View source for Akashi, Hyōgo

{{Short description|City in Kansai region, Japan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Akashi
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|明石市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]]
| other_name = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = {{Multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 290
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow      = 1/2/2
| image1      = Akashi-Minicipal-Planetarium3387.JPG
| image2      = Akashi_Castle_20200623.jpg
| image3      = 大蔵海岸ビーチ - panoramio.jpg
| image4      = 
| image5      = 林崎漁港兵庫県PA211878.jpg
}}
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = <table style="width:280px;margin:2px auto;border-collapse:collapse">
<tr><td colspan="2">Akashi Planetarium</tr>
<tr><td style="width:50%">[[Akashi Castle]]<td>Okura beach</tr>
<tr><td>Uonotani Market<td>Hayashizaki fishing port</tr>
</table>
| image_flag = Flag of Akashi, Hyogo.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Akashi, Hyogo.svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=265|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=10}}
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Akashi in Hyōgo Prefecture
|image_map1 = Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_caption1 = 
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|34|39|N|135|0|E|region:JP-28|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title = 
| established_date = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 = 
| extinct_title = Now part of
| extinct_date = 
| founder = 
| named_for = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[:ja:丸谷聡子|Satoko Marutani]] (from May 2023)
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 49.42
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total =305,925
| population_as_of = February 1, 2024
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 1-5-1 Nakasaki, Akashi-shi, Hyōgo-ken 673-8686
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2        = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official website|1=http://www.yokoso-akashi.jp/en/index.html}}
| footnotes = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Sweet Osmanthus]]
 | flower = [[Chrysanthemums]]
 | bird = 
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}
[[file:Akashi City Hall.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Akashi City Hall]]
[[file:Akashi Castle Hitsujisaruyagura.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Akashi from Akashi Castle]]
{{nihongo|'''Akashi'''|明石市|Akashi-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] in southern [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan. {{As of|2024|02|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 305,925 in 137,288 households and a [[population density]] of 6,200 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Akashi-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.akashi.lg.jp|title= Akashi city official statistics|website=city.akashi.lg.jp|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|49.42|sqkm|sqmi}}.

== Geography ==
Akashi is located in southern Hyōgo prefecture, and is a long and narrow municipality along the [[Seto Inland Sea]]. It is separated from [[Awaji Island]] by Harima Bay; however, the terminus of the [[Akashi Kaikyō Bridge]], which connects [[Honshu]] to [[Awaji Island]] and to [[Shikoku]], is not in Akashi but in [[Tarumi-ku, Kōbe]]. The 135th meridian east line that determines [[Japan Standard Time]] passes through the city.

=== Neighbouring municipalities ===
Hyōgo Prefecture
* [[Inami, Hyōgo|Inami]]
* [[Harima, Hyōgo|Harima]]
* [[Kakogawa, Hyōgo|Kakogawa]]
* [[Kōbe, Hyōgo|Kōbe]]

===Climate===
Akashi has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is significantly higher in summer than in winter, though on the whole lower than in most parts of Honshū, and there is no significant snowfall. The average annual temperature in Akashi is {{convert|15.9|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1156.6|mm}} with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{convert|27.7|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{convert|5.2|C}}.<ref name=normals/> The highest temperature ever recorded in Akashi was {{cvt|37.2|C}} on 13 August 2019; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-4.3|C}} on 30 January 2003.<ref name=extremes/>

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Akashi (1992−2020 normals, extremes 1992−present)
|Jan record high C = 16.5
|Feb record high C = 18.1
|Mar record high C = 22.1
|Apr record high C = 27.4
|May record high C = 29.4
|Jun record high C = 33.4
|Jul record high C = 36.3
|Aug record high C = 37.2
|Sep record high C = 34.9
|Oct record high C = 30.7
|Nov record high C = 25.2
|Dec record high C = 22.4
|Jan record low C = -4.3
|Feb record low C = -4.2
|Mar record low C = -1.7
|Apr record low C = 0.4
|May record low C = 6.5
|Jun record low C = 12.7
|Jul record low C = 17.7
|Aug record low C = 18.8
|Sep record low C = 11.3
|Oct record low C = 5.8
|Nov record low C = 1.5
|Dec record low C = -2.2
|Jan high C = 9.1
|Feb high C = 9.5
|Mar high C = 12.5
|Apr high C = 17.4
|May high C = 22.2
|Jun high C = 25.6
|Jul high C = 29.4
|Aug high C = 31.5
|Sep high C = 28.3
|Oct high C = 23.0
|Nov high C = 17.2
|Dec high C = 11.7
|Jan mean C = 5.2
|Feb mean C = 5.6
|Mar mean C = 8.5
|Apr mean C = 13.3
|May mean C = 18.2
|Jun mean C = 22.0
|Jul mean C = 25.9
|Aug mean C = 27.7
|Sep mean C = 24.3
|Oct mean C = 18.7
|Nov mean C = 12.9
|Dec mean C = 7.7
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.7
|Mar low C = 4.4
|Apr low C = 9.3
|May low C = 14.6
|Jun low C = 19.0
|Jul low C = 23.4
|Aug low C = 24.9
|Sep low C = 20.8
|Oct low C = 14.6
|Nov low C = 8.7
|Dec low C = 3.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 35.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 50.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 83.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 89.5
|May precipitation mm = 115.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 150.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 152.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 86.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 162.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 118.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 59.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 48.7
|year precipitation mm = 1156.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.0
|Feb precipitation days = 6.5
|Mar precipitation days = 8.8
|Apr precipitation days = 9.0
|May precipitation days = 9.0
|Jun precipitation days = 10.7
|Jul precipitation days = 9.7
|Aug precipitation days = 5.9
|Sep precipitation days = 9.2
|Oct precipitation days = 7.6
|Nov precipitation days = 5.9
|Dec precipitation days = 5.8
|Jan sun = 168.0
|Feb sun = 153.9
|Mar sun = 186.3
|Apr sun = 196.9
|May sun = 205.1
|Jun sun = 154.2
|Jul sun = 186.0
|Aug sun = 239.7
|Sep sun = 169.3
|Oct sun = 176.5
|Nov sun = 161.8
|Dec sun = 165.4
|year sun = 2160.3
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref name=extremes>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=63&block_no=0625&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=63&block_no=0625&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 8, 2022}}</ref>}}

===Demographics===
{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 58,087
| 1925 | 63,665
| 1930 | 66,872
| 1935 | 72,397
| 1940 | 84,835
| 1945 | 101,583
| 1950 | 112,011
| 1955 | 120,200
| 1960 | 129,780
| 1965 | 159,299
| 1970 | 206,532
| 1975 | 234,905
| 1980 | 254,869
| 1985 | 263,363
| 1990 | 270,722
| 1995 | 287,606
| 2000 | 293,117
| 2005 | 291,027
| 2010 | 290,993
| 2015 | 293,409
| 2020 | 303,601
|align       = none
| footnote = Akashi population statistics<ref name=zensus>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/hyogo/|title=Hyōgo (Japan): Prefecture, Cities, Towns and Villages - Population Statistics, Charts and Map|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
}}

==History==
Akashi is mentioned in a ''waka'' (five-line, 31-syllable poem) written by [[Kakinomoto no Hitomaro]] in the 7th century and it is the setting for one of the chapters of the 11th-century novel ''[[The Tale of Genji]]''. It developed as the [[jōkamachi|castle town]] of [[Akashi Domain]] during the [[Edo Period]], from 1617 to 1871 due to its  location dominating the [[San'yōdō]] highway connecting the [[Kinai region]] with western Japan. The famous swordsman [[Miyamoto Musashi]] is claimed to have laid out the design of the castle town. The town of Akashi was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on November 1, 1919. The city annexed the neighboring villages of Hayashizaki on February 11, 1942 and Okubo, Uozumi and Futami on January 10, 1951 to reach its present dimensions. A proposal to merge with the city of Kobe was rejected by a referendum in 1955. The city suffered from  the [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] of 1995 with 4,839 houses were completely or partially destroyed and nine fatalities.

On July 21, 2001, [[Akashi pedestrian bridge accident|11 people were killed and 247 were injured]] during a [[crowd crush]] after a fireworks show. Five city officials were subsequently convicted of negligence in connection with the incident.<ref>[[Kyodo News]], "[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120120a2.html Ex-Cop Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal '01 Akashi Crush] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121030755/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120120a2.html |date=21 January 2012 }}", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 20 January 2012, p. 1.</ref>

Akashi became a  [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]] on April 1, 2018 with increased local autonomy.

==Government==
Akashi has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 30 members. Akashi contributes four members to the [[Hyogo Prefectural Assembly]]. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 9th district of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]]. Akashi is governed by Mayor Fusaho Izumi, an [[independent (politician)|independent]].

==Economy==
Akashi is located within the Hanshin Industrial Area and Harima Seaside Industrial Area and has succeeded in attracting many companies to its Futami Seaside Industrial Park. the city has long been noted for aviation-related instrumentation manufacturers and electronic component manufacturers. [[Yamato Scale]], a leading global manufacturer of commercial weighing and packaging equipment, is headquartered in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yamato-scale.co.jp/en/corporate/7-2.html |title=Yamato Scale corporate profile |access-date=6 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306185055/http://www.yamato-scale.co.jp/en/corporate/7-2.html |archive-date=6 March 2014 }}</ref> Due to its transportation connections and location, numerous [[commuter town|bedroom communities]] have developed for commuters to Kobe and Osaka, which is estimated to exceed 30% of the working population. The city has also been noted since the Edo Period for its production of ''[[sake]]''.

==Education==
Akashi has 28 public elementary schools, 13 public middle schools and one public high school operated by the city government and seven public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one national elementary school. The city also operates one special education school for the handicapped. The nursing school of [[University of Hyogo]] is located in Akashi.

The city also has the National Institute of Technology Akashi College (NITAC( ({{Lang|ja|国立明石工業高等専門学校}}).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.akashi.ac.jp/english/ |title=Akashi City website |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123010156/https://www.akashi.ac.jp/english/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The city once had a [[Chosen gakko|North Korean school]], {{Nihongo|Akashi Korean Elementary School|[[:ja:明石朝鮮初級学校|明石朝鮮初級学校]]}}<ref name=Formerschools>{{cite web|url=http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051106010302/http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2005 |script-title=ja:ウリハッキョ一覧 |publisher=[[Chongryon]] |date=November 6, 2005 |access-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> and [[Kobe College of Liberal Arts|Akashi Junior College]] ({{Lang|ja|明石短期大学}}).

== Transportation ==
=== Railway ===
[[File:Shinkansen jrw.svg|18 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Shinkansen]]
* {{STN|Nishi-Akashi|x}}
[[File:JR_logo_(west).svg|22 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Main Line]] ([[JR Kobe Line]])
* {{STN|Asagiri|x|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Akashi|x}} - {{STN|Nishi-Akashi|x}} - {{STN|Ōkubo|x|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Uozumi|x}}
[[File:Sanyo electric railway logo-5.svg|20px]] [[Sanyo Electric Railway]] - [[Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line|Main Line]]
* {{STN|Ōkuradani|x}} - {{STN|Hitomarumae|x}} - {{STN|Sanyo Akashi|x}} - {{STN|Nishi-Shimmachi|x}} - {{STN|Hayashisaki-Matsuekaigan|x}} - {{STN|Fujie|x}} - {{STN|Nakayagi|x}} - {{STN|Eigashima|x}} - {{STN|Nishi-Eigashima|x}} - {{STN|Sanyo Uozumi|x}} - {{STN|Higashi-Futami|x}} - {{STN|Nishi-Futami|x}}

=== Highways ===
* [[File:JP Expressway E93.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Daini-Shinmei Road]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|2}} (Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Shimonoseki)
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|28}} (Kobe, Tokushima)
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|175}} (Maizuru)
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|250}} (Kobe, Okayama)
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|427}} (Maizuru)
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|250}} (Nishiwaki, Asago)

===Ferries===
* [[Akashi Awaji Ferry]] and [[Awaji Jenova Line]] to [[Awaji Island]]

==Sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Akashi is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Vallejo, California]], United States, sister city since 1968<ref name="Vallejo sisters">{{cite web|url=http://www.vallejosistercity.org/about-us.html |title=Vallejo Sister City |publisher=Vallejo Sister City Association |access-date=2013-09-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911222629/http://www.vallejosistercity.org/about-us.html |archive-date=2013-09-11 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=明石市|title=姉妹都市提携50周年記念事業|url=http://www.city.akashi.lg.jp/bunka/b_shinkou_ka/kanko-bunka/toshikoryu/kaigai/vallejoshi/50thakashi.html|access-date=2021-08-11|website=明石市|language=ja}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|China}} [[Wuxi]], China, friendship city since 1981<ref>{{Cite web|last=明石市|title=友好都市・無錫市の紹介|url=https://www.city.akashi.lg.jp/bunka/b_shinkou_ka/kanko-bunka/toshikoryu/kaigai/mushakushi/mushakushi.html|access-date=2021-08-11|website=明石市|language=ja}}</ref>

==Local attractions==
* [[Akashi Castle]], National Historic Site
* Akashi Municipal [[Planetarium]], which stands on the [[Meridian (geography)|meridian]] of [[135th meridian east|135 degrees east]] longitude, which is used to determine [[Japan Standard Time]]. 
* [[Akashi Park Stadium]] is a track and field stadium that can hold 20,000 spectators.
*[[Kakinomoto Shrine (Akashi)|Kakinomoto Shrine]]
*''Uonotana'' (Uo-no-Tana, {{lang|ja|魚の棚}}, literally "fish-shelf"), a market where local fishermen display an array of fresh seafood caught in the Akashi Strait.

<gallery>
File:Port of Akashi,明石港 DSCF1831.jpg|Port of Akashi
File:山陽電鉄明石駅・明石天文台より俯瞰P9160007.jpg|[[Sanyo Akashi Station]]
File:Port of Akashi,明石港 地蔵のある路地 DSCF1956.jpg|Old town area
File:Akashi-uontana,2010年末-魚の棚商店街 DSCF0215.JPG|Uontana 
File:Akashi Minicipal Planetarium.jpg|Akashi Municipal Planetarium
</gallery>

==Culture==
Akashi is known for ''[[Akashiyaki]]'', a kind of ''[[takoyaki]]'' particular to the region. Small pieces of octopus (''tako'') are placed inside a ball-shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs, and this is then fried. ''Akashiyaki'' is often eaten by dipping in a thin soup. People who live in Akashi call it ''"tamagoyaki"''(tamago, {{lang|ja|玉子}} or {{lang|ja|{{linktext|卵}}}}, literally "egg").

==Notable people from Akashi==
* [[Yumi Kokamo]], long-distance runner
* [[Mami Kingetsu]], voice actress
* [[Airi Taira]], actress
* Yuma Nakakita, singer from Japanese Boy group [[&TEAM]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Akashi}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.yokoso-akashi.jp/en/index.html Akashi City official website]
*{{osmrelation-inline|900530}}
{{Hyogo}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}{{Most populous cities in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akashi, Hyogo}}
[[Category:Akashi, Hyōgo| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]