Higashihiroshima

Higashihiroshima (東広島市, Higashihiroshima-shi) is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2023, the city had an estimated population of 190,186 in 90,294 households and a population density of 300 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 635.16 square kilometres (245.24 sq mi).

Higashihiroshima
東広島市
Higashihiroshima City Hall
Higashihiroshima City Hall
Flag of Higashihiroshima
Official seal of Higashihiroshima
Location of Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima Prefecture
Location of Higashihiroshima
Higashihiroshima is located in Japan
Higashihiroshima
Higashihiroshima
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°25′35″N 132°44′36″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku (San'yō)
PrefectureHiroshima
Government
  MayorYoshio Kurata
Area
  Total635.16 km2 (245.24 sq mi)
Population
 (April 30, 2023)
  Total190,186
  Density300/km2 (780/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address8-29 Saijō Sakaemachi, Higashihiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken 739-8601
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerAzalea Rhododendron sect. Tsutsusi
TreePine
Sake Brewers in Saijō
Panorama from Saijō Station
Aerial view of Saijō area of Higashihiroshima

Geography

Higashihiroshima extends from the coast of the Seto Inland Sea to the hilly area in the foothills of the Chugoku Mountains, with a large difference in elevation. It consists of the Saijō Basin, which is the largest basin in the prefecture, and the main urban center, and small basins scattered around it. The Numata River is located to the east, the Kurose River to the south, and the Seno River to the west. Because it is located in a basin, the diurnal temperature range (day and night) and annual temperature range (summer and winter) are large.

Adjoining municipalities

Hiroshima Prefecture

Climate

Higashihiroshima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Higashihiroshima is 13.7 °C (56.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,457.6 mm (57.39 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C (78.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C (36.1 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Higashihiroshima was 37.0 °C (98.6 °F) on 17 July 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −12.6 °C (9.3 °F) on 31 January 1981.[3]

Climate data for Higashihiroshima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
20.7
(69.3)
23.4
(74.1)
29.2
(84.6)
31.4
(88.5)
34.0
(93.2)
37.0
(98.6)
36.7
(98.1)
35.5
(95.9)
29.9
(85.8)
24.0
(75.2)
19.9
(67.8)
37.0
(98.6)
Average high °C (°F) 7.7
(45.9)
8.9
(48.0)
12.8
(55.0)
18.7
(65.7)
23.6
(74.5)
26.3
(79.3)
29.9
(85.8)
31.5
(88.7)
27.4
(81.3)
21.9
(71.4)
15.9
(60.6)
10.1
(50.2)
19.6
(67.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)
3.2
(37.8)
6.6
(43.9)
12.1
(53.8)
17.3
(63.1)
21.2
(70.2)
25.0
(77.0)
25.8
(78.4)
21.8
(71.2)
15.6
(60.1)
9.5
(49.1)
4.4
(39.9)
13.7
(56.7)
Average low °C (°F) −2.6
(27.3)
−2.1
(28.2)
0.6
(33.1)
5.4
(41.7)
11.1
(52.0)
16.6
(61.9)
21.0
(69.8)
21.5
(70.7)
17.1
(62.8)
10.0
(50.0)
3.7
(38.7)
−0.8
(30.6)
8.5
(47.2)
Record low °C (°F) −12.6
(9.3)
−11.9
(10.6)
−7.3
(18.9)
−3.8
(25.2)
−0.3
(31.5)
7.9
(46.2)
12.7
(54.9)
13.4
(56.1)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.8
(30.6)
−4.3
(24.3)
−8.7
(16.3)
−12.6
(9.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 46.9
(1.85)
60.0
(2.36)
105.0
(4.13)
120.6
(4.75)
147.7
(5.81)
207.4
(8.17)
253.0
(9.96)
131.3
(5.17)
158.2
(6.23)
106.0
(4.17)
67.4
(2.65)
54.3
(2.14)
1,457.6
(57.39)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.1 7.4 9.9 9.5 9.1 11.0 10.8 8.3 9.2 7.3 6.7 6.5 101.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 134.6 133.8 170.4 188.4 204.5 142.2 163.9 194.3 149.5 167.2 143.2 133.6 1,925.6
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Higashihiroshima in 2020 is 196,608 people.[4] Higashihiroshima has been conducting censuses since 1960.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 97,063    
1965 91,630−5.6%
1970 93,587+2.1%
1975 108,219+15.6%
1980 120,871+11.7%
1985 131,159+8.5%
1990 142,088+8.3%
1995 165,153+16.2%
2000 175,346+6.2%
2005 184,430+5.2%
2010 190,043+3.0%
2015 192,907+1.5%
2020 196,608+1.9%
Higashihiroshima population statistics[4]

History

The area of Higashihiroshima is mostly part of ancient Aki Province. Archaeologists have found evidence of continuous human settlement from the Japanese Paleolithic period, with the oldest remains of several dwellings dating back to 22,000 years ago. Traces from the Yayoi period through the Kofun period are numerous, including the Mitsushiro Kofun, a National Historic Site. During the Nara period, the ancient Sanyōdō highway connecting the Kinai region with Kyushu passed close to the north side of Saijō Station. Aki Kokubun-ji was located in what is now Higashihiroshima, and through geographic names, the original kokufu of the province was located in the vicinity before its was relocated to Fuchū in the Heian period. During the Muromachi period, the area was dominated by the Ouchi clan, who built Kagamiyama Castle, the ruins of which are a National Historic Site. The Ouchi were replaced after 200 years by the Mōri clan in the Sengoku period. After the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the area was part of the holdings of Fukushima Masanori and later the Asano clan of Hiroshima Domain. The town of Saijō was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 20, 1974, Saijō merged with the towns of Shiwa, Takaya and Hachihonmatsu in Kamo District to form the city of Higashihiroshima.

On February 7, 2005, the towns of Kurose, Kōchi, Toyosaka and Fukutomi (all from Kamo District), and the town of Akitsu (from Toyota District) were merged into Higashihiroshima.

Government

Higashihiroshima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 30 members. Higashihiroshima contributes four members to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Hiroshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Higashihiroshima has a mixed economy. The area has traditionally been associated with sake brewing, and sake remains an important industry. Other industries include semiconductors, automobile related parts/special equipment, shipbuilding, and brick making, as well as agriculture centered on rice, and commercial fishing.

Education

Higashihiroshima has 37 public elementary schools and 15 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and six public high schools, and one combined middle/high school operated by the Hiroshima prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private middle schools and two private high schools.

In terms of higher education, Higashihiroshima hosts a campus of Hiroshima University, Elisabeth University of Music, Kindai University and Hiroshima International University

Transportation

Railway

JR WestSan'yō Shinkansen

JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line

JR West (JR West) - Kure Line

Highways

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Higashihiroshima is famous for making sake, and along the Sakagura Dōri ("Sake Storehouse Road") area near JR Saijō Station are the Namako wall (white-lattice walled) and Sekishu Gawara (red-roof tile) roofs of ten well-known sake breweries. An annual sake festival is held every October.

Notable people from Higashihiroshima

References

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