Kōfu (甲府市, Kōfu-shi) - The capital city of
Yamanashi, Japan.
As of March 1, 2006, the city now has an estimated
population of 201,184. The total area is 212.41km².
Kōfu has been reputed through the years as a center where
politics, economics, and culture have flourished. Rich in
historical landmarks related to Takeda Shingen, the city
also boasts museums, cultural centers, the famed and
historic Yumura Onsen, and precious gem museums which
display many examples from Kōfu's world famous jewelry
industry. The city is well-known for its natural splendor;
two-thirds of the city area comprises mountains and forests.
History
Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province." During the
Sengoku period, it was the stronghold of Takeda Shingen.
The origin of the name of Kōfu is related to the ancestral
name of Yamanashi Prefecture, as well as to the city's
geographical location. Centuries ago, the area which today
is referred to as Yamanashi Prefecture, was once known as
Kai Province. At that time, the geographical denominations
of ken (prefecture), were not yet in use, and instead, the
area was categorized as a fu. Located in the center of Kai,
Kōfu's name was derived from a combination of kanji used in
both Kai and fu. Alternate pronunciation of the characters
resulted in the modern name of Kōfu.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement
in the Kōfu area dating back as far as 6000 years BCE.
However, the town of Kōfu was not formally established until
1519.
Kōfu is designated as the one of the special cities of
Japan. The city once had only 193,795 people due to the
population decline, but after the amalgamation of Nakamichi
and Kamikuishiki(northern) on March 1, 2006, the population
went back up to 201,184.
Information source: “Article title.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 2 Feb. 2008. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Mar. 2008 <introduction>. |
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