sides.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Mito
  • Ishioka
  • Sakuragawa
  • Omitama
  • Ibaraki
  • Shirosato
• Tochigi Prefecture
  • Mooka, Tochigi

History

Kasama was once a castle town for Kasama Domain and post-station during the Edo period, and a shrine town of Kasama Inari Shrine in the Meiji period (1868–1912). Stone quarrying was its main activity. Utensils for tea ceremony, flower vases, and sake containers called Kasama ware were produced here.[1] After the Meiji Restoration, the town of Kasama was established with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, within Nishiibaraki District. The town of Shishido, a former castle town of Shishido Domain, was likewise established within Nishiibaraki District on the same day. In 1955, Shishido merged with the neighboring villages of Kitakawane and Ohara to form the town of Tomobe. Kasama was elevated to city status on August 1, 1958.

On March 19, 2006, Kasama absorbed the towns of Tomobe and Iwama (both from Nishiibaraki District), and the new city hall was located at the former Tomobe Town Hall. Tomobe became the new city's administrative center, since it was more populous than the former Kasama.

The former town of Iwama is known for having been the residence of Ueshiba Morihei, founder of Aikido, from 1942 until his death. Popular singer and songwriter Sakamoto Kyu also lived in Kasama as a child. Twice daily, chimes announce the time of day to the tune of his songs. His song "Ue o muite arukō" also plays at Tomobe train station to announce departures.

Economy

Kasama has a mixed industrial base of light manufacturing and food processing. The main agricultural crops are rice and chestnuts. The area is also famous for stone quarrying of a form of granite called mikage-ishi, widely used in construction in Japan.

Education

Kasama has 11 elementary schools, six middle schools, and two high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Jōban Line
  • Iwama - Tomobe
• JR East – Mito Line
  • Fukuhara - Inada - Kasama - Shishido - Tomobe

Highway

• Jōban Expressway – Iwama Interchange, Tomobe Junction
• Kita-Kantō Expressway – Kasama-Nishi Interchange, Kasama Parking Area, Tomobe Interchange, Tomobe Junction
• National Route 50
• National Route 355

Local attractions

• Ruins of Kasama Castle
• Kasama Inari Shrine, one of the main Inari shrines in Japan
• Shofuku-ji temple, one of the Bandō Sanjūsankasho
• Shishido Jin’ya
• Kasama Nichido Museum of Art (笠間日動美術館) which opened on November 11, 1972 houses a collection which includes Degas, Van Gogh, and Warhol.
• Ibaraki Prefectural Ceramics Museum
• Kasama-yaki ceramics
• The house of calligrapher and ceramicist Kitaoji Rosanjin (北大路魯山人) is located in Kasama, and it has become a museum.

Notable people from Kasama

• Morihiro Saito – aikido teacher
• Kimura Buzan – Nihonga painter
• Yamashita Rin – female icon painter
• Zatoichi - fictional blind masseuse swordsman

[2]

References

1. Japan - An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha Ltd. 1993. pp. 748. ISBN 4-06-205938-X.
2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123335/

External links

• Official website (in Japanese)