Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido

Kitahiroshima (北広島市, Kitahiroshima-shi) is a city located in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan. "Kita" is the Japanese word for "north", so the town's name, Kitahiroshima-shi, is translated as "North-Hiroshima city" or "city of North-Hiroshima".

Kitahiroshima
北広島市
Dohto University
Flag of Kitahiroshima
Official seal of Kitahiroshima
Location of Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido (Ishikari Subprefecture)
Location of Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido (Ishikari Subprefecture)
Kitahiroshima is located in Japan
Kitahiroshima
Kitahiroshima
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°59′N 141°34′E
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Ishikari Subprefecture)
Government
  MayorMasami Ueno
Area
  Total119.05 km2 (45.97 sq mi)
Population
 (July 31, 2023)
  Total57,019
  Density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address4-2-1, Chūō, Kitahiroshima-shi, Hokkaidō
061-1192
Websitewww.city.kitahiroshima.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
FlowerAzalea
TreeMaple

As of July 31, 2023, the city had an estimated population of 57,019, with 27,221 households,[1] and the density of 479 persons per km². The total area is 119.05 square kilometres (45.97 sq mi).

History

On September 1, 1996, Hiroshima town was reorganized to promote city status, but Hiroshima city already existed, on the west of Honshu island. Therefore, Hiroshima was renamed to Kitahiroshima on that day.

  • 1884: 25 families, 107 people migrated from Hiroshima.[2]
  • 1894: Hiroshima village was founded.
  • 1968: Hiroshima village became Hiroshima town.
  • 1996: Hiroshima town became Hiroshima city and was renamed Kitahiroshima.

Education

Private

Public

  • Hokkaido Kitahiroshima High School
  • Hokkaido Kitahiroshima Nishi High School

Private

  • Sapporo Nihon University High School

Transportation

Rail

Road

It is accessed by routes 36, 274 and the expressway interchange in the west. In 1981, the bypass of route 274 was opened and the bypass of route 36 was opened in 1986. The urban sprawl of the Sapporo area in the western part of the city is bypassed.

Sports

The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball moved into the new Es Con Field Hokkaido in March 2023. The Fighters had previously played in the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, but moved to Kita-Hiroshima after disagreements with Sapporo City Consul about Sapporo Dome rental fees and needed Upgrades.[3]

The Sapporo-Eniwa Cycle Road follows the route of the decommissioned Chitose Railway Line from Sapporo City to Kitahiroshima, making it suitable for recreational and professional cyclists alike.

Near the Kitahiroshima Classe Hotel,[4] tennis and golf are popular summer activities, while skiing and tobogganing is available in the winter months.

Mascot

Maippy, the city's mascot

Kitahiroshima's mascot is Maippy (まいピー, Maipī) is a 10-year-old energetic rice. She is from Shimamatsu, Kitahiroshima (it is the same place where rice farmer Kuzo Nakayama studied the science of cold rice). As a result, she can communicate with not just the ghost of Kuzo Nakayama's but also the ghosts of other people. She is the mascot of the Kitahiroshima City Society of Commerce and Industry. However, as a result of her getting a resident card, she became the mascot of the whole city as a whole. She likes running on Elfin Road while researching nature. Though sporty, she does not do fast reflexes. Her hair is her charm point. As red is her favourite colour, she collects red ribbons. She has a sweetooth and her favourite sweet is strawberry cream puff.[5]

Twinnings

Notable people

References

  1. "Official website of Kitahiroshima City" (in Japanese). Japan: Kitahiroshima City. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. "姉妹都市". Kitahiroshima City official. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  3. "Seven years after the conception of the new stadium: The path of the relocation of the Fighters Sapporo Dome without a baseball team". STV on Yahoo Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  4. "Kitahiroshima Classe Hotel - Japan Airlines". jal.japantravel.com. Retrieved 2022-03-20.
  5. "赤毛米キャラクターきたひろ・まいピー". Kitahiroshima City Society of Commerce and Industry.


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