Battle of Honey Springs

Ibaraki (茨木市, Ibaraki-shi) is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2023, the city had an estimated population of 285,224 in 132300 households and a population density of 3700 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 76.49 square kilometres (29.53 sq mi). It is a suburban city of Osaka City and a part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.

Geography

Ibaraki is located in the Hokusetsu region of northern Osaka Prefecture on the northern bank of the Yodo River, bordering Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture to the north. It is long and narrow in the north-south direction, and the northern part is mountainous. In the south, the Mishima Plain, which forms part of the Osaka Plain, contains the main urban area. In addition, the eastern edge of the Senri Hills spans the city limits.

Neighboring municipalities

Osaka Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture

Climate

Ibaraki has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ibaraki is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1475 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ibaraki has risen steadily over the past century.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 71,859—    
1970 163,545+127.6%
1980 234,062+43.1%
1990 254,078+8.6%
2000 260,648+2.6%
2010 274,832+5.4%

History

The area of the modern city of Ibaraki was within ancient Settsu Province, and was the site of large settlements in the Yayoi period and was the location of large burial mounds in the Kofun period, including the Ota Chausuyama Kofun, which is designated by the Imperial Household Agency as the mausoleum of Emperor Keitai. In the first half of the Muromachi period, Kusunoki Masashige built Ibaraki Castle, and the jōkamachi which was established around this castle became the core of the modern city. In the Sengoku period, the area was ruled by the Christian daimyō, Takayama Ukon. In the Edo Period, it was directly controlled by Tokugawa shogunate due to its strategic importance on the Sanyōdō highway. The village of Ibaraki was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1896 the area became part of Mishima District, Osaka. Ibaraki was raised to town status on October 14, 1898 and to city status on January 1, 1948. On April 1, 2001 Ibaraki was designated a Special city with increased local autonomy.

Government

Ibaraki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Ibaraki contributes three members to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Osaka 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Ibaraki is a regional commercial center and distribution hub for northern Osaka. Due to its proximity to the Osaka metropolitan area, it is also a commuter town. The city also has a growing and very diverse industrial base.

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary education

Ibaraki has 32 public elementary schools and 14 public middle schools operated by the city government and six public high school operated by the Osaka Prefectural Department of Education. There are also three private combined middle/high schools and two private high schools. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Private junior and senior high schools:

Private senior high schools:

Transportation

Railway

JR WestJR Kyōto Line

Hankyu Railway Hankyu Kyoto Line

Osaka Monorail - Main Line

Osaka Monorail - Saito Line

Highway

Sister and friendship cities

  • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States – Sister city agreement concluded in 1980
  • Anqing, Anhui, China – Friendship city agreement concluded in 1985
  • Shōdoshima, Kagawa, Japan – Sister city agreement concluded in 1988 (with former Uchinomi town)
  • Taketa, Ōita, Japan – History cultural sister city agreement concluded in 2013

Local attractions

Notable people from Ibaraki, Osaka

References

External links

Media related to Ibaraki, Osaka at Wikimedia Commons