Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kashima has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History

Kashima was developed from the Nara period together with the ichinomiya of Hitachi Province, Kashima Shrine. After the Meiji Restoration, the town of Kashima was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 within Kashima District. In 1954, Kashima annexed with the neighboring villages of Takamatsu, Toyosu, Toyosato and Namino. Kashima merged with the village of Ono on September 1, 1995 and was elevated to city status.

Government

Kashima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Kashima contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Kashima is the central city of the Kashima Industrial Zone, and it has a large industrial park with about 1500 factories, especially petrochemical and steel plants. The Japanese government created this zone in 1963, and the development was mostly completed in 1973. Agriculture and commercial fishing also play a part in the local economy.

Education

Kashima has 12 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private middle school and two private high schools.

Sports

Kashima Antlers is the local J. League football club.

Transportation

Railway

20px JR East – Kashima Line

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20px - Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line

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Highway

Seaport

  • Port of Kashima

Sister cities

  • Seogwipo, Jeju Province, Republic of Korea, since November 2003
  • Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, since November 2008

Local attractions

  • Kashima Shrine

300px|Kashima Shrine

Notable people

  • Tsukahara Bokuden, swordsman
  • Harumi Hanayagi, actress
  • Yuichi Nemoto, former soccer player
  • Ryuta Sasaki, former soccer player
  • Hitoshi Sogahata, soccer player
  • Juri Takahashi, singer, dancer, K-pop idol and former J-pop idol, member of K-pop girlgroup Rocket Punch

<gallery>

File:Kamisu Ibaraki.JPG|Port of Kashima with Kamisu in the foreground

File:Kashima Soccer Stadium 1.jpg|Kashima Soccer Stadium

File:Kashima Shrine main torii at dusk - sept 22 2015.jpg|The Torii Gate at the entrance of Kashima Shrine

File:Monument for Kashima Antlers near Kashima Shrine.JPG|Monument for Kashima Antlers near Kashima Shrine

</gallery>

References

  • Official Website