Fukui (city)

Fukui (福井市, Fukui-shi) is the capital city of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2018, the city had an estimated population of 264,217, and a population density of 69.2 persons per km2, in 102,935 households.[1] Its total area is 536.41 square kilometres (207.11 sq mi). Most of the population lives in a small central area; the city limits include rural plains, mountainous areas, and suburban sprawl along the Route 8 bypass.

Fukui
福井市
Seen from Mt.Asuwa Fukui City Skyline distant view
Fukui CastleIchijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins
Asuwa JinjyaFukui City Water Service Memorial
Cherry trees along the Asuwa RiverEchizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park
Flag of Fukui
Official seal of Fukui
Location of Fukui in Fukui Prefecture
Location of Fukui in Fukui Prefecture
Fukui is located in Japan
Fukui
Fukui
 
Coordinates: 36°3′50.6″N 136°13′10.5″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
PrefectureFukui
Government
  - MayorShin'ichi Higashimura
Area
  Total536.41 km2 (207.11 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2017)
  Total264,217
  Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0776-20-5111
Address3-10-1 Ōte, Fukui-shi, Fukui-ken 910-8511
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.city.fukui.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerHydrangea
TreePine

Overview

Cityscape

Geography

Fukui is located in the coastal plain in north-central part of the prefecture. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and the Ryōhaku Mountains to the east. The Kuzuryū River flows through the city.

Climate

Fukui has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, and is especially heavy in December and January.

Climate data for Fukui (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1897−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)
21.8
(71.2)
26.2
(79.2)
32.0
(89.6)
34.5
(94.1)
36.4
(97.5)
38.6
(101.5)
38.5
(101.3)
37.7
(99.9)
32.3
(90.1)
27.5
(81.5)
24.6
(76.3)
38.6
(101.5)
Average high °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
7.8
(46.0)
12.2
(54.0)
18.3
(64.9)
23.3
(73.9)
26.5
(79.7)
30.4
(86.7)
32.2
(90.0)
27.7
(81.9)
22.1
(71.8)
16.0
(60.8)
9.8
(49.6)
19.4
(66.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8)
3.7
(38.7)
7.2
(45.0)
12.8
(55.0)
18.1
(64.6)
22.0
(71.6)
26.1
(79.0)
27.4
(81.3)
23.1
(73.6)
17.1
(62.8)
11.3
(52.3)
5.9
(42.6)
14.8
(58.6)
Average low °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9)
0.3
(32.5)
2.8
(37.0)
7.8
(46.0)
13.4
(56.1)
18.2
(64.8)
22.7
(72.9)
23.7
(74.7)
19.4
(66.9)
13.1
(55.6)
7.3
(45.1)
2.7
(36.9)
11.0
(51.8)
Record low °C (°F) −15.1
(4.8)
−14.3
(6.3)
−9.9
(14.2)
−2.6
(27.3)
1.3
(34.3)
7.3
(45.1)
12.8
(55.0)
13.4
(56.1)
7.7
(45.9)
0.5
(32.9)
−1.5
(29.3)
−11.2
(11.8)
−15.1
(4.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 284.9
(11.22)
167.7
(6.60)
160.7
(6.33)
137.2
(5.40)
139.1
(5.48)
152.8
(6.02)
239.8
(9.44)
150.7
(5.93)
212.9
(8.38)
153.8
(6.06)
196.1
(7.72)
304.0
(11.97)
2,299.6
(90.54)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 85
(33)
58
(23)
14
(5.5)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
31
(12)
186
(73)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 24.3 20.0 17.4 13.3 12.0 11.9 13.5 9.9 12.4 13.4 17.5 23.5 189.2
Average relative humidity (%) 82 78 71 68 68 74 76 73 76 76 78 81 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 65.4 88.4 136.3 172.3 191.1 146.8 155.4 205.7 151.2 154.4 114.4 72.2 1,653.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2]
Climate data for Koshino, Fukui City (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6)
21.4
(70.5)
24.4
(75.9)
30.5
(86.9)
33.6
(92.5)
34.7
(94.5)
38.2
(100.8)
37.6
(99.7)
36.6
(97.9)
31.1
(88.0)
26.1
(79.0)
22.9
(73.2)
38.2
(100.8)
Average high °C (°F) 8.1
(46.6)
8.5
(47.3)
11.9
(53.4)
17.2
(63.0)
22.0
(71.6)
25.0
(77.0)
29.3
(84.7)
30.9
(87.6)
26.8
(80.2)
21.5
(70.7)
16.4
(61.5)
11.1
(52.0)
19.1
(66.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)
5.5
(41.9)
8.2
(46.8)
13.1
(55.6)
17.8
(64.0)
21.3
(70.3)
25.7
(78.3)
27.2
(81.0)
23.4
(74.1)
18.3
(64.9)
13.3
(55.9)
8.2
(46.8)
15.6
(60.1)
Average low °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
2.7
(36.9)
4.8
(40.6)
9.2
(48.6)
14.0
(57.2)
18.3
(64.9)
22.8
(73.0)
24.3
(75.7)
20.6
(69.1)
15.6
(60.1)
10.4
(50.7)
5.5
(41.9)
12.6
(54.7)
Record low °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)
−4.7
(23.5)
−1.2
(29.8)
0.6
(33.1)
6.9
(44.4)
10.1
(50.2)
16.2
(61.2)
17.6
(63.7)
13.6
(56.5)
6.9
(44.4)
1.5
(34.7)
−1.3
(29.7)
−4.7
(23.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 218.4
(8.60)
139.8
(5.50)
156.6
(6.17)
143.0
(5.63)
157.6
(6.20)
157.8
(6.21)
225.7
(8.89)
146.7
(5.78)
230.2
(9.06)
166.1
(6.54)
173.6
(6.83)
253.8
(9.99)
2,169.4
(85.41)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 23.6 18.3 15.5 12.0 11.3 11.3 12.4 8.7 11.8 11.8 15.7 23.0 175.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 46.2 72.7 132.9 176.3 194.2 145.9 163.9 215.4 150.4 138.8 96.7 53.8 1,587.3
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4]

Neighbouring municipalities

Fukui PrefectureFukui Prefecture

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Fukui has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.

Census data
YearPop.±%
1873 39,784    
1970 231,901+482.9%
1980 259,638+12.0%
1990 270,911+4.3%
2000 269,557−0.5%
2010 266,796−1.0%
2020 262,328−1.7%
Source: Fukui population statistics, Japanese Imperial Commission (1873)

History

Origins

Fukui was part of ancient Echizen Province.

Sengoku Period

In 1471, Asakura had displaced the Shiba clan as the shugo military commander of Echizen Province.[5] The same year, Asakura Toshikage (1428–1481) fortified the Ichijōdani by constructing hilltop fortifications on the surrounding mountains and constructing walls and gates to seal off the northern and southern end of the valley. Within this area, he contracted a fortified mansion, surrounded by the homes of his relatives and retainers, and eventually by the residences of merchants and artisans, and Buddhist temples. He offered refuge to people of culture or skills from Kyoto attempting to escape the conflict of the Ōnin War, and the Ichijōdani became a major cultural, military, and population center, and by the time of Asakura Takakage (1493–1548) it had a peak population of over 10,000 inhabitants. Yoshikage succeeded his father as head of the Asakura clan and castle lord of Ichijōdani Castle in 1548.[6][7]

The Asakura maintained good relations with the Ashikaga shogunate, and thus eventually came into conflict with Oda Nobunaga. Following Nobunaga's capture of Kyoto, Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki appointed Asakura Yoshikage as regent and requested aid in driving Nobunaga out of the capital.[8] As a result, Nobunaga launched an invasion of Echizen Province. Due to Yoshikage's lack of military skill, Nobunaga's forces were successful at the Siege of Kanegasaki and subsequent Battle of Anegawa in 1570, leaving the entire Asakura Domain open to invasion.[5][9][10]

Ichijōdani was razed to the ground by Nobunaga during the 1573 Siege of Ichijōdani Castle.[11]

Kitanosho Castle is known, though that it was built by Shibata Katsuie in 1575. Also, it appears that the tenshu (keep) was nine stories high, making it the largest of the time.

Edo Period

Castle town and centre of Fukui Domain during the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. Fukui Domain played a key role in the Meiji restoration. The modern city of Fukui was founded with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Meiji, Taisho & Showa Period

During the pre-war period, Fukui grew to become an important industrial and railroad centre. Factories in the area produced aircraft parts, electrical equipment, machine motors, various metal products and textiles.

Fukui was largely destroyed on June 19, 1945 during the Bombing of Fukui during World War II. Of the city's 1.9 sq mi (4.9 km2) at the time, 84.8% of Fukui was destroyed, per the United States Army Air Forces's Strategic Bombing Survey.

Modern Fukui

Fukui was again devastated by a major earthquake in 1948.

On February 1, 2006, the town of Miyama (from Asuwa District), the town of Shimizu, and the village of Koshino (both from Nyū District) were merged into Fukui.

Fukui's city status was designated a core city on April 1, 2019.[12]

Government

Fukui City Hall

Fukui has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 32 members. The city also contributes 12 members to the Fukui Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Fukui forms part of Fukui 1st district, a single-member constituency of the House of Representatives in the national Diet of Japan.

External relations

Fukui International Activities Plaza

Twin towns – sister cities

International

Fukui is twinned with:[13]

Sister Cities
CityCountryStatesince
New Brunswick United StatesUnited States New Jersey May, 1982
Fullerton United StatesUnited States California November, 1989
Friendship Cities
CityCountryStatesince
Hangzhou ChinaChina Zhejiang November, 1989
Suwon South KoreaSouth Korea Gyeonggi April, 2001

National

Sister Cities
CityPrefectureregionsince
Kumamoto Kumamoto PrefectureKumamoto Kyūshū region November, 1994
Friendship cities
CityPrefectureregionsince
Yūki Ibaraki PrefectureIbaraki Kantō region April, 2002
Partnership cities
CityPrefectureregionsince
Nagano Nagano PrefectureNagano Chūbu region August 9, 2013

Economy

Fukui Prefecture Agricultural Cooperatives
Fisheries Cooperative Association of FukuiCity

The economy of Fukui is mixed. The city is a regional commercial and finance centre; however, manufacturing, agriculture and commercial fishing also are contributors to the local economy.

Agriculture

Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)
  • Fukui Prefecture Agricultural Cooperatives (JA FukuiPrefecture)

Fishing industry

Japan Fisheries cooperative (JF)
  • FukuiCity Fisheries cooperative (JF FukuiCity)

Manufacturing industry

Fukui is home to several companies, including:

Service industry

Education

Universities and colleges

Secondary schools

  • Fujishima Senior High School
  • Koshi Senior High School
  • Fukui Commercial Senior High School
  • Usui Senior High School
  • Asuwa Senior High School
  • Michimori Senior High School
  • Kagaku-Gijutsu Senior High School
  • Fukui Norin Senior High School
  • Hokuriku Senior High School
  • Fukui University of Technology - Fukui Senior High School
  • Jin-ai Girl's Senior High School
  • Keishin Senior High School
  • Fukui Minami Senior High School

Other schools

Transport

Fukui-kita IC
Hokuriku Expressway
Port of Takasu

High-speed rail

West Japan Railway Company (JR West)

Conventional lines

West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
Fukui Railway
Echizen Railway

Expressways

Japan National Route

Sea Port

  • Port of Takasu

Visitor attractions

Culture

Baseball

Handball

  • Hokuriku Electric Power Company Blue Thunder (JHL)

Soccer

References

  1. Official home page
  2. 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  3. 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  4. 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  5. "Asakura Yoshikage". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  6. "朝倉 義景" [Asakura Yoshikage]. Nihon Jinmei Daijiten (日本人名大辞典) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  7. "朝倉 義景" [Asakura Yoshikage]. Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  8. "朝倉 義景" [Asakura Yoshikage]. Kokushi Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 683276033. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  9. "朝倉義景" [Asakura Yoshikage]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-22.
  10. Turnbull, Stephen (1987). Battles of the Samurai. Arms and Armour Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0853688266.
  11. "Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum". Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  12. "平成31年4月 中核市『福井市』誕生!". Official website of Fukui. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  13. "市政情報". city.fukui.lg.jp (in Japanese). Fukui. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
  14. "Company Profile". Matsuura Machinery. Retrieved on May 7, 2019.
  15. "Corporate Profile Archived 2017-12-09 at the Wayback Machine." Kumagai Gumi. Retrieved on August 31, 2017."
  16. "Archived copy". www.hks35.ac.jp. Archived from the original on 21 November 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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