Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki

Ryūgasaki (龍ケ崎市, Ryūgasaki-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 78,666, and a population density of 1000 persons per km². Its total area is 78.55 square kilometres (30.33 sq mi).

For the fictional character Takashi Ryuugasaki, see Cyber Team in Akihabara § Other_significant_characters.

Ryūgasaki 龍ケ崎市
City
Ryūgasaki city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ryūgasaki in Ibaraki Prefecture
Ryūgasaki
Coordinates: 35°54′41.6″N 140°10′56.3″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	78.55 km^2 (30.33 sq mi)
Population  (September 2015)
• Total	78,666
• Density	1,000/km^2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Pinus
- Flower	Platycodon grandiflorus
- Bird	Swan
Phone number	0297-64-1111
Address	3710 Banchi, Ryūgasaki-shi, Ibaraki-ken 301-8611
Website	http://www.city.ryugasaki.ibaraki.jp/

Geography

Ryūgasaki is located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying flatlands south of Lake Kasumigaura.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Ushiku
  • Tsukuba
  • Inashiki
  • Toride
  • Tsukubamirai
  • Kawachi
  • Tone

History

The name "Ryūgasaki" can be traced back to 1182 when the samurai clan ruling the territory adopted "Ryūgasaki" as their family name. Though originally part of the Sendai Domain, the region joined Miyazaku Prefecture in 1869 before merging with Ibaraki Prefecture in 1875. The town of Ryūgasaki was created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

The city was formed on March 20, 1954, when the aforementioned town merged with: Nareshiba, Ōmiya, Yabara, Nagato, Kawarashiro and Kitamonma. In February 1955, the city grew to its present size when a proportion of Takasu merged with the city.[1]

In 1974, the city adopted the Swan, the Pinus, and Platycodon grandiflorus as its city symbols for bird, tree and flower respectively.[2]

The current mayor is Kazuo Nakayama, who assumed the position on January 18, 2010. Nakayama is the seventeenth and eighteenth mayor of Ryūgasaki having been re-elected to hold the position again from January 18, 2014.[3]

Economy

New Central Airlines, a commuter airline, is headquartered in the city, on the grounds of Ryūgasaki Airfield, although no commercial flights are scheduled from the city.[4][5]

Education

Ryūgasaki has 12 elementary schools, six middle schools, and four high schools. The Ryutsu Keizai University is also located within the city.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Jōban Line
  • Sanuki
• Kantō Railway - Ryūgasaki Line
  • Sanuki - Ireji - Ryūgasaki

Highway

• Japan National Route 6

Airport

• Ryūgasaki Airfield – however, no scheduled commercial services

Local attractions

Noted people from Ryūgasaki

• Isao Okano – judoka, Olympic gold medalist
• Nana Suzuki – model
• Kisenosato Yutaka - the 72nd yokozuna in sumo
• Akiyo Noguchi - professional rock climber, seven-time IFSC Climbing World Cup champion

References

1. 平成25年　統計りゅうがさき [2013 Statistics, Ryūgasaki] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
2. 市民憲章、市章、市の花・木・鳥 [Townspeople's charter, city symbol, the city's flower, tree and bird] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
3. 平成25年　統計りゅうがさき [2013 Statistics, Ryugasaki] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Ryūgasaki City. p. 59. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
4. "The Kawada Group." Kawada Industries. Retrieved on February 21, 2010.
5. "路線外運行." New Central Airlines. Retrieved on February 21, 2010. "お問い合わせは 〒３０１－０８０６　茨城県竜ヶ崎市半田町３１７７ 竜ヶ崎飛行場内"

External links

• Media related to Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)