Chichibu, Saitama: Difference between revisions

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	~~''For~~ the brother of ~~the~~ ]~~, see ].''~~		{{about\|the city in Saitama Prefecture\|the brother of Emperor ]\|Prince Chichibu}}
			{{Infobox settlement

			<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
	{{Japanese city \|
	~~Name~~ = Chichibu\|		\| name = Chichibu
			\| official_name =
	JapaneseName=秩父市 \|
			\| native_name = {{nobold\|{{lang\|ja\|秩父市}}}}
	Prefecture=] \|
			\| native_name_lang = ja
	Region=] \|
			\| settlement_type = ]
	Area_km2=577.69 \|
			<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
	Population=71,721 \|
			\| image_skyline = Central Chichibu view from Hitsujiyama Park.JPG
	PopDate=200 \|
			\| imagesize =
	Density_km2= \|
			\| image_alt =
	Coords = {{coor dm\|36\|0\|N\|139\|5\|E\|region:JP_type:city}} \|
			\| image_caption = View of central Chichibu, from Hitsujiyama Park
	Postal code=\|
			\| image_flag = Flag of Chichibu, Saitama.svg
	Area code=\|
			\| flag_alt =
	Mayor = \|
			\| image_seal = Emblem of Chichibu, Saitama.svg
	Tree = \|
			\| seal_alt =
	Flower = \|
			\| image_shield =
	Bird = \|
			\| shield_alt =
	SymbolImage= Flag of Chichibu, Saitama.png\|
			\| image_blank_emblem =
	SymbolDescription= Flag\|
			\| nickname =
	CityHallPostalCode = \|
			\| motto =
	CityHallAddress= \|
			<!-- maps and coordinates -->
	CityHallPhone= \|
			\| image_map = Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg
	CityHallLink = \|
			\| map_alt =
	CityMap=Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture Ja.svg\|
			\| map_caption = Location of Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture
	Elevation=\|
			\| pushpin_map = Japan
			\| pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
			\| pushpin_map_alt =
			\| pushpin_map_caption =
			\| coordinates = {{coord\|35\|59\|30.4\|N\|139\|5\|7.7\|E\|region:JP\|display=inline,title}}
			\| coor_pinpoint = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) -->
			\| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
			<!-- location -->
			\| subdivision_type = ]
			\| subdivision_name = ]
			\| subdivision_type1 = ]
			\| subdivision_name1 = ]
			\| subdivision_type2 = ]
			\| subdivision_name2 = ]
			\| subdivision_type3 =
			\| subdivision_name3 =
			<!-- established -->
			\| established_title = First official recorded
			\| established_date = 88 BC (official)
			\| established_title2 = City established
			\| established_date2 = April 1, 1950
			\| founder =
			\| named_for =
			<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
			\| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
			\| seat =
			<!-- government type, leaders -->
			\| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
			\| leader_party =
			\| leader_title = Mayor
			\| leader_name = ] (since May 2021)
			\| leader_title1 =
			\| leader_name1 = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
			<!-- display settings -->
			\| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
			\| unit_pref = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric -->
			<!-- area -->
			\| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
			\| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
			\| area_total_km2 = 577.83
			\| area_land_km2 =
			\| area_water_km2 =
			\| area_water_percent =
			\| area_note =
			<!-- elevation -->
			\| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
			\| elevation_m =
			<!-- population -->
			\| population_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
			\| population_total = 61159
			\| population_as_of = January 1, 2021
			\| population_density_km2 = auto
			\| population_est =
			\| pop_est_as_of =
			\| population_demonym = <!-- demonym, ie. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool -->
			\| population_note =
			<!-- time zone(s) -->
			\| timezone1 = ]
			\| utc_offset1 = +9
			\| timezone1_DST =
			\| utc_offset1_DST =
			<!-- postal codes, area code -->
			\| postal_code_type =
			\| postal_code =
			\| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
			\| area_code =
			<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
			\| blank_name_sec1 = Phone number
			\| blank_info_sec1 = 0494-22-2211
			\| blank1_name_sec1 = Address
			\| blank1_info_sec1 =8-15 Kumaki, Chichibu, Saitama 368-8686
			<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
			\| blank_name_sec2 = ]
			\| blank_info_sec2 = ]
			<!-- website, footnotes -->
			\| website = {{Official\|1=http://www.city.chichibu.lg.jp/}}
			\| footnotes =
			\| module = {{Infobox place symbols\| embedded=yes
			\| tree = ]
			\| flower = ]
			\| bird = ]
			\| flowering_tree =
			\| butterfly =
			\| fish =
			\| other_symbols =
			}}
	}}		}}
			]

	{{Nihongo\|'''Chichibu'''\|秩父市\|Chichibu-shi}} is a ] in ], ]. As of ], ], ~~the~~ ~~city~~ ~~has~~ an ~~estimated~~ ] of ~~71,721~~. The total area is 577.~~69 km²~~.		{{Nihongo\|'''Chichibu'''\|秩父市\|Chichibu-shi}} is a ] located in ], ]. {{As of\|2021\|01\|01}}, the city had an estimated ] of 61,159 in 26,380 households and a ] of {{convert\|110\|PD/km2}}.<ref name="Chichibu-hp">{{cite web \|url=http://www.city.chichibu.lg.jp/1143.html \|title= Chichibu city official statistics\|location= Japan\|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert\|577.83\|km2}}.

			==Geography==
	Chichibu was incorporated as a city on ], ], although the region had already existed for hundreds of years and had developed many local traditions. Since that time, the area of the city has grown through a series of mergers, the most recent in 2005.
			]
			Chichibu is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlike other parts of the prefecture, it is largely mountainous and the population is concentrated in ]s along the ]. It is Saitama's largest municipality in terms of surface area and shares borders with ], ], ] and ] Prefectures. A large portion of the city belongs to ].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.env.go.jp/park/chichibu/intro/index.html\|title=環境省_秩父多摩甲斐国立公園_概要・計画書}}</ref>

			Because the region is not suitable for growing rice, many people have traditionally depended on ] (silk farming). ] from ], which rises south of the city center, is another major source of income for the region. The city is shifting its focus toward sightseeing, taking advantage of its rich natural environment and relative closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is also famous for its ] industry.
	== Geography ==
	]

			===Surrounding municipalities===
	The city is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlike other parts of the prefecture, it is largely mountainous and the population is concentrated in ]s along the ]. It is Saitama's largest municipality in terms of surface area and shares borders with ], ], ] and ] prefectures. Most parts of the city belong to ].
			]
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			]
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			* ]

			===Climate===
	Because the region is not suitable for growing ], many people have depended on ] farming. ] from ], which rises south of the city center, is another major source of income for the region. The city is shifting its focus toward ], taking advantages of its rich natural environment and relative closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is also famous for its ] industry.
			Chichibu has a ] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chichibu is 13.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1325 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.0 °C.<ref></ref>

			{{Weather box
	== History ==
			\|width=auto
			\|collapsed = yes
			\|metric first = yes
			\|single line = yes
			\|location = Chichibu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1926−present)
			\|Jan record high C = 23.0
			\|Feb record high C = 26.6
			\|Mar record high C = 27.6
			\|Apr record high C = 33.0
			\|May record high C = 37.2
			\|Jun record high C = 38.3
			\|Jul record high C = 39.2
			\|Aug record high C = 39.3
			\|Sep record high C = 38.0
			\|Oct record high C = 32.4
			\|Nov record high C = 26.5
			\|Dec record high C = 25.1
			\|Jan high C = 8.9
			\|Feb high C = 10.0
			\|Mar high C = 13.5
			\|Apr high C = 19.1
			\|May high C = 23.8
			\|Jun high C = 26.0
			\|Jul high C = 29.8
			\|Aug high C = 31.0
			\|Sep high C = 26.4
			\|Oct high C = 20.8
			\|Nov high C = 15.9
			\|Dec high C = 11.2
			\|Jan mean C = 1.8
			\|Feb mean C = 3.0
			\|Mar mean C = 6.6
			\|Apr mean C = 12.2
			\|May mean C = 17.3
			\|Jun mean C = 20.8
			\|Jul mean C = 24.6
			\|Aug mean C = 25.5
			\|Sep mean C = 21.5
			\|Oct mean C = 15.5
			\|Nov mean C = 9.2
			\|Dec mean C = 4.0
			\|Jan low C = -3.8
			\|Feb low C = -2.9
			\|Mar low C = 0.7
			\|Apr low C = 5.9
			\|May low C = 11.5
			\|Jun low C = 16.5
			\|Jul low C = 20.6
			\|Aug low C = 21.5
			\|Sep low C = 17.7
			\|Oct low C = 11.3
			\|Nov low C = 4.0
			\|Dec low C = -1.6
			\|Jan record low C = -15.8
			\|Feb record low C = -14.4
			\|Mar record low C = -12.5
			\|Apr record low C = -5.4
			\|May record low C = -0.9
			\|Jun record low C = 4.4
			\|Jul record low C = 9.1
			\|Aug record low C = 10.8
			\|Sep record low C = 6.1
			\|Oct record low C = -0.9
			\|Nov record low C = -6.5
			\|Dec record low C = -11.7
			\|precipitation colour = green
			\|Jan precipitation mm = 40.3
			\|Feb precipitation mm = 30.8
			\|Mar precipitation mm = 69.0
			\|Apr precipitation mm = 88.0
			\|May precipitation mm = 102.4
			\|Jun precipitation mm = 145.4
			\|Jul precipitation mm = 192.0
			\|Aug precipitation mm = 188.4
			\|Sep precipitation mm = 236.7
			\|Oct precipitation mm = 204.1
			\|Nov precipitation mm = 47.5
			\|Dec precipitation mm = 30.7
			\|year precipitation mm = 1375.3
			\|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
			\|Jan precipitation days = 3.3
			\|Feb precipitation days = 3.8
			\|Mar precipitation days = 7.6
			\|Apr precipitation days = 7.6
			\|May precipitation days = 9.1
			\|Jun precipitation days = 12.0
			\|Jul precipitation days = 13.2
			\|Aug precipitation days = 10.6
			\|Sep precipitation days = 11.5
			\|Oct precipitation days = 8.9
			\|Nov precipitation days = 5.2
			\|Dec precipitation days = 3.5
			\|Jan snow cm = 15
			\|Feb snow cm = 12
			\|Mar snow cm = 6
			\|Apr snow cm = 1
			\|May snow cm = 0
			\|Jun snow cm = 0
			\|Jul snow cm = 0
			\|Aug snow cm = 0
			\|Sep snow cm = 0
			\|Oct snow cm = 0
			\|Nov snow cm = 0
			\|Dec snow cm = 2
			\|year snow cm = 36
			\|unit snow days = 3 cm
			\|Jan snow days = 2.0
			\|Feb snow days = 1.6
			\|Mar snow days = 1.3
			\|Apr snow days = 0.2
			\|May snow days = 0
			\|Jun snow days = 0
			\|Jul snow days = 0
			\|Aug snow days = 0
			\|Sep snow days = 0
			\|Oct snow days = 0
			\|Nov snow days = 0
			\|Dec snow days = 0.3
			\|humidity colour= green
			\|Jan humidity = 64
			\|Feb humidity = 62
			\|Mar humidity = 64
			\|Apr humidity = 67
			\|May humidity = 71
			\|Jun humidity = 79
			\|Jul humidity = 81
			\|Aug humidity = 80
			\|Sep humidity = 83
			\|Oct humidity = 82
			\|Nov humidity = 79
			\|Dec humidity = 71
			\|Jan sun = 205.5
			\|Feb sun = 193.1
			\|Mar sun = 189.7
			\|Apr sun = 186.3
			\|May sun = 179.5
			\|Jun sun = 123.0
			\|Jul sun = 133.4
			\|Aug sun = 152.4
			\|Sep sun = 113.6
			\|Oct sun = 128.7
			\|Nov sun = 163.7
			\|Dec sun = 192.3
			\|year sun = 1968.1
			\|source 1 = ]<ref>{{cite web
			\| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=43&block_no=47641&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
			\|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
			\| publisher = ]
			\| access-date = February 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
			\| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=43&block_no=47641&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
			\|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
			\| publisher = ]
			\| access-date = February 26, 2022}}</ref>}}

			==Demographics==
	The city was developed as a marketplace of the district as well as the town around ]. The city's older name, ] ("big shrine"), was derived from the shrine. It is a coincidence that ] of the prefectural capital ], which houses ], has the same name.
			Per Japanese census data,<ref></ref> the population of Chichibu has decreased gradually over the past 60 years.

			{{Historical populations
			\| 1950 \| 78,285
			\| 1960 \| 82,811
			\| 1970 \| 78,764
			\| 1980 \| 76,875
			\| 1990 \| 75,845
			\| 2000 \| 73,875
			\| 2010 \| 66,955
			\| 2020 \| 59,674
			\|align = none
			\| footnote =
			}}

			==History==
			Chichibu was incorporated as a city on April 1, 1950, although ] had already existed since before the ] and the region has developed many local traditions. Chichibu Province was incorporated into ] in the 7th century AD. During premodern times, the town developed as a marketplace of the district as well as the town around ]. The city's older name, ] ("big shrine"), was derived from the shrine. Since its incorporation in 1950, the area of the city has grown through a series of mergers, the most recent in 2005.

	=== Timeline ===		=== Timeline ===
	*708: Deposits of ~~the metal ]~~ are discovered in the region and offered to the Imperial Court. The ] ] (和銅, meaning "Japanese copper") is proclaimed in recognition of this welcome event in the initial months of ]'s reign.<ref>Titsingh, Issac. (1834). ''Nipon o daï itsi ran,'' p. 63.</ref> The copper is used to mint ''Wadō Kaihō'' or ''~~Wadō Kaichin~~,'' which are amongst the oldest examples of coinage in Japan.		*708: Deposits of copper are discovered in the region and offered to the Imperial Court. The ] ] (和銅, meaning "Japanese copper") is proclaimed in recognition of this welcome event in the initial months of ]'s reign.<ref>Titsingh, Issac. (1834). ''Nipon o daï itsi ran'', p. 63.</ref> The copper is used to mint ''Wadō Kaihō'' or ''],'' which are amongst the oldest examples of coinage in Japan.
	*1884: The ]: uprising of impoverished peasants under the influence of the ]. Seven are sentenced to death and over 4,000 people punished.		*1884: The ]: uprising of impoverished peasants under the influence of the ]. Seven are sentenced to death and over 4,000 people punished.
			*1889: Ōmiya Town was founded within ] with the establishment of the municipalities system
	*1889: Ōmiya town is founded.
	*1914: ] ~~opens~~.		*1914: The ] opened.
	*1916: Ōmiya ~~town~~ is renamed Chichibu ~~town~~.		*1916: Ōmiya Town was renamed Chichibu Town.
	*1950: Chichibu ~~town~~ ~~becomes~~ ~~Chichibu~~ ~~City~~.		*1950: Chichibu was elevated to city status.
	*1954: Chichibu ~~City~~ ~~absorbs~~ Odamaki, Haraya and Kuna ~~villages~~.		*1954: Chichibu absorbed the villages of Odamaki, Haraya and Kuna.
	*1957: Chichibu ~~City~~ ~~absorbs~~ Takashino and Ōta ~~villages~~.		*1957: Chichibu absorbed the villages of Takashino and Ōta.
	*1958: Chichibu ~~City~~ ~~absorbs Kagemori~~ town.		*1958: Chichibu absorbed the town of Kagemori.
	*1969: ] ] ~~opens~~.		*1969: The ] opened.
	*2005: Chichibu ~~City~~ ~~merges~~ ~~with~~ Yoshida ~~town~~, Arakawa, and Ōtaki ~~villages~~.		*2005: Chichibu absorbed the town of ], and the villages of ] and ] (all from Chichibu District).

	== ~~Sightseeing~~ ==		==Government==
			Chichibu has a ] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a ] city council of 22 members. Chichibu contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of ] of the ] of the ].
	]
	On ], Chichibu holds an annual ]. It attracts crowds from Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, neighboring ], and the ]. Kawase matsuri is Chichibu shrine's summer festival. It takes place every ] and ].
	Eight groups carrying special dashi floats march along to festival music around the city. ] (sacred portable shrines) are brought to special places in each neighborhood where they are enshrined. Neighborhood association heads wash the mikoshi in the Arakawa river.

			==Economy==
	Other attractions of the city include:
			The local economy of Chichibu remains based on agriculture and forestry, as well as tourism.

			==Education==
	*];
			Chichibu has 14 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.
	*];
	*];
	*];
	*];
	*];
	*];
	*]; and
	*].

			==Transportation==
	== Connection with ''The Mikado'' ==
			===Railway===
	The city considers itself as the inspiration for ]'s 1885 comic opera, '']''; the name of the opera's setting, "Titipu", is pronounced "Chichipu" in Japanese. ], a popular essayist, was convinced that Chichibu, the site of ] in 1884, inspired the author, ], to set the opera in Japan. Other Japanese researchers have concluded that Gilbert may simply have heard of Chichibu silk, an important export in the 19th Century. A theatre company from Chichibu has presented ''The Mikado'' in Japanese in Chichibu and throughout Japan; in August 2006, it travelled with this production to the ] in Buxton, England.
			Two lines serve the city: the ] and ]. The ] was constructed along the Arakawa River and first opened in 1914. ] reached the city in 1969 and considerably reduced the travel time to Tokyo. It takes approximately one and a half hours to travel from ] to ], one of the major train terminals in Tokyo. These lines carry people as well as limestone from Mount Bukō. The two lines were directly connected on April 1, 1989. Chichibu Railway also operated the ], which carried passengers visiting {{ill\|Mitsumine Shrine\|ja\|三峯神社}}. The ropeway was taken out of service since May 19, 2006, and was officially abandoned on December 1, 2007.<ref name="mitsumine">{{cite web\|url=http://www.saitama-np.co.jp/news10/06/01x.html \|title=12月に廃止撤去へ休止中の「三峰ロープウェイ」秩父市「日本一の階段」検討 \|access-date=2007-10-07 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011055259/http://saitama-np.co.jp/news10/06/01x.html \|archive-date=2007-10-11 }}</ref>

			] ] – ]
	== Transportation ==
			*{{STN\|Seibu-Chichibu\|x}}
	=== Train ===
			] ] – ]
	Two lines serve the city: ] ] and ] ]. ] was constructed along the Arakawa River and first opened in 1914. ] reached the city in 1969 and considerably reduced the travel time to ]. It takes approximately one and half hours to travel from ] to ], one of the major train terminals in Tokyo. These lines carry people as well as limestone from Mount Bukō. The two lines were directly connected on ], ]. Chichibu Railway also had the ], which carried passengers visiting ]. The ropeway is out of service since ], ] and will be officially abandoned on ], ].<ref name="mitsumine">http://www.saitama-np.co.jp/news10/06/01x.html</ref>
			*{{STN\|Wadō-Kuroya\|x}} – {{STN\|Ōnohara\|x}} – {{STN\|Chichibu\|x}} – {{STN\|Ohanabatake\|x}} – {{STN\|Kagemori\|x}} – {{STN\|Urayamaguchi\|x}} – {{STN\|Bushū-Nakagawa\|x}} – {{STN\|Bushū-Hino\|x}} – {{STN\|Shiroku\|x}} – {{STN\|Mitsumineguchi\|x}}

	=== ~~Car~~ ===		===Highway===
	Two national roads, Route 140 and 299, serve the city. Route 140 connects the city to its nearest expressway interchange, Hanazono Interchange of the ]. The city had no road communication to Yamanashi Prefecture due to steep ], but the opening of the ] in 1998 enabled the city to connect to Yamanashi.<ref name="karisaka tunnel"></ref>		Two national roads, Route 140 and 299, serve the city. Route 140 connects the city to its nearest expressway interchange, Hanazono Interchange of the ]. The city had no road communication to Yamanashi Prefecture due to steep ], but the opening of the ] in 1998 enabled the city to connect to Yamanashi.<ref name="karisaka tunnel"> {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205051834/http://www.city.yamanashi.yamanashi.jp/kanko/access/01.html \|date=2007-02-05 }}</ref>

			* {{jct\|country=JPN\|Route\|140}}
	== Famous people raised in Chichibu ==
			* {{jct\|country=JPN\|Route\|299}}
	* ] - Composer,Multi instrumentalist.
	* ] - actor
	* ] - ] actor
	* ] - musician
	* ] - rakugo actor
	* ] - ] author
	* ] - musician, member of ]
	* ] - art critic
	* ] - wrestler

	== Sister cities ==		==Sister cities==
	* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} ], ] since ], ]		* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} ], since October 14, 1983
	* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} ], ] since ], ]		* {{Flagicon\|Japan}} ], since May 20, 1996
	* {{Flagicon\|United States}} ], ] since ], ]		* {{Flagicon\|United States}} ], United States, since September 16, 1967
			* {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} ], ], South Korea, since February 16, 1983<ref name=International>{{cite web\|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=11&n=Saitama%20Prefecture\|title=International Exchange\|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures\|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)\|language=en\|access-date=21 November 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104170705/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=11&n=Saitama%20Prefecture\|archive-date=4 January 2016\|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	* {{Flagicon\|South Korea}} ], ] since ], ]
	* {{Flagicon\|China}} ], ], ] since ], ]		* {{Flagicon\|China}} ], ], China, since October 7, 1988<ref name=International/>
	* {{Flagicon\|Australia}} ], ] since ], ]		* {{Flagicon\|Australia}} ], Australia, since April 26, 1996<ref name=International/>
			* {{flagicon\|Thailand}} ], ], Thailand, since May 6, 1999<ref name=International/>

			==Local attractions==
	==Notes==
			<gallery>
	{{reflist}}
			Chichibu ryusei Fes 1.jpg\|Ryusei festival in Yoshida town
			Misotsuchi Icicles 120215a.JPG\|Icicles of the Misotsuchi
			Chichibu Yomatsuri.jpg\|Chichibu Night Traditional Festival
			Hitsujiyama-park Phlox subulata 2005.jpg\|Hitsujiyama-park Phlox subulata
			Chichibu-jinja Honden 01.jpg\|A main gate in Chichibu Shrine
			</gallery>
			On December 3, Chichibu holds an annual night festival (]). It attracts crowds from Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, neighboring ], and the ]. Kawase matsuri is Chichibu shrine's summer festival. It takes place every July 19 and July 20. Eight groups carrying special ''dashi'' floats march along to festival music around the city. '']'' (sacred portable shrines) are brought to special places in each neighborhood where they are enshrined. Neighborhood association heads wash the ''mikoshi'' in the Arakawa River.

			Other attractions of the city include:

			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]
			*]

			==In popular media==
			As a picturesque area within fairly easy reach of Tokyo, Chichibu has been much photographed. However, the photography of Chichibu by the Chichibu native ] (1913–1995) is particularly extensive: Shimizu presented photographs of the mountains, people and customs of Chichibu in numerous books for the Japanese market, starting in 1954.<ref name="nsj">Mihashi Sumiyo ({{nihongo2\|三橋純予}}), "Shimizu Bukō", ''Nihon shashinka jiten'' ({{nihongo2\|日本写真家事典}}) / 328 Outstanding Japanese Photographers (Kyoto: Tankōsha, 2000; {{ISBN\|4-473-01750-8}}), p.175. {{in lang\|ja}} (Despite the English-language alternative title, all in Japanese.)</ref><ref name="yukari">{{cite web \|url= http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/site/ijindatabase/syosai-154.html\|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927153913/http://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/site/ijindatabase/syosai-154.html\|url-status= dead\|archive-date= 27 September 2011\|script-title=ja:埼玉ゆかりの偉人/検索結果（詳細）/清水武甲\|date= 19 March 2010\|publisher= Saitama Prefecture\|location= Saitama, Japan\|language=ja \|access-date= 2 August 2012}}</ref>

			The town of Chichibu is the setting for the popular anime series '']'' and the anime films '']'' and '']'', all of which were written by ] who was born in Chichibu.

			=== Possible connection with ''The Mikado'' ===
			The city considers itself as the inspiration for ]'s 1885 comic opera, '']''; the name of the opera's setting, "Titipu", is pronounced "Chichipu" in Japanese. ], a popular essayist, was convinced that Chichibu, the site of ] in 1884, inspired the author, ], to set the opera in Japan. Other Japanese researchers have concluded that Gilbert may simply have heard of Chichibu silk, an important export in the 19th century. A theatre company from Chichibu first presented ''The Mikado'' in Japanese in Chichibu on March 10, 2001, performed by local actors, and throughout other locations in Japan.<ref> {{webarchive \|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220170325/http://www.tkyt.com/mikado/buxton/e/mikado1.html \|date=February 20, 2012 }}</ref><ref>Brooke, James. , ''The New York Times'', 3 April 2003, accessed 15 July 2014</ref> In August 2006, it travelled with this production to the ] in Buxton, England.<ref> {{webarchive \|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904224154/https://www.gs-festival.co.uk/FestivalHighLights/?HL=3 \|date=September 4, 2006 }}; and </ref>

			==Notable people from Chichibu==
			* ], Former Minister of Transport
			* ], actor<ref></ref>
			* ], former sumo wrestler
			* ], professional wrestler<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-200.html \|title=JWP女子プロレス中島安里紗 \|trans-title=JWP Female Professional Wrestling: Arisa Nakajima \|date=2005 \|work=JWP Official Information \|publisher=JWP Female Professional Wrestling \|location=Japan \|language=ja \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215065739/http://jwpinfo.blog53.fc2.com/blog-entry-200.html \|archive-date=2013-12-15 \|access-date=2 August 2012 \|url-status=dead }}</ref>
			* ], screenwriter and director<ref></ref>
			*], footballer
			* ], photographer<ref name="yukari" />
			* ], professional wrestler<ref>{{cite web\|url= http://www.noah.co.jp/profile004.php\|title= Akira Taue profile\|work= Pro Wrestling NOAH Official Site\|publisher= NOAH\|location= Japan\|language= ja\|access-date= 2 August 2012\|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111221091656/http://www.noah.co.jp/profile004.php\|archive-date= 21 December 2011\|url-status= dead}}</ref>

			==References==
			{{Reflist}}

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==
	* ], Isaac, ed. (1834). ], 1652], '']; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. ].'' Paris: ].		* ], ed. (1834). ], 1652], '']; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon, tr. par M. Isaac Titsingh avec l'aide de plusieurs interprètes attachés au comptoir hollandais de Nangasaki; ouvrage re., complété et cor. sur l'original japonais-chinois, accompagné de notes et précédé d'un Aperçu d'histoire mythologique du Japon, par M. J. ]''. Paris: ].

	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category\|Chichibu, Saitama}}
	{{commonscat}}
			{{Wikivoyage\|Chichibu}}
	* in Japanese
			* {{in lang\|ja}}
	*
			*
			*
			* , a private museum in Chichibu]

	{{Saitama}}		{{Saitama}}
			{{Authority control}}

	]		]
	]		]
	]		]

	]
	]
	]
	]
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Latest revision as of 16:42, 5 January 2025

This article is about the city in Saitama Prefecture. For the brother of Emperor Hirohito, see Prince Chichibu. City in Kantō, Japan

Chichibu 秩父市
City
View of central Chichibu, from Hitsujiyama Park
FlagSeal
Location of Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture
Chichibu
Coordinates: 35°59′30.4″N 139°5′7.7″E / 35.991778°N 139.085472°E / 35.991778; 139.085472
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
First official recorded	88 BC (official)
City established	April 1, 1950
Government
• Mayor	Atsushi Kitabori (since May 2021)
Area
• Total	577.83 km (223.10 sq mi)
Population
• Total	61,159
• Density	110/km (270/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0494-22-2211
Address	8-15 Kumaki, Chichibu, Saitama 368-8686
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website

Symbols

Bird	Blue-and-white flycatcher
Flower	Shiba-zakura
Tree	Kaede

Chichibu (秩父市, Chichibu-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021, the city had an estimated population of 61,159 in 26,380 households and a population density of 110 inhabitants per square kilometre (280/sq mi). The total area of the city is 577.83 square kilometres (223.10 sq mi).

Geography

Oku-Chichibu ("Further Chichibu") Mountains

Chichibu is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlike other parts of the prefecture, it is largely mountainous and the population is concentrated in river terraces along the Arakawa River. It is Saitama's largest municipality in terms of surface area and shares borders with Tokyo, Yamanashi, Nagano and Gunma Prefectures. A large portion of the city belongs to Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

Because the region is not suitable for growing rice, many people have traditionally depended on sericulture (silk farming). Limestone from Mount Bukō, which rises south of the city center, is another major source of income for the region. The city is shifting its focus toward sightseeing, taking advantage of its rich natural environment and relative closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is also famous for its brewing industry.

Surrounding municipalities

Gunma Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Kawakami

Saitama Prefecture

Tokyo Metropolis

Okutama

Yamanashi Prefecture

Climate

Chichibu has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chichibu is 13.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1325 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.0 °C.

Climate data for Chichibu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1926−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	23.0 (73.4)	26.6 (79.9)	27.6 (81.7)	33.0 (91.4)	37.2 (99.0)	38.3 (100.9)	39.2 (102.6)	39.3 (102.7)	38.0 (100.4)	32.4 (90.3)	26.5 (79.7)	25.1 (77.2)	39.3 (102.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	8.9 (48.0)	10.0 (50.0)	13.5 (56.3)	19.1 (66.4)	23.8 (74.8)	26.0 (78.8)	29.8 (85.6)	31.0 (87.8)	26.4 (79.5)	20.8 (69.4)	15.9 (60.6)	11.2 (52.2)	19.7 (67.5)
Daily mean °C (°F)	1.8 (35.2)	3.0 (37.4)	6.6 (43.9)	12.2 (54.0)	17.3 (63.1)	20.8 (69.4)	24.6 (76.3)	25.5 (77.9)	21.5 (70.7)	15.5 (59.9)	9.2 (48.6)	4.0 (39.2)	13.5 (56.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−3.8 (25.2)	−2.9 (26.8)	0.7 (33.3)	5.9 (42.6)	11.5 (52.7)	16.5 (61.7)	20.6 (69.1)	21.5 (70.7)	17.7 (63.9)	11.3 (52.3)	4.0 (39.2)	−1.6 (29.1)	8.5 (47.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−15.8 (3.6)	−14.4 (6.1)	−12.5 (9.5)	−5.4 (22.3)	−0.9 (30.4)	4.4 (39.9)	9.1 (48.4)	10.8 (51.4)	6.1 (43.0)	−0.9 (30.4)	−6.5 (20.3)	−11.7 (10.9)	−15.8 (3.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	40.3 (1.59)	30.8 (1.21)	69.0 (2.72)	88.0 (3.46)	102.4 (4.03)	145.4 (5.72)	192.0 (7.56)	188.4 (7.42)	236.7 (9.32)	204.1 (8.04)	47.5 (1.87)	30.7 (1.21)	1,375.3 (54.15)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	15 (5.9)	12 (4.7)	6 (2.4)	1 (0.4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	2 (0.8)	36 (14)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	3.3	3.8	7.6	7.6	9.1	12.0	13.2	10.6	11.5	8.9	5.2	3.5	96.3
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm)	2.0	1.6	1.3	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.3	5.4
Average relative humidity (%)	64	62	64	67	71	79	81	80	83	82	79	71	74
Mean monthly sunshine hours	205.5	193.1	189.7	186.3	179.5	123.0	133.4	152.4	113.6	128.7	163.7	192.3	1,968.1
Source: JMA

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Chichibu has decreased gradually over the past 60 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1950	78,285	—
1960	82,811	+5.8%
1970	78,764	−4.9%
1980	76,875	−2.4%
1990	75,845	−1.3%
2000	73,875	−2.6%
2010	66,955	−9.4%
2020	59,674	−10.9%

History

Chichibu was incorporated as a city on April 1, 1950, although Chichibu Province had already existed since before the Nara period and the region has developed many local traditions. Chichibu Province was incorporated into Musashi Province in the 7th century AD. During premodern times, the town developed as a marketplace of the district as well as the town around Chichibu Shrine. The city's older name, Ōmiya ("big shrine"), was derived from the shrine. Since its incorporation in 1950, the area of the city has grown through a series of mergers, the most recent in 2005.

Timeline

708: Deposits of copper are discovered in the region and offered to the Imperial Court. The era name Wadō (和銅, meaning "Japanese copper") is proclaimed in recognition of this welcome event in the initial months of Empress Genmei's reign. The copper is used to mint Wadō Kaihō or Wadōkaichin, which are amongst the oldest examples of coinage in Japan.-- see image of Wado Kaichin from Japan Mint Museum
1884: The Chichibu incident: uprising of impoverished peasants under the influence of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. Seven are sentenced to death and over 4,000 people punished.
1889: Ōmiya Town was founded within Chichibu District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system
1914: The Chichibu Railway opened.
1916: Ōmiya Town was renamed Chichibu Town.
1950: Chichibu was elevated to city status.
1954: Chichibu absorbed the villages of Odamaki, Haraya and Kuna.
1957: Chichibu absorbed the villages of Takashino and Ōta.
1958: Chichibu absorbed the town of Kagemori.
1969: The Seibu Chichibu Line opened.
2005: Chichibu absorbed the town of Yoshida, and the villages of Arakawa and Ōtaki (all from Chichibu District).

Government

Chichibu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Chichibu contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy of Chichibu remains based on agriculture and forestry, as well as tourism.

Education

Chichibu has 14 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

Two lines serve the city: the Chichibu Main Line and Seibu Chichibu Line. The Chichibu Railway was constructed along the Arakawa River and first opened in 1914. Seibu Railway reached the city in 1969 and considerably reduced the travel time to Tokyo. It takes approximately one and a half hours to travel from Seibu-Chichibu Station to Ikebukuro Station, one of the major train terminals in Tokyo. These lines carry people as well as limestone from Mount Bukō. The two lines were directly connected on April 1, 1989. Chichibu Railway also operated the Mitsumine Ropeway, which carried passengers visiting Mitsumine Shrine [ja]. The ropeway was taken out of service since May 19, 2006, and was officially abandoned on December 1, 2007.

Seibu Railway – Seibu Chichibu Line

Seibu-Chichibu

Chichibu Railway – Chichibu Main Line

Wadō-Kuroya – Ōnohara – Chichibu – Ohanabatake – Kagemori – Urayamaguchi – Bushū-Nakagawa – Bushū-Hino – Shiroku – Mitsumineguchi

Highway

Two national roads, Route 140 and 299, serve the city. Route 140 connects the city to its nearest expressway interchange, Hanazono Interchange of the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The city had no road communication to Yamanashi Prefecture due to steep Okuchichibu Mountains, but the opening of the Karisaka Tunnel in 1998 enabled the city to connect to Yamanashi.

Sister cities

Toshima, Tokyo, since October 14, 1983
Sanyō-Onoda, Yamaguchi, since May 20, 1996
Antioch, California, United States, since September 16, 1967
Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea, since February 16, 1983
Linfen, Shanxi Province, China, since October 7, 1988
Warringah, Australia, since April 26, 1996
Yasothon, Yasothon Province, Thailand, since May 6, 1999

Local attractions

Ryusei festival in Yoshida town
Icicles of the Misotsuchi
Chichibu Night Traditional Festival
Hitsujiyama-park Phlox subulata
A main gate in Chichibu Shrine

On December 3, Chichibu holds an annual night festival (Intangible cultural heritage). It attracts crowds from Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, neighboring Tokyo, and the Kantō region. Kawase matsuri is Chichibu shrine's summer festival. It takes place every July 19 and July 20. Eight groups carrying special dashi floats march along to festival music around the city. Mikoshi (sacred portable shrines) are brought to special places in each neighborhood where they are enshrined. Neighborhood association heads wash the mikoshi in the Arakawa River.

Other attractions of the city include:

In popular media

As a picturesque area within fairly easy reach of Tokyo, Chichibu has been much photographed. However, the photography of Chichibu by the Chichibu native Bukō Shimizu (1913–1995) is particularly extensive: Shimizu presented photographs of the mountains, people and customs of Chichibu in numerous books for the Japanese market, starting in 1954.

The town of Chichibu is the setting for the popular anime series Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day and the anime films The Anthem of the Heart and Her Blue Sky, all of which were written by Mari Okada who was born in Chichibu.

Possible connection with The Mikado

The city considers itself as the inspiration for Gilbert and Sullivan's 1885 comic opera, The Mikado; the name of the opera's setting, "Titipu", is pronounced "Chichipu" in Japanese. Rokusuke Ei, a popular essayist, was convinced that Chichibu, the site of a peasant uprising in 1884, inspired the author, W. S. Gilbert, to set the opera in Japan. Other Japanese researchers have concluded that Gilbert may simply have heard of Chichibu silk, an important export in the 19th century. A theatre company from Chichibu first presented The Mikado in Japanese in Chichibu on March 10, 2001, performed by local actors, and throughout other locations in Japan. In August 2006, it travelled with this production to the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England.

Notable people from Chichibu

Seijuro Arafune, Former Minister of Transport
Tatsuya Fujiwara, actor
Wakachichibu Komei, former sumo wrestler
Arisa Nakajima, professional wrestler
Mari Okada, screenwriter and director
Akihito Ozawa, footballer
Bukō Shimizu, photographer
Akira Taue, professional wrestler

References

"Chichibu city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
"環境省_秩父多摩甲斐国立公園_概要・計画書".
Chichibu climate data
観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
Chichibu population statistics
Titsingh, Issac. (1834). Nipon o daï itsi ran, p. 63.
"12月に廃止撤去へ休止中の「三峰ロープウェイ」秩父市「日本一の階段」検討". Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
雁坂トンネル Archived 2007-02-05 at the Wayback Machine
^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
Mihashi Sumiyo (三橋純予), "Shimizu Bukō", Nihon shashinka jiten (日本写真家事典) / 328 Outstanding Japanese Photographers (Kyoto: Tankōsha, 2000; ISBN 4-473-01750-8), p.175. (in Japanese) (Despite the English-language alternative title, all in Japanese.)
^ 埼玉ゆかりの偉人/検索結果（詳細）/清水武甲 (in Japanese). Saitama, Japan: Saitama Prefecture. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
Sumiko Enbutsu: The Mikado in the Town of Chichibu Archived February 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
Brooke, James. "Japanese Hail The Mikado, Long-Banned Imperial Spoof", The New York Times, 3 April 2003, accessed 15 July 2014
Archived September 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine; and
Internet Movie Database
"JWP女子プロレス中島安里紗" [JWP Female Professional Wrestling: Arisa Nakajima]. JWP Official Information (in Japanese). Japan: JWP Female Professional Wrestling. 2005. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
Mari Okada IMDB
"Akira Taue profile". Pro Wrestling NOAH Official Site (in Japanese). Japan: NOAH. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.