Kashima, Ibaraki

Kashima 鹿嶋市
City
Kashima city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Kashima in Ibaraki Prefecture
Kashima
Coordinates: 35°57′56.3″N 140°38′41.4″E / 35.965639°N 140.644833°ECoordinates: 35°57′56.3″N 140°38′41.4″E / 35.965639°N 140.644833°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	106.02 km^2 (40.93 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
• Total	66,860
• Density	631/km^2 (1,630/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Rosa rugosa
- Bird	Green pheasant
Phone number	0299-82-2911
Address	1187-1 Hirai, Kashima-shi, Ibaraki-ken 314-8655
Website	Official website

Kashima (鹿嶋市 Kashima-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 66,860 and a population density of 631 persons per km². Its total area was 106.02 square kilometres (40.93 sq mi). Kashima is the home of the J. League's Kashima Antlers. Its home field, Kashima Soccer Stadium, was used as a site during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The city is also the site of the Kashima Shrine, a Shinto shrine which is considered the birthplace of many influential styles of Japanese swordsmanship (Kenjutsu). It is one of the oldest shrines in eastern Japan.

Geography

Kashima is located in southeastern Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Kitaura portion of Lake Kasumigaura to the west. It is approximately 110 kilometers to the northeast of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Itako
  • Kamisu
  • Namegata
  • Hokota

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 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.

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.

Education

Kashima has 12 elementary schools, six middle schools, and four high schools.

Sports

There is local football club Kashima Antlers.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Kashima Line
  • Kashimajingū - Kashima Soccer Stadium
• Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line
  • Kashimanada - Kashima-Ōno - Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae - Kōyadai - Kashima Soccer Stadium

Highway

• Japan National Route 51
• Japan National Route 124

Seaport

• Port of Kashima

Sister city relations

• – Seogwipo, Jeju Province, Republic of Korea, since November 2003^[1]
• – Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China, since November 2008^[2]

Local attractions

• Kashima Shrine

Notable people from Kashima

• Ryuta Sasaki – professional soccer player
• Hitoshi Sogahata – professional soccer player
• Yuichi Nemoto – professional soccer player
• Yasutaka Nomoto – professional soccer player
• Juri Takahashi – singer
• Yoko Matsugane – gravure idol

Gallery

• 
  Port of Kashima with Kamisu in the foreground
• 
  Kashima Soccer Stadium
• 
  The Torii Gate at the entrance of Kashima Shrine
• 
  Monument for Kashima Antlers near Kashima Shrine

References

1. "Status of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Sister City". Island of World Peace, Jeju. Jeju Self-Governing Province. December 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
2. "Yancheng". Welcome to Jiangsu China. Jiangsu Provincial government official site. 2005. Retrieved 7 December 2015.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)