Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Chikusei peaked around 1990 and has steadily declined since.

History

During the Edo period, parts of the modern city of Chikusei were administered by Shimodate Domain, one of the feudal domains of the Tokugawa shogunate. With the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration on April 1, 1889, the town of Shimodate was established within Makabe District, Ibaraki). Shimodate was raised to city status on March 15, 1954.

The city of Chikusei was established on March 28, 2005, from the merger of the city of Shimodate, and towns of Akeno, Kyōwa and Sekijō (all from Makabe District).

Government

Chikusei has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Chikusei contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Chikusei has traditionally had strong agricultural economy, with noted products including koshihikari rice, nashi pears, small watermelons, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes. Taking advantage of the location near the Tokyo metropolitan area and with abundant wide flat land, multiple industrial parks were created from the 1980s, forming a part of the Kanto inland industrial area. It is also within commuting range for to the cities of southern Tochigi Prefecture.

Education

Chikusei has 20 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. These is also one private middle school and one private high school.

Transportation

Railway

20px JR East – Mito Line

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Kantō Railway – Jōsō Line

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20px Mooka Railway

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Highway

  • (nearest interchange is Mooka IC in neighboring Mooka)]

Local attractions

  • site of Seki Castle (national historic landmark)
  • site of Isa Castle
  • Funatama kofun
  • site of Kogeta Castle
  • site of Shimodate Castle
  • Shimodate Gion Festival

Noted people from Chikusei

  • Norihiko Akagi, politician
  • Hazan Itaya, ceramist
  • Shingo Katayama, golfer
  • Tomoki Nojiri, racing driver
  • Yōko Teppōzuka, voice actress

References

  • Official Website