Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido

This article is about the city in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. For the town in Hiroshima Prefecture, see Kitahiroshima, Hiroshima.

Kitahiroshima 北広島市
City
Dohto University
Flag Emblem
Location of Kitahiroshima in Hokkaido (Ishikari Subprefecture)
Kitahiroshima Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°59′N 141°34′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Ishikari Subprefecture)
Government
• Mayor	Masami Ueno
Area
• Total	118.54 km2 (45.77 sq mi)
Population  (April 30, 2017)
• Total	58,918
• Density	500/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	4-2-1, Chūō, Kitahiroshima-shi, Hokkaidō 061-1192
Website	www.city.kitahiroshima.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Flower	Azalea
Tree	Maple

Kitahiroshima (北広島市, Kitahiroshima-shi) is a city located in Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan. "Kita" is the Japanese word for "north", so the town's name, Kitahiroshima-shi, is translated as "North-Hiroshima city" or "city of North-Hiroshima".

As of April 30, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 58,918, with 27,221 households, and the density of 500 persons per km². The total area is 118.54 square kilometres (45.77 sq mi).

History

On September 1, 1996, Hiroshima town was reorganized to promote city status, but Hiroshima city already existed, on the west of Honshu island. Therefore, Hiroshima was renamed to Kitahiroshima on that day.

• 1884: 25 families, 107 people migrated from Hiroshima.
• 1894: Hiroshima village was founded.
• 1968: Hiroshima village became Hiroshima town.
• 1996: Hiroshima town became Hiroshima city and was renamed Kitahiroshima.

Education

Universities

Private

• Seisa Dohto University (星槎道都大学) (Seisa Dohto University Official website（星槎道都大学公式サイト）)

High schools

Public

• Hokkaido Kitahiroshima High School
• Hokkaido Kitahiroshima Nishi High School

Private

• Sapporo Nihon University High School

Transportation

Rail

• Chitose Line: Kita-Hiroshima

Road

It is accessed by routes 36, 274 and the expressway interchange in the west. In 1981, the bypass of route 274 was opened and the bypass of route 36 was opened in 1986. The urban sprawl of the Sapporo area in the western part of the city is bypassed.

Sports

There are currently no professional sports teams in Kitahiroshima. But, ES CON Field Hokkaido is currently under construction, and it will be the future home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. They will move from Sapporo to Kitahiroshima once the stadium opens in March 2023.

The Sapporo-Eniwa Cycle Road follows the route of the decommissioned Chitose Railway Line from Sapporo City to Kitahiroshima, making it suitable for recreational and professional cyclists alike.

Near the Kitahiroshima Classe Hotel, tennis and golf are popular summer activities, while skiing and tobogganing is available in the winter months.

Mascot

File:Maippy.png

Maippy, the city's mascot

Kitahiroshima's mascot is Maippy (まいピー, Maipī) is a 10-year-old energetic rice. She is from Shimamatsu, Kitahiroshima (it is the same place where rice farmer Kuzo Nakayama studied the science of cold rice). As a result, she can communicate with not just the ghost of Kuzo Nakayama's but also the ghosts of other people. She is the mascot of the Kitahiroshima City Society of Commerce and Industry. However, as a result of her getting a resident card, she became the mascot of the whole city as a whole. She likes running on Elfin Road while researching nature. Though sporty, she does not do fast reflexes. Her hair is her charm point. As red is her favourite colour, she collects red ribbons. She has a sweetooth and her favourite sweet is strawberry cream puff.

Twinnings

• Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture

Notable people

• Satoru Noda

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)