Chōshi (銚子市, Chōshi-shi) is a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
As of April 2012, the city has an estimated population of 68,197 and a population density of 813 persons per km². The total area is 93.91 km2 (36.3 sq mi).
Contents
-
Geography 1
-
Neighboring municipalities 1.1
-
Climate 2
-
History 3
-
Attack on Chōshi during WWII 3.1
-
Economy 4
-
Transportation 5
-
Local attractions 6
-
Twin towns – Sister cities 7
-
Notable people from Chōshi 8
-
References 9
-
External links 10
Geography
Chōshi is the easternmost city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and Cape Inubō, within the city, is the easternmost point in the Kantō region. Chōshi is noted for its dramatic sea coast.[1]
Neighboring municipalities
Climate
Chōshi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, although the winter months are slightly drier.
Climate data for Chōshi, Chiba
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Average high °C (°F)
|
9.9
(49.8)
|
9.8
(49.6)
|
11.8
(53.2)
|
16.1
(61)
|
19.8
(67.6)
|
22.2
(72)
|
25.4
(77.7)
|
27.9
(82.2)
|
25.2
(77.4)
|
20.8
(69.4)
|
16.8
(62.2)
|
12.4
(54.3)
|
18.18
(64.7)
|
Daily mean °C (°F)
|
5.8
(42.4)
|
6.1
(43)
|
8.5
(47.3)
|
13.0
(55.4)
|
16.8
(62.2)
|
19.4
(66.9)
|
22.6
(72.7)
|
24.9
(76.8)
|
22.7
(72.9)
|
18.2
(64.8)
|
13.6
(56.5)
|
8.6
(47.5)
|
15.02
(59.03)
|
Average low °C (°F)
|
1.7
(35.1)
|
2.5
(36.5)
|
5.1
(41.2)
|
10.0
(50)
|
14.1
(57.4)
|
17.1
(62.8)
|
20.5
(68.9)
|
22.8
(73)
|
20.7
(69.3)
|
15.5
(59.9)
|
10.1
(50.2)
|
4.6
(40.3)
|
12.06
(53.72)
|
Average precipitation mm (inches)
|
78.7
(3.098)
|
96.9
(3.815)
|
128.5
(5.059)
|
128.4
(5.055)
|
141.0
(5.551)
|
173.5
(6.831)
|
100.9
(3.972)
|
107.7
(4.24)
|
186.0
(7.323)
|
216.8
(8.535)
|
122.7
(4.831)
|
76.5
(3.012)
|
1,557.6
(61.322)
|
Average snowfall cm (inches)
|
0
(0)
|
1
(0.4)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
1
(0.4)
|
Average relative humidity (%)
|
60
|
62
|
66
|
75
|
80
|
87
|
89
|
86
|
82
|
74
|
69
|
64
|
74.5
|
Mean monthly sunshine hours
|
166.6
|
144.0
|
163.0
|
165.9
|
188.1
|
137.5
|
163.0
|
215.3
|
141.8
|
133.8
|
132.1
|
159.9
|
1,911
|
Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [2]
|
History
An 18th century block print showing bonito fishing in Choshi Bay
The commercial fishing and soy sauce industries were developed in Chōshi by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). Their development continued in the early industrialization of Japan in the Meiji period (1868 – 1912). Noted soy sauce producer Yamasa Corporation was incorporated in 1928, and Higeta Corporation in 1932. Chōshi was elevated to city status on February 11, 1933.[3] Chōshi was a center of industrial unrest in the early 20th century; there were numerous strikes and labor disputes at the soy sauce factories, and residents attacked the government offices in 1930 over heavy taxation and unaccounted expenditures by municipal authorities.[3]
Attack on Chōshi during WWII
Chōshi was an important military target during World War II due to its fishing industry and canneries. Before and during the war, Choshi was Tokyo's main food supplier. The first air raid on Chōshi by USAAF B-29 Superfortress bombers took place on March 10, 1945 causing minor damage. This was followed by the Chōshi Air Raid of July 19, 1945, during which time over 150 B-29s rained bombs on the city, destroying 33.8% of the urban area, killing 1181 civilians and destroying 5142 homes.[3][4] The city was bombed again on August 1, 1945. Emperor Hirohito made an official visit to the ruined city on June 6, 1946 after the surrender of Japan.
Economy
Chōshi is known as a center of soy sauce production. Production methods were introduced to Chōshi in 1616 from Settsu Province, and later from Kii Province, both near the Seto Inland Sea.[1] Soy sauce manufacturers Higeta and Yamasa are based in Chōshi.[5] The Port of Kashima in nearby Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is utilized to import soybeans for use in soy sauce production. The remains of soybeans not used in soy sauce production in Chōshi are returned to Kashima for production into feed for livestock.
The city is home to the Chōshi Fishing Port. Its catches of sardines, bonito, and tuna are the largest in Chiba Prefecture.[6]Wind power is actively being developed off the rugged coast of Chōshi for use in the city and the greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Amber is also found in the area.
Transportation
Rail
Highways
Local attractions
Chōshi is home to Inubōsaki Lighthouse, completed in 1874 by Scotsman Richard Henry Brunton, as well as numerous historic temples, including Enpuku-ji and Mangan-ji.
Twin towns – Sister cities
Chōshi has two sister cities:[7]
Notable people from Chōshi
References
-
^ a b "銚子市" [Choshi]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012.
-
^ "Choshi Climate Normals 1961-1990".
-
^ a b c "銚子市" [Chōshi]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012.
-
^ Twentieth Air Force (1945). Tactical Mission Report: Mission no. 277-281, Flown 19 Jul 1945. APO 234 [i.e., Guam]: Twentieth Air Force.
-
^ Choshi Guide (Japanese)
-
^ "Chōshi". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
-
^ Choshi City History (Japanese)
External links
-
Official website (Japanese)
This article was sourced from Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. World Heritage Encyclopedia content is assembled from numerous content providers, Open Access Publishing, and in compliance with The Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act (FASTR), Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Public Library of Science, The Encyclopedia of Life, Open Book Publishers (OBP), PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and USA.gov, which sources content from all federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government publication portals (.gov, .mil, .edu). Funding for USA.gov and content contributors is made possible from the U.S. Congress, E-Government Act of 2002.
Crowd sourced content that is contributed to World Heritage Encyclopedia is peer reviewed and edited by our editorial staff to ensure quality scholarly research articles.
By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. World Heritage Encyclopedia™ is a registered trademark of the World Public Library Association, a non-profit organization.