Funabashi, Chiba

Funabashi (船橋市, Funabashi-shi) is a ceety in northwastren Chiba Prefectur, Japan. As o Aprile 2012, the ceety haed an estimatit population o 610,572 an a population density o 7130 persons per km². The tot area wis 85.64 km². It is the 7t maist populous ceety in Greater Tokyo. Geografie Funabashi is locatit in northwastren Chiba Prefectur an maks up ane pairt o the Shimōsa Plateau. The ceety sits 20–30 meters abuin sea level, an is relatively flat. Funabashi is crossed bi the Tone River, an the hale o the smaa Ebi River is situate athin the ceety leemits. Funabashi formerly haed wide, shallow beaches, buta fair bit o the coast haes been industrialized an transformed bi reclaimed land. Neighborin municipalities Ichikawa, Chiba Narashino, Chiba Yachiyo, Chiba Kamagaya, Chiba Shiroi, Chiba History The name "Funabashi" is mentioned in the Kamakura period chronicle Azuma Kagami. Housamever, the name itsel is even mair auncient, datin frae afore the Nara period an the Yamatotakeru meethology. Archaeologists hae foond stane tuils frae the Japanese Paleolithic period an shell middens frae the Jomon period in the area, indicatin continuous inhabitation for thoosands o years. A nummer o Shinto shrines an Buddhist temples in the area claim tae hae been foondit in the Nara period or Heian period. Durin the Muromachi periods, the area wis controlled bi the Chiba clan. Durin the Sengoku period, the Chiba clan foucht the Satomi clan tae the sooth, an the Late Hojo clan tae the wast. Efter the defeat o the Chiba clan, the area came within the control o Tokugawa Ieyasu. Unner the Tokugawa shogunate, the area prospered as a post toun on the river crossin o the Tone River, an wis lairgely retained as tenryo unner the direck control o the Shogunate an admeenistered throuch a nummer o hatamoto. The area wis a favored huntin groonds for the Shogun an aw. Durin the Boshin War o the Meiji Restoration, Funabashi wis the location o a minor skirmish atween Tokugawa lyalists unner Enomoto Takeaki an the pro-Imperial forces o Okayama Domain an Satsuma Domain; durin it maist o the toun burned doun. Efter the abolition o the han system, the area eventwally acame pairt o Chiba Prefectur. Funabashi Toun wis ane o several touns an veelages creatit on Aprile 1, 1889 unner Inba Destrict. The area developed rapidly due tae its proximity tae Tokyo an the presence o numerous militar facilities in the area. On Aprile 1, 1937, Funabashi achieved ceety status throu merger wi neighborin Katsushika Toun an Yasakae, Hoden an Tsukada veelages. The new ceety wis host tae numerous militar installations in Warld War II, an wis bombed in the air raids on Japan in 1945. The ceety developed rapidly in the postwar period, wi the development o industries, public hoosin developments an port facilities. Wi the annexation o neighborin Ninomiya Toun in 1953, the population ootdingit 100,000. The population exceedit 300,000 in 1969 an 500,000 in 1982. Funabashi wis designatit a core ceety on Aprile 1, 2005 wi increased local autonomy frae the central govrenment. The population exceedit 600,000 in 2006. Economy Funabashi is a regional commercial centre an, due tae its numerous train connections, a bedroom community for nearbi Chiba an Tokyo. Eddication Nihon University branch campus Transportation Railwey JR East - Musashino Line Funabashi-Hōten - Nishi-Funabashi JR East - Keiyō Line Nishi-Funabashi ->>- Minami-Funabashi JR East - Chūō-Sōbu Line Higashi-Funabashi - Funabashi - Nishi-Funabashi - Shimōsa-Nakayama Keisei Electric Railway - Keisei Main Line Keisei Nakayama - Higashi-Nakayama - Keisei-Nishifuna - Kaijin - Keisei Funabashi - Daijingūshita - Funabashi-Keibajō Shin-Keisei Electric Railway - Shin-Keisei Line Futawamukōdai - Chiba - Takifudō - Takanekōdan- Takanekido - Kita-Narashino - Narashino- Yakuendai - Maebara Hokusō Railway - Hokusō Line Komoro Tobu Railway - Tōbu Noda Line Magomezawa - Tsukada - Shin-Funabashi - Funabashi Tōyō Rapid Railway - Tōyō Rapid Line Nishi-Funabashi - Higashi-Kaijin - Hasama - Kita-Narashino - Funabashi-Nichidaimae Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line Baraki-Nakayama - Nishi-Funabashi Heichwey Keiyō Road Higashi-Kantō Expresswey Japan Naitional Route 14 Japan Naitional Route 16 Japan Naitional Route 296 Japan Naitional Route 357 Japan Naitional Route 464 Sister ceety relations – Hayward, Californie, USA, frae November 7, 1986 – Odense, Denmark frae Apryle 6, 1989 – Xi’an, Cheenae frae November 2, 1994 Local attractions Notable structurs Funabashi Auto Racin Funabashi Racecoorse Nakayama Racecoorse LaLaPort shoppin mall, ane o the lairgest in Japan SSAWS indoor ski slope (closed an demolished in 2003) Japan's first lairge-format IKEA store, biggit on the steid o SSAWS Notable places Funabashi Shrine Ninomiya Jinja Narashinohara Kūtei-kan Meiji Tennō Chūhitsu no Tokoro no Hi Gyōda Musen Cherry blossoms on the Ebi River Notit fowk frae Funabashi Hiroki Aiba – dancer an sangster Sayaka Akimoto – dancer an sangster (AKB48) Kazuyuki Fujita – professional wrestler Sayaka Ichii – muisicker Atsushi Itō – actor Yuko Kavaguti – feegur skeitcher Mai Kuraki - sangster Fumie Kurotori – Olympic gowd medallist swimmer Manabu Namiki – video gemme designer Yoshihiro Natsuka – professional soccer player Katsuhiko Nishijima – Anime director Michiko Nishiwaki – Actress, stunt woman Yoshihiko Noda – politeecian, umwhile Prime Meenister o Japan Hanako Oku - muisicker Shunzo Ono – professional soccer player Tamao Satō – actress Takashi Sekizuka – professional soccer player Mariko Shiga – muisicker Keiko Terada – sangster (Show-Ya) Akeno Watanabe – vyce actress Azusa Yamamoto – gravure idol Tomohisa Yamashita - muisicker Risa Yoshiki - model, actress, sangster References Freemit airtins Offeecial wabsteid (in Japanese)