Ichinoseki, Iwate

is a city in the south of Iwate Prefecture, Japan and on the Iwai River. After Morioka and Oshu, it is the third largest city in the prefecture.
Description
Ichinoseki is in the southernmost area of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan. The city's name means first gate in Japanese.
The city has expanded in area by taking in and joining neighboring towns. The current city of Ichinoseki became larger after 7 towns merged on September 20, 2005. The city is now equivalent to former Iwai District, and it is connected to Miyagi and Akita Prefectures. The population is nearly 120,000, with 42,335 households.
Population
There are many factories belonging to large Japanese companies such as Sony and NEC in Ichinoseki. The city has many Brazilian workers living there. Outside the city center there are many farms. Some Chinese and Filipino women have moved here to marry local farmers.
Attractions
Ichinoseki is close to historically important Hiraizumi to the north. Tsuriyama Park is near the center of the original city of Ichinoseki. Tsuriyama Park gives a good view of Ichinoseki. Hondera Farm Village has been named an Important Cultural Landscape.
City History
April 1, 1948 - The city of Ichinoseki was started by combining 2 towns and 2 villages.
January 1, 1955 - The city of Ichinoseki merged with the villages of Genbi, Hagisho, Maikawa, and Yasakae to make a new city of Ichinoseki
September 1, 1956 - The city added parts of the town Hiraizumi.
May 1, 1964 - The city added parts of the town Hiraizumi for the second time.
September 20, 2005 - the towns of Daito, Higashiyama, and Senmaya, and the villages of Kawasaki and Murone (all from Higashiiwai District) and the town of Hanaizumi (from Nishiiwai District) merged with the old city of Ichinoseki and approximately doubled the old city's population and nearly tripled its size.
Sister Cities/Friendship Cities
In Japan
Miharu (Tamura District, Fukushima Prefecture)
Signed between the former city of Ichinoseki on August 8, 1987
Kesennuma (Miyagi Prefecture)
Signed between the former cities of Ichinoseki and Kesennuma on May 1, 1997
Signed between the former city of Kesennuma and former town of Murone on May 8, 2003
Tanabe (Wakayama Prefecture)
Signed between the former village of Murone and the town of Hongu on August 8, 1987
Yoshikawa (Saitama Prefecture)
Signed by the former village of Murone on April 15, 1997
Railway
East Japan Railway Company
Tohoku Shinkansen
Ichinoseki Station
Tohoku Main Line
Yushima Station (Iwate)
Hanaizumi Station
Shimizuhara Station
Ichinoseki Station
Yamanome Station
Ofunato Line
Ichinoseki Station
Mataki Station
Rikuchu-Kanzaki Station
Iwanoshita Station
Rikuchu-Matsukawa Station
Geibikei Station
Shibajuku Station
Surisawa Station
Senmaya Station
Konashi Station
Yagoshi Station
Orikabe Station
Niitsuki Station
Education
Elementary Schools
Junior High Schools
High schools
Ichinoseki Gakuin High School (Yi Guan Xue Yuan Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Ichinoseki Shuko High School (Yi Guan Xiu Hong Gao Deng Xue Xiao ) (also has a preschool and a university)
Ichinoseki No. 1 High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Yi Guan Di Yi Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Ichinoseki No. 2 High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Yi Guan Di Er Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Hanaizumi High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Hua Quan Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Daito High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Da Dong Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Senmaya High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Qian Jiu Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Ichinoseki Tech High School (Yan Shou Xian Li Yi Guan Gong Ye Gao Deng Xue Xiao )
Vocational schools
Ichinoseki National College of Technology (Yi Guan Gong Ye Gao Deng Zhuan Men Xue Xiao )
Junior Colleges
Shuko Junior College (Xiu Hong Duan Qi Da Xue )
Transportation
Ichinoseki is on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen connecting Ichinoseki with Tokyo. It is also on the Tohoku Main Line, which connects Ichinoseki and the prefecture's capital, Morioka.