Fukuyama

Fukuyama (福山) is a city in Japan. The city is located within the Hiroshima Prefecture in the Chugoku region. The city is built on the Ashida River. The city is on the east side of the prefecture. Fukuyama is located just 4 hours from Tokyo and a little under two hours from Kyoto. The can either be reached by the Chogoku or Sanyo Expressway. The population is 426,795 with a land mass of 461 square kilometers. The city symbol is a rose from which the city was rebuilt around.

Fukuyama city first became the site of the steel industries in 1961. The development continued further with a designation of the Bingo Special Area for Industrial Consolidation which gathered different local industries such as steel, textile, woodcraft and machine metal industries.

Recently progress has been made in large semiconductor manufacturing. There are many new companies in specific fields utilizing technological prowess and knowledge only known in select areas of Japan. Although there are agricultural areas in the city it is not what the area is known for.

History

Fukuyama first became a city in 1916. The city first originated in 1619 when Mizuno Katsunari became the feudal lord of the area. In 1889 under the municipal system it became Fukuyama Town and played a central role in this regions development. In 1891 the Sanyo Main Railroad opened making transportation easier and more available for everyone. In 1933 and 1942, twelve towns and villages merged into the city.

In 1945 World War II devastated this area. Over 80 percent of the area was lost due to fires and bombing. The city soon recovered quickly like many Japanese cities during the war. In 1961 industry started really growing in this area with the largest single factory steel plant. In modern times urbanization created roads, parks, sanitation facilities and other parts of the government were improved. The Fukuyama Museum of art, Fukuyama Arts and Culture Hall, Reed and Rose and the Midori-mati Park Indoor Sports Arena or the Rose arena was built. There have been many developments in roads, railways and even an airport was constructed.

Points of Interest

The Fukuyama Rose Festival is the city's largest annual event. This event started in May of 1956, when residents planted 1000 rose seedlings, and also launched the Rose Exhibition. In 1971, it was sponsored by the Fukuyama Festival Committee, but now it is done mainly by residents. During the Rose Festival international exchange is deepened and the U.S., Britain, German, French and many other countries are invited to take part in this festival.

The Port of Tomonoura is a very famous port for several different reasons. This is a very good place to fish and has much history value. It is located 14 kilometers south of Fukuyama Station. There are many historical temples and shrines to see in this area. The Setonaikai National Park is really close to this area as well and is a notable site to see.

External Links

• Fukuyama Official Website (Japanese)