Demographics

According to Japanese census data, the population of Kimitsu peaked around 2000 and has since declined.

History

The area of present-day Kimitsu was largely part of the Kururi Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, centered on the jōkamachi of Kururi Castle. It was divided between the Moda District and the Sue District in the early Meiji period cadastral reforms. Both districts became part of Kimitsu District from April 1, 1897. The villages of Susaki and Yaehara were established with the modern municipal system on April 1, 1889. Kimitsu Town was founded by the merger of these villages on April 1, 1943, and expanded through the annexation of two neighboring villages, Sunami and Sadamoto, on April 1, 1944. The town continued to expand by annexing the towns of Kazusa and Koito and the villages of Seiwa and Obitsu on September 28, 1970. Kimitsu was elevated to city status on September 1, 1971.

About merger

Before Kimitsu City was established, Kimitsu Town went through three mergers in 1943, 1954, and 1970. Except for the 1954 merger, which was based on the Town and Village Merger Promotion Law (known as the "Great Merger of Showa"), the other two mergers had no relation to national policies.

In 1943, when the first Kimitsu Town was formed, Japan was in the middle of World War II. The Yaehara Factory, a branch of the Kisarazu Naval Air Corps, was built on a large area of land across Yaehara Village and Susai Village. As a result, there were issues such as moving houses, buying farmland, and distributing food and clothing to workers. With help from the Japanese military, the two villages merged to create "Kimitsu Town."

The 1970 merger was influenced by the Yahata Steel Factory (now Nippon Steel Kimitsu Works), which moved into the coastal area during the 1960s. The factory increased property tax income for Kimitsu Town. However, if the population were too small, part of the tax would go to Chiba Prefecture. To prevent this, the town merged with other nearby areas to increase the population. At first, Kisarazu City was also part of the merger talks, and a new city name, "Kimitsu-Kisarazu City," was suggested. But since Kisarazu City did not agree, the plan was dropped. On September 28, 1970, five towns and villages merged to form the new "Kimitsu Town." After reaching the population requirements, Kimitsu Town became Kimitsu City on September 1, 1971, becoming the 25th city in Chiba Prefecture.

Government

Kimitsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Kimitsu contributes two members to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Chiba 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Despite its short coastline on Tokyo Bay, the economy of Kimitsu is centered around its coastal belt of heavy industries, primarily by the large-scale steelworks of Nippon Steel's Kimitsu Works. Kimitsu Works was established in 1965, covers , and employed 3,280 people . The Koito Fishing Port, technically located in both Kimitsu and Futtsu, is located just north of Cape Futtsu at the mouth of the Koito River. Entry in and out of the fishing port suffers from sediment deposited by the Koito. Kazusa Akademia Park, which spans both Kimitsu and Kisarazu, was established to carry out research in biotechnology and information technology.

Education

Kimitsu has 17 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private middle school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates a special education school for students with disabilities.

Transportation

Railway

20px JR East – Uchibō Line

20px JR East – Kururi Line

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Highways

Local attractions

  • Kameyama Dam (Kameyama Lake)
  • Katakura Dam (Sasagawa Lake)
  • Kururi Castle
  • Mishima Dam (Mishima Lake)
  • Seiwa Kenmin No Mori Prefectural Park
  • Toyofusa Dam (Toyofusa Lake)

International relations

Sister cities

Kimitsu is twinned with the following cities.

  • Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan
  • Uiwang, South Korea
  • Rio Claro, Brazil

Notable people from Kimitsu

  • Ryo Hayami, Japanese actor (Kamen Rider X)
  • Emi Sakura - professional wrestler
  • Kōki Yamashita, Japanese professional baseball player (infielder - Yokohama DeNA BayStars, Nippon Professional Baseball - Central League)
  • Hiroshi Yamato - professional wrestler

References

  • Official Website