Nakatsu, ÅŒita

Nakatsu 中津市
City
Flag
Location of Nakatsu in ÅŒita Prefecture
Nakatsu Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°36′N 131°11′E / 33.600°N 131.183°ECoordinates: 33°36′N 131°11′E / 33.600°N 131.183°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	ÅŒita Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Masakatsu Shingai
Area
• Total	491.09 km^2 (189.61 sq mi)
Population (January 2008)
• Total	84,179
• Density	171/km^2 (440/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Round Leaf Holly (Ilex rotunda)
• Flower	Chrysanthemum
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	14-3 Toyodamachi, Nakatsu-shi, ÅŒita-ken 871-8501
Website	www.city-nakatsu.jp

Nakatsu (中津市 Nakatsu-shi) is a city on the northern border of Ōita Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. The city is on the border with Fukuoka Prefecture. Nakatsu was founded on April 20, 1929.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 84,179 and a population density of 171 people per km². The total area is 491.09 km².

Tourism

Nakatsu is a castle town centered around Nakatsu Castle, which is open to visitors. The modernised interior comprises a museum with samurai armor, old maps and information about Rangaku (Dutch studies), for which Nakatsu was an important center in the Edo era. There are views from the top of the castle keep.

Visitors can see the residence of the most celebrated member of the Okudaira clan of Nakatsu, Fukuzawa Yukichi, and the memorial hall there. It is close to the castle and a 15-minute walk from the station.

Nakatsu's Mt. Hachimen was home to the popular music festival, Concert on the Rock.

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  Nakatsu castle

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  Fukuzawa Yukichi's former residence

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  Kyōshūhō Ridge, Yabakei

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  Cave of Rakan-Temple (Rakanji), built on the middle cliff of Mt. Rakan

Geography

Nakatsu is in the northwest corner of ÅŒita Prefecture, Kyushu. To the east of Nakatsu is Usa and to the southwest is Hita. Nakatsu touches the border of Fukuoka Prefecture on its west. To the northeast is the Suohnada Sea. The city covers an area of 491.09 square kilometers, 80% of which is mountainous. There is a wide stretch of flat, agricultural land which begins at the mouth of Yamakuni River and extends to Mt. Hiko.

History

• 1587: Kuroda Yoshitaka (Josui) built Nakatsu Castle as a flatland castle near the Yamaguni River.
• April 1925: The village of ÅŒe was merged with Toyoda to become the town of Nakatsu.
• April 1919: The village of Ogusu and the town of Nakatsu were merged to become the city of Nakatsu.
• August 1933: The villages of Tsurui, ÅŒhata and Josui were merged into Nakatsu.
• April 1951: The village of Miho was merged into Nakatsu.
• October 1954: The village of Wada was merged into Nakatsu.
• February 1955: The village of Imazu was merged into Nakatsu.
• March, 2005: The towns of Hon'yabakei, Yabakei and Yamakuni, and the village of Sankō (all from Shimoge District) were all merged into Nakatsu.

Notable people from Nakatsu

• Yoshijirō Umezu
• Fukuzawa Yukichi

See also

• Nakatsu Domain
• James Murdoch, author of the famous History of Japan who taught briefly in Nakatsu junior high school (1893)

References

• Nakatsushi-shi kankokai (Hrsg.): Nakatsu-shi (History of Nakatsu). Nakatsu: Nakatsushi-shi kankōkai, 1965 (中津市史刊行会編『中津市史』中津市史刊行会).
• Kuroya Naofusa: Nakatsuhan-shi (History of the Nakatsu Clan). Tōkyō: Kokusho kankōkai, 1987 (黒屋直房著『中津藩史』国書刊行会).

External links

• Nakatsu City official website (Japanese)
• Nakatsu City official website (English)