Nihonmatsu, Fukushima

Nihonmatsu 二本松市
City
Minowa Gate in Nihonmatsu Castle
Flag Seal
Location of Nihonmatsu in Fukushima Prefecture
Nihonmatsu
Coordinates: 37°35′5.5″N 140°25′52.2″E / 37.584861°N 140.431167°ECoordinates: 37°35′5.5″N 140°25′52.2″E / 37.584861°N 140.431167°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima Prefecture
Government
• - Mayor	Hiroshi Shinno
Area
• Total	344.65 km^2 (133.07 sq mi)
Population (October 2014)
• Total	56,386
• Density	160/km^2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Chrysanthemum
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0243-23-1111
Address	403-1 Kanairo, Nihonmatsu-shi, Fukushima-ken 964-8601
Website	www.city.nihonmatsu.lg.jp

Nihonmatsu City Hall

Nihonmatsu (二本松市 Nihonmatsu-shi) is a city in Fukushima Prefecture, in northern Honshū, Japan. As of December 2014, the city has an estimated population of 56,386^[1] and a population density of 164 persons per km². The total area was 344.65 km². The Adachi neighborhood of Nihonmatsu was the birthplace of artist Chieko Takamura, subject of the book of poems Chieko's Sky (智恵子抄 Chiekoshō, literally "Chieko Selections"), written by her husband Kōtarō Takamura.^[2]

Geography

Nihonmatsu is located in the Nakadōri section of Fukushima prefecture, between the cities of Fukushima and Kōriyama. Nihonmatsu's western border consists of the Adatara mountain range. The Abukuma River runs through the eastern part (forming the border between the former towns of Adachi and Tōwa), flowing from south to north.

• Mountains: Mount Adatara (1,728 m), Hiyama (1,054 m), Kohatayama (666.3 m)
• Rivers: Abukuma River

Neighboring municipalities

• Fukushima, Fukushima
• Koriyama, Fukushima
• Tamura, Fukushima
• Motomiya, Fukushima
• Namie, Fukushima
• Katsurao, Fukushima
• Kawamata, Fukushima
• Ōtama, Fukushima
• Inawashiro, Fukushima

History

The area of present-day Nihonmatsu was part of ancient Mutsu Province. It developed as the castle town of Nihonmatsu Domain, a 100,700 koku han, which was ruled by the Niwa clan under the Tokugawa shogunate) in the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Adachi District in the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

The town of Nihonmatsu as established with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Nihonmatsu annexed the neighboring villages of Shiozawa, Dakeshita, Sugita, Ishii and Ohdaira on January 1, 1955 and was elevated to city status on October 1, 1958. The city annexed the towns of Adachi, Iwashiro and Tōwa (all from Adach District on December 1, 2005.^[3]

Economy

Nihonmatsu is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy. It is especially noted for furniture manufacturing and sake brewing.

Education

• Fukushima Prefectural Adachi High School
• Fukushima Prefectural Adachi Higashi High School
• Fukushima Prefectural Nihonmatsu Industrial High School
• seven middle schools
• 16 elementary schools

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Tōhoku Main Line
  • * Sugita - Nihonmatsu - Adachi

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway
• National Route 4
• National Route 349
• National Route 459

International relations

• - Hanover, New Hampshire, United States, since July 30, 1999
• – Jingshan County, Hubei Province, China, Friendship city since October 16, 1994

Local attractions

A Monument of Nihonmatsu Boys Manifestation

• Nihonmatsu Castle, also known as Kasumiga Castle, is a historical castle along with a park. Nihonmatsu Castle is one of Japan's Top 100 Castles. Nihonmatsu Castle has also been called one of the top 100 sites in Japan for cherry blossom viewing by Wikivoyage.^[4]
• Obama Castle, historical castle ruins
• Dake Onsen, onsen resort located in western Nihonmatsu.
• Ebisu Circuit, famous drift racing track, adjacent to Tohoku Safari Park.
• The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is held every October 4-6. The festival has been held annually since 1643 and is one of the three largest lantern festivals in Japan.

Sake

Nihonmatsu has a long history of sake brewing, with several sake breweries headquartered in the city:

• Daishichi, established in 1752, one of the few breweries that continues to use the traditional kimoto brewing process. Tours are available.
• Okunomatsu, established in 1716.
• Ninki Sake Brewery, established in 1897.
• Himonoya, maker of the Senkonari brand sake.^[5]

Notable people from Nihonmatsu

• Kan'ichi Asakawa, academic
• Chieko Takamura, artist
• Michiro Endo, musician, political activist
• Yuki Takamiya, long-distance runner^[6]

References

1. "Estimated population October 1, 2014" (PDF) (in Japanese). Official Fukushima Prefecture website. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
2. "The Dreamer of Fukushima -Chieko Takamura". Pref.fukushima.jp. 1938-10-05. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
3. 二本松の歴史年表 [Nihonmatsu History by Year] (in Japanese). 二本松市. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
4. Voy:Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots
5. "Senkonari home page". Retrieved 21 November 2014.
6. "【東京マラソン】無名２８歳・高宮、一般参加から日本人トップでリオ候補浮上 : スポーツ報知". Hochi.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-03-01.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• Nihonmatsu tourism website (Japanese)
• Dake Onsen tourism website (Japanese)