History

During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Matsuzaki Town consisted of 21 villages. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was divided into 11 villages within Kamo District, and 10 villages within Naka District. After the abolishment of Naka District, all 21 villages were reunited under Kamo District. Matsuzaki Village was elevated to town status in 1901. The town annexed neighboring Nakagawa Village in 1955 and Iwashina Village in 1956.

Around March 31, 2010, the city of Shimoda and three municipalities in Kamo District (Kawazu, Matsuzaki, and Minamiizu) were scheduled to merge. However, the merger backed out.

Economy

The economy of Matsuzaki is dominated by commercial fishing, forestry and the tourist industry centered on hot spring resorts. Some 64% of the area is forest.

Education

Matsuzaki has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Highway

Notable people from Matsuzaki

  • Yoda Benzō - Hokkaido pioneer
  • Irie Chōhachi - artist
  • Kondō Heisaburō - pharmacologist
  • Rentarō Mikuni - actor

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File:Matsuzaki Town - panoramio - ion66.jpg|Downtown Matsuzaki

Image:Mount Eboshi (Matsuzaki) s2.jpg|Port of Kumomi and Mount Eboshi

Image:Matsuzaki_Kumomi_kaigan_shore.jpg|Matsuzaki Kumomi shoreline

Image:Izu Cote d Azur.jpg|Iwachi shore (岩地海岸), also dubbed "Izu Côte d'Azur", in Matsuzaki

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References

  • Matsuzaki official website (Japanese)