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Coordinates: 35°39′43.7″N 138°34′5.6″E / 35.662139°N 138.568222°E / 35.662139; 138.568222
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{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name = {{raise|0.2em|Kōfu}}
| name = Kōfu
| native_name = {{lower|0.1em|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|甲府市}}}}}}
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|甲府市}}}}
| settlement_type = [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]]
| settlement_type = [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]]
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
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| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = View from Sakaorimiya<br>Kai-Zenko-ji, Kakueno in autumn<br>Moats of Kofu Castle, Takeda Shingen festival<br>Night view of Kofu, Kofu motsu-ni stew<br>Kose Sports Stadium
| image_caption = View from Sakaorimiya<br>Kai-Zenko-ji, Kakueno in autumn<br>Moats of Kofu Castle, Takeda Shingen festival<br>Night view of Kofu, Kofu motsu-ni stew<br>Kose Sports Stadium
| image_flag = Flag of Kofu, Yamanashi.png
| image_flag = Flag of Kofu, Yamanashi.svg
| flag_alt =
| flag_alt =
| image_seal = 山梨県甲府市市章.svg
| image_seal = 山梨県甲府市市章.svg
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| nickname =
| nickname =
| motto = <!-- maps and coordinates -->
| motto = <!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map ={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| image_map = Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture Ja.svg
| image_map1 = Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Kōfu in Yamanashi Prefecture
| map_caption = Location of Kōfu in Yamanashi Prefecture
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| official_name =
| official_name =
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Kōfu'''|甲府市|Kōfu-shi|extra={{IPA|ja|ko̞ːɸɯᵝ|lang}}}} is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Yamanashi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2019|076|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households,<ref>[http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/shimin/shise/toke/jinko/ugoki.html Kōfu City official statistics] {{in lang|ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 880 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is {{convert|212.41|sqkm|sqmi}}.
[[File:Kofu city hall 201305 1.JPG|thumb|right|Kōfu City Hall]]
{{Nihongo|'''Kōfu'''|甲府市|Kōfu-shi|extra={{IPA-ja|ko̞ːɸɯᵝ|lang}}}} is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Yamanashi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2019|076|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households,<ref>[http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/shimin/shise/toke/jinko/ugoki.html Kōfu City official statistics] {{in lang|ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 880 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is {{convert|212.41|sqkm|sqmi}}. Kōfu's name means "capital of [[Kai Province]]". During the [[Sengoku period]], it was famous as the stronghold of [[Takeda Shingen]].


== Geography ==
==Overview==
===Toponymy===
[[File:1001 Koufu downtown.jpg|thumb|right|The Kōfu Basin with Kōfu City and a view of [[Mount Fuji]]]]
Kōfu's name means "capital of [[Kai Province]]". During the [[Sengoku period]], it was famous as the stronghold of [[Takeda Shingen]].
Kōfu is located in north-central [[Yamanashi Prefecture]] which is in Central Honshu. It extends from the northern border of the prefecture with [[Nagano Prefecture]] to the south until it almost reaches the prefecture's southern border. It is narrow along its east-west axis. The city bisects the Kōfu Basin and is 250 to 300 meters above sea level. Kōfu is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Three quarters of Kōfu's territory is a part of [[Mount Kinpu]] in the north. Much of the northern portion of the city is within the [[Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park]]. [[Mount Fuji]] is visible in the distance from Kōfu to the south.


===Cityscapes===
=== Surrounding municipalities ===
<gallery>
* [[Yamanashi Prefecture]]
File:Kofu Castle2.jpg|[[Kōfu Castle]] ([[Maizuru Castle Park]])
** [[Kai, Yamanashi|Kai]]
File:Takeda-jinja 201905b.jpg|[[Tsutsujigasaki Castle]] (2019)<br> ([[Takeda Shrine]])
**[[Yamanashi, Yamanashi|Yamanashi]]
File:DownTown of Kofu City.jpg|[[Skyline]] of Kōfu City (2018)
**[[Fuefuki]]
File:Kofu City Hall-1.jpg|[[Central Business District|CBD]] of Kōfu City (2014)
**[[Hokuto, Yamanashi|Hokuto]]
File:View kofu celeo.JPG|[[Downtown]] of Kōfu City (2015)
**[[Chūō, Yamanashi|Chūō]]
File:Kasuga Avenue mall Kofu-City.JPG|[[Downtown]] Kasuga
**[[Shōwa, Yamanashi|Shōwa]]
</gallery>
**[[Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi|Fujikawaguchiko]]
**[[Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi|Ichikawamisato]]
**[[Minobu, Yamanashi|Minobu]]
* [[Nagano Prefecture]]
** [[Kawakami, Nagano|Kawakami]]


==Demographics==
==Geography==
[[File:Kakuenpou in autumn.jpg|thumb|200px|Shōsenkyō]]
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-yamanashi.php Kōfu population statistics]</ref> the population of Kōfu has remained relatively stable over the past 40 years.
[[File:1001 Koufu downtown.jpg|thumb|200px|The Kōfu Basin with Kōfu City and a view of [[Mount Fuji]]]]
Kōfu is located in north-central [[Yamanashi Prefecture]] which is in Central Honshu. It extends from the northern border of the prefecture with [[Nagano Prefecture]] to the south until it almost reaches the prefecture's southern border. It is narrow along its east–west axis. The city bisects the Kōfu Basin and is 250 to 300 meters above sea level. Kōfu is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Three quarters of Kōfu's territory is a part of [[Mount Kinpu]] in the north. Much of the northern portion of the city is within the [[Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park]]. [[Mount Fuji]] is visible in the distance from Kōfu to the south.


===Climate===
{{Historical populations
Kōfu has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''), though it is less wet than either the south or [[Sea of Japan]] coast due to its location in a [[rain shadow|shielded]] mountain valley. Temperature ranges are noticeably greater than in coastal regions: in 2004 Kōfu reached a temperature of {{convert|40|C|F}} previously almost unknown in Japan, and it has fallen below {{convert|0|C|F}} as early as 26 October,<ref>http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=19&prec_ch=%8B%FA%98H%8Ex%92%A1&block_no=47638&block_ch=%8B%FA%98H&year=&month=10&day=&view= 観測史上1～10位の値（10月としての値）</ref> which is about a month before the earliest freezing temperatures in such coastal cities as [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa|Kanazawa]] or [[Tokyo]].
| 1940 | 102,419
| 1950 | 121,645
| 1960 | 160,963
| 1970 | 182,669
| 1980 | 199,262
| 1990 | 200,626
| 2000 | 196,154
| 2010 | 198,992
|align = none
| footnote =
}}

{{Wide image|Kofu Basin panorama from Mt Atago Nov. 2013.jpg|1500px|An overview at Kofu city from Mount Atago. The left end is east and the right end is west. Mount Atago at the shooting point is located at the southern end of the Oku Chichibu Massif. Mount Fuji over Mount Misaka, the Southern Alps soars to the west, and it is surrounded by a 360-degree mountain area. A panorama photo taken in November 2013.}}

==Climate==
Kōfu has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''), though it is less wet than either the south or [[Sea of Japan]] coast due to its location in a [[rain shadow|shielded]] mountain valley. The average annual temperature in Kōfu is 11.9&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1345&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.3&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around -0.1&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/yamanashi/kofu-714927/ Kōfu climate data]</ref>Temperature ranges are noticeably greater than in coastal regions: in 2004 Kōfu reached a temperature of {{convert|40|C|F}} previously almost unknown in Japan, and it has fallen below {{convert|0|C|F}} as early as 26 October,<ref>http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=19&prec_ch=%8B%FA%98H%8Ex%92%A1&block_no=47638&block_ch=%8B%FA%98H&year=&month=10&day=&view= 観測史上1～10位の値（10月としての値）</ref> which is about a month before the earliest freezing temperatures in such coastal cities as [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa|Kanazawa]] or [[Tokyo]].


{{Weather box
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|width=auto
|collapsed = Y
|location = Kofu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1894−present)
|single line = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Kofu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1894−present)
|Jan record high C = 20.2
|Jan record high C = 20.2
|Feb record high C = 25.4
|Feb record high C = 25.4
Line 152: Line 136:
|Apr record high C = 33.1
|Apr record high C = 33.1
|May record high C = 35.2
|May record high C = 35.2
|Jun record high C = 38.1
|Jun record high C = 38.3
|Jul record high C = 40.4
|Jul record high C = 40.4
|Aug record high C = 40.7
|Aug record high C = 40.7
Line 282: Line 266:
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]
| access-date = May 19, 2021}}</ref>
| access-date = May 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}

{{Wide image|Kofu Basin panorama from Mt Atago Nov. 2013.jpg|1500px|An overview of Kofu city from Mount Atago. The left end is east and the right end is west. Mount Atago at the shooting point is located at the southern end of the Oku Chichibu Massif. Mount Fuji over Mount Misaka, the Southern Alps soars to the west, and it is surrounded by a 360-degree mountain area. A panorama photo taken in November 2013.}}

===Surrounding municipalities===
;{{flagdeco|Nagano}} [[Nagano Prefecture]]
*[[Kawakami, Nagano|Kawakami]]
;{{flagdeco|Yamanashi}} [[Yamanashi Prefecture]]
*[[Chūō, Yamanashi|Chūō]]
*[[Fuefuki]]
*[[Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi|Fujikawaguchiko]]
*[[Hokuto, Yamanashi|Hokuto]]
*[[Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi|Ichikawamisato]]
*[[Kai, Yamanashi|Kai]]
*[[Minobu, Yamanashi|Minobu]]
*[[Shōwa, Yamanashi|Shōwa]]
*[[Yamanashi, Yamanashi|Yamanashi]]

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-yamanashi.php Kōfu population statistics]</ref> the population of Kōfu has remained relatively stable over the past 50 years.
{{Historical populations
| 1940 | 102,419
| 1950 | 121,645
| 1960 | 160,963
| 1970 | 182,669
| 1980 | 199,262
| 1990 | 200,626
| 2000 | 196,154
| 2010 | 198,992
| 2020 | 189,591
|align = none
| footnote =
}}
}}


==History==
==History==
===Prehistoric ages===
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kōfu area dating to the [[Japanese Paleolithic]] period, with continuous settlement through the [[Jōmon period|Jōmon]], [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] and [[Kofun period]]s. During the [[Nara period]], the [[provincial temple]] of Kai Province was established in what is now Kōfu, indicating that the Nara period provincial capital was located nearby, as the name of the city implies. During the [[Heian period]], a branch of the [[Minamoto clan]], the “Kai-Genji” ruled over vast ''[[shōen]]'' estates, and developed a military force noted for its use of [[cavalry]]. By the [[Muromachi period]], a branch of the Kai-Genji, the [[Takeda clan]] came to dominate the area, and built a castle in what is now part of Kōfu.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kōfu area dating to the [[Japanese Paleolithic]] period, with continuous settlement through the [[Jōmon period|Jōmon]], [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] and [[Kofun period]]s.
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Kai Choshizuka Kofun zenkei.JPG|[[Kai Chōshizuka Kofun]]
</gallery>

===Ancient ages===
During the [[Nara period]], the [[provincial temple]] of Kai Province was established in what is now Kōfu, indicating that the Nara period provincial capital was located nearby, as the name of the city implies.

During the [[Heian period]], a branch of the [[Minamoto clan]], the "Kai-Genji" ruled over vast ''[[shōen]]'' estates, and developed a military force noted for its use of [[cavalry]].

===Feudal period===
By the [[Muromachi period]], a branch of the Kai-Genji, the [[Takeda clan]] came to dominate the area, and built a castle in what is now part of Kōfu.


Under the rule of [[Takeda Nobutora]], Kōfu was rebuilt as a [[castle town]] starting in 1519, and remained the capital of the Takeda clan under [[Takeda Shingen]] and his son [[Takeda Katsuyori]].
Under the rule of [[Takeda Nobutora]], Kōfu was rebuilt as a [[castle town]] starting in 1519, and remained the capital of the Takeda clan under [[Takeda Shingen]] and his son [[Takeda Katsuyori]].
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="130px" perrow="3">
During the [[Edo period]], Kai Province was ''[[tenryō]]'' territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, and [[Kōfu Castle]] remained its administrative center. Following the [[Meiji restoration]], with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Kōfu was proclaimed on July 1, 1889.
File:躑躅ヶ崎館.jpg|[[Tsutsujigasaki Castle]]
File:Kai-Zenkoji-temple Kofu-city Yamanashi Japan.JPG|[[Kai Zenkō-ji]]
</gallery>

===Early modern ages===
During the [[Edo period]], Kai Province was ''[[tenryō]]'' territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, and [[Kōfu Castle]] remained its administrative center. In 1705, in a signal honour, it was conferred on [[Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu]] a favourite of the fifth shōgun. He was a member of the [[Yanagisawa clan]] descendants of the "Kai-Genji", the branch of the [[Minamoto clan]] which had been enfeoffed with the province of Kai in the eleventh century. His son, Yoshiyasu was transferred to [[Kōriyama Castle|Yamato-Koriyama Castle]] in 1724 after which Kofu Castle was again held directly by the Shogunate.
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Kofu Castle 201904q.jpg|[[Kōfu Castle]]
File:Chuo district intersection. Kofu city.jpg|[[Kōshū Kaidō]] ([[Kōshū Kaidō|Kōfu-shuku]])
</gallery>


===Late modern ages===
[[File:Flood disaster of 1907 of Kofu-City.jpg|thumb|left|1907 Kōfu Flood]]
Following the [[Meiji restoration]], with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Kōfu was proclaimed on July 1, 1889.


The city experienced a major flood disaster in 1907 (明治40年の大水害) caused by heavy rain in a typhoon from the night of August 21, 1907 and by deforestation which was accelerated in Yamanashi Prefecture, due to the need for wood for fuel of the steam engines of the growing industrial policy of the Fujimura Prefectural Government. A police officer inspected the stricken area from August 23 to October 10 1907. Patrol diaries of Masaki Tsukasa Kasaburo said "This heavy rainfall causes rivers to run down, landslides and levee failures, bridge piers destruction, etc., resulting in the destruction of homes and villages, village isolation, runoff and runoff, and traffic disruptions caused serious damage.<ref>Iwami Ryotaro "Water Damage and Flood Control" "Great Water Damage" "The History of Yamanashi Prefecture History Series 5 Modern 1" Yamanashi Prefecture, 2005</ref> 233 people died, 5757 houses were run out, 650 hectares of lands have been buried or run down, 3353 landslides, collapse and damage distance of about 140 kilometers of levees, runoff and burial of roads, the damage distance was about 500 kilometers, 393 telephone poles collapsed. It was the largest natural disaster in modern times in Yamanashi Prefecture.<ref>"" Rice Kita "" Asuyal "-One Hundred Years of Great Floods in Meiji 40" Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, 2007</ref>
The city experienced a major flood disaster in 1907 (明治40年の大水害) caused by heavy rain in a typhoon from the night of August 21, 1907 and by deforestation which was accelerated in Yamanashi Prefecture, due to the need for wood for fuel of the steam engines of the growing industrial policy of the Fujimura Prefectural Government.
A police officer inspected the stricken area from August 23 to October 10, 1907.
Patrol diaries of Masaki Tsukasa Kasaburo said "This heavy rainfall causes rivers to run down, landslides and levee failures, bridge piers destruction, etc., resulting in the destruction of homes and villages, village isolation, runoff, and traffic disruptions caused serious damage<ref>Iwami Ryotaro "Water Damage and Flood Control" "Great Water Damage" "The History of Yamanashi Prefecture History Series 5 Modern 1" Yamanashi Prefecture, 2005</ref> 233 people died, 5757 houses were run out, 650 hectares of lands have been buried or run down, 3353 landslides, collapse and damage distance of about 140 kilometers of levees, runoff and burial of roads, the damage distance was about 500 kilometers, 393 telephone poles collapsed. It was the largest natural disaster in modern times in Yamanashi Prefecture.<ref>"" Rice Kita "" Asuyal "-One Hundred Years of Great Floods in Meiji 40" Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, 2007</ref>


During [[World War II]], much of the city was destroyed by [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29 Superfortress]] bombers during a [[Bombing of Kōfu in World War II|major air raid]] during the night of 6 July 1945.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ijiri|first1=Toshiyuki|title=Paul Rusch|date=1991|publisher=Forward Movement Publications|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|page=167}}</ref>
During [[World War II]], much of the city was destroyed by [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29 Superfortress]] bombers during a [[Bombing of Kōfu in World War II|major air raid]] during the night of 6 July 1945.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ijiri|first1=Toshiyuki|title=Paul Rusch|date=1991|publisher=Forward Movement Publications|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|page=167}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Flood disaster of 1907 of Kofu-City.jpg|1907 Kōfu Flood
File:Yoka-Machi Street Kofu-City 1912.JPG|1912 Yoka-Machi Street
File:Kofu city hall building of the second. Taken in 1918.jpg|1918 Kōfu city hall building
File:Air raid Kofu-City.jpg|Kōfu after the 1945 air raids ([[Bombing of Kōfu in World War II]])
</gallery>


===Contemporary ages===
Kōfu was designated as one of the [[special cities of Japan]] on April 1, 2000. On March 1, 2006, Kōfu, with a population of 193,795, absorbed the town of [[Nakamichi, Yamanashi|Nakamichi]] (from [[Higashiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi|Higashiyatsushiro District]]), and the northern part of the village of [[Kamikuishiki, Yamanashi|Kamikuishiki]] (from [[Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi|Nishiyatsushiro District]]) increasing the population to 201,184.
Kōfu was designated as one of the [[special cities of Japan]] on April 1, 2000.
On March 1, 2006, Kōfu, with a population of 193,795, absorbed the town of [[Nakamichi, Yamanashi|Nakamichi]] (from [[Higashiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi|Higashiyatsushiro District]]), and the northern part of the village of [[Kamikuishiki, Yamanashi|Kamikuishiki]] (from [[Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi|Nishiyatsushiro District]]) increasing the population to 201,184.


On April 1, 2019, Kōfu's city status is elevated into a [[Core cities of Japan|core city]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/core_city/20190401.html|script-title=ja:中核市移行式を行いました。|date=April 1, 2019|website=Official site of Kofu|language=ja|access-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref>
On April 1, 2019, Kōfu's city status was elevated to a [[Core cities of Japan|core city]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/core_city/20190401.html|script-title=ja:中核市移行式を行いました。|date=April 1, 2019|website=Official site of Kofu|language=ja|access-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref>


==Government==
==Government==
[[File:Kofu City Hall 201904a.jpg|thumb|200px|Kōfu City Hall]]
Kōfu has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature of 32 members. The city supplies nine members to the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the [[Yamanashi 1st district]] and the [[Yamanashi 2nd district]] for the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]], the lower house of the [[National Diet]] of Japan.

===Council===
Kōfu has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature of 32 members. The city supplies nine members to the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the [[Yamanashi 1st district]] and the [[Yamanashi 2nd district]] for the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]], the lower house of the [[National Diet]] of Japan.
{{-}}

==Sister cities==
[[File:I messe Yamanashi.JPG|thumb|200px|I messe Yamanashi]]

===International===
{|class="wikitable"
![[City]]!![[Country]]!![[State (polity)|State]]!!Since
|-
|[[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]
|{{Flagicon|USA}}[[United States]]
|[[Iowa]]
|August 16, 1958
|-
|[[Lodi, California|Lodi]]
|{{Flagicon|USA}}[[United States]]
|[[California]]
|April 11, 1961<ref name="CGJSFSister">"[http://www.cgjsf.org/pdf/Local_Government.pdf Consolidation of Local Governments in Japan and Effects on Sister City Relationships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019123532/http://www.cgjsf.org/pdf/Local_Government.pdf |date=2007-10-19 }}," ''Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco''</ref>
|-
|[[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]]
|{{Flagicon|FRA}}[[France]]
|[[Nouvelle-Aquitaine]]
|August 18, 1975<ref name=International>{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=19&n=Yamanashi%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|access-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205180944/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=19&n=Yamanashi%20Prefecture|archive-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>
|-
|[[Chengdu]]
|{{Flagicon|CHN}}[[China]]
|[[Sichuan]]
|September 27, 1984<ref name=International/>
|-
|[[Cheongju]]
|{{Flagicon|KOR}}[[South Korea]]
|[[North Chungcheong]]
|September 26, 2002<ref name=International/>
|}

===National===
{|class="wikitable"
![[City]]!![[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]!![[List of regions of Japan|region]]!!Since
|-
|[[Yamatokoriyama, Nara|Yamatokōriyama]]
|{{Flagicon|Nara}}[[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]
|[[Kansai region]]
|January 22, 1992
|}


==Economy==
==Economy==
[[File:日本銀行 甲府支店 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Bank of Japan]] Kōfu branch]]
The city is a regional commercial and transportation center for central Yamanashi Prefecture. Local industries include food processing including [[Japanese wine|wine]] production, textiles and crystalware.
The city is a regional commercial and transportation center for central Yamanashi Prefecture. Local industries include food processing including [[Japanese wine|wine]] production, textiles and crystalware.

==Media==
* [[Yamanashi Broadcasting System]]
* [[UHF Television Yamanashi]]


==Education==
==Education==
[[File:Yamanashiuni.jpg|thumb|200px|[[University of Yamanashi]]]]
===Colleges and universities===

===Universities and colleges===
;Public
*[[University of Yamanashi]]
*[[University of Yamanashi]]
*[[Yamanashi Prefectural University]]
*[[Yamanashi Prefectural University]]
;Private
*[[Yamanashi Gakuin University]]
*[[Yamanashi Eiwa College]]
*[[Yamanashi Eiwa College]]
*[[Yamanashi Gakuin Junior College]]
*[[Yamanashi Gakuin Junior College]]
*[[Yamanashi Gakuin University]]


===Primary and secondary education===
===Primary and secondary education===
Line 318: Line 423:


==Transportation==
==Transportation==
[[File:Kōfu Station 201904a.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Kōfu Station]]]]
===Railway===
[[File:Kōfu Station-3.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Kōfu Station|Kōfu Station Bus Terminu]]]]
*[[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]] [[East Japan Railway Company]] - [[Chūō Main Line]]

**{{STN|Sakaori}} - {{STN|Kōfu}}
===Airways===
*[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]] [[Central Japan Railway Company]] - [[Minobu Line]]
====Airports====
**{{STN|Kokubo}} - {{STN|Kai-Sumiyoshi}} - {{STN|Minami-Kōfu}} - {{STN|Zenkōji}} - {{STN|Kanente}} - {{STN|Kōfu}}
The nearest airport is [[Matsumoto Airport]] & [[Shizuoka Airport]] or [[Haneda Airport]] & [[Narita International Airport]].

===Railways===
====Conventional Lines====
;[[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]][[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East)
*[[File:JR CO line symbol.svg|15px|CO]][[Chūō Main Line]]: - {{STN|Sakaori}} - '''{{STN|Kōfu}}''' -
;[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]][[Central Japan Railway Company]] (JR Tōkai)
*[[File:JR Central Minobu Line.svg|16px]][[Minobu Line]]: - {{STN|Kokubo}} - {{STN|Kai-Sumiyoshi}} - {{STN|Minami-Kōfu}} - {{STN|Zenkōji}} - {{STN|Kanente}} - '''{{STN|Kōfu}}'''

===Buses===
====Bus Terminus====
*[[Kōfu Station|Kōfu Station Bus Terminu]]

===Roads===
====Expressway====
*[[File:JP Expressway E19.svg|24px|link=|alt=E19]] [[Chūō Expressway]]


===Highway===
====Japan National Route====
*[[Image:E19 Expressway (Japan).png|24px|link=|alt=E19]] [[Chūō Expressway]]
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|20}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|20}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|52}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|52}}
Line 332: Line 452:
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|358}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|358}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|411}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|411}}

==Media==
* [[Yamanashi Broadcasting System]]
* [[UHF Television Yamanashi]]

==Sister cities==
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Des Moines, Iowa]], United States, since August 16, 1958
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques]], France,<ref name=International>{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=19&n=Yamanashi%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|access-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205180944/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=19&n=Yamanashi%20Prefecture|archive-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> since August 18, 1975
* {{flagdeco|US}} [[Lodi, California]], United States, since April 11, 1981<ref name="CGJSFSister">"[http://www.cgjsf.org/pdf/Local_Government.pdf Consolidation of Local Governments in Japan and Effects on Sister City Relationships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019123532/http://www.cgjsf.org/pdf/Local_Government.pdf |date=2007-10-19 }}," ''Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco''</ref>
* {{flagdeco|PRC}} [[Chengdu]], [[Sichuan]], China,<ref name=International/> since September 27, 1984
* {{flagdeco|Japan}} [[Yamatokoriyama, Nara]], Japan, since January 22, 1992
* {{flagdeco|South Korea}} [[Cheongju]], [[North Chungcheong]], South Korea,<ref name=International/> since September 26, 2002


== Local attractions ==
== Local attractions ==
===Historical Sites===
* [[Kai Zenkō-ji]]
* [[Kōfu Castle]]
*[[Kai Zenkō-ji]]
*[[Kōfu Castle]]
*[[Ōmaruyama Kofun]]
*[[Takeda Shrine]]
*[[Tsutsujigasaki Castle]]
*[[Tsutsujigasaki Castle]]
* [[Takeda Shrine]]
*[[Yōgaiyama Castle]]

* [[Yōgaiyama Castle]]
===Other sites===
* [[Yumura Onsen]]
* [[Yamanashi Science Museum]]
*[[Yamanashi Prefectural Art Museum]]
*[[Yamanashi Science Museum]]
*[[Ōmaruyama Kofun]]
*[[Yumura Onsen]]


==Culture==
===Festivals===
===Festivals===
====Shingen-ko Festival====
====Shingen-ko Festival====
[[File:Shingen-ko_Festival_201904b.jpg|thumb|Shingen-ko Festival - The army corps in front of Kōfu Castle (2019)]]
[[File:Shingen-ko_Festival_201904b.jpg|thumb|Shingen-ko Festival — the army corps in front of Kōfu Castle (2019)]]
The biggest festival in Kōfu is the {{nihongo|[[Shingen-ko Festival]]|信玄公祭り|Shingen-ko Matsuri}}. It is held annually on the first or second weekend of April and celebrates the legacy of Takeda Shingen. The festival is three days long. Usually a famous Japanese celebrity plays the part of Takeda Shingen. There are several parades going to and from the Takeda Shrine and Kōfu Castle. This is the largest public [[History (theatrical genre)|history play]] in Japan. In 2012 the event was included in the [[Guinness World Records]] as the "largest gathering of samurai" in the world with 1061 participants.<ref name="Shingen-Ko-2019">{{cite web|title=Shingen-ko Festival|publisher= "Shingen-ko Festival" Executive Planning Committee|date=1 February 2019|language=en|url=https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/shingen/english/about.html|access-date= 2019-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331014958/https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/shingen/english/about.html|archive-date=2019-03-31}}</ref>
The biggest festival in Kōfu is the {{nihongo|[[Shingen-ko Festival]]|信玄公祭り|Shingen-ko Matsuri}}. It is held annually on the first or second weekend of April and celebrates the legacy of Takeda Shingen. The festival is three days long. Usually a famous Japanese celebrity plays the part of Takeda Shingen. There are several parades going to and from the Takeda Shrine and Kōfu Castle. This is the largest public [[History (theatrical genre)|history play]] in Japan. In 2012 the event was included in the [[Guinness World Records]] as the "largest gathering of samurai" in the world with 1061 participants.<ref name="Shingen-Ko-2019">{{cite web|title=Shingen-ko Festival|publisher= "Shingen-ko Festival" Executive Planning Committee|date=1 February 2019|language=en|url=https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/shingen/english/about.html|access-date= 2019-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331014958/https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/shingen/english/about.html|archive-date=2019-03-31}}</ref>


==Sports==
===Sports===
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Ventforet Kofu]], [[J. League Division 2]] football team, and their home ground is the [[Kose Sports Stadium]].
|-
* Yamanashi Iida Baseball Stadium
!scope="col"| Club
!scope="col"| Sport
!scope="col"| League
!scope="col"| Venue
!scope="col"| Established
|-
| style="background:yellow"| [[Yamanashi Queenbees|<span style="color:black">Yamanashi Queenbees</span>]]
| [[Basketball]]
| [[Women's Japan Basketball League|W.League]]
| Kose sports park gymnasium, Kōfu General Civic Center
| 1968
|-
| style="background:#1937B7"| [[Ventforet Kofu|<span style="color:#B61B19">Ventforet Kofu</span>]]
| [[Soccer]]
| [[J.League]] ([[J. League Division 2|J2]])
| [[JIT Recycle Ink Stadium]]
| 1990
|}
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="" heights="130px" perrow="3">
File:Vfk2009112101.jpg|[[JIT Recycle Ink Stadium]]
File:Midorigaoka sports park.JPG|[[Kofu Midorigaoka Sports Park Stadium]]
File:Kose sports park gymnasium.JPG|Arena of Kose sports park gymnasium
File:Arena of Kose sports park gymnasium-1.JPG|Arena of Kose sports park gymnasium
</gallery>


==Notable people from Kofu==
==Notable people from Kofu==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2012}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2012}}
[[File:Hidetoshi Nakata in Okinawa.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Hidetoshi Nakata]]]]
* Saiki Atsumi – lead singer of the rock band [[Band-Maid]]
*[[Banjō Ginga]] – voice actor
*[[Banjō Ginga]] – voice actor
*[[Ryūden Gōshi]] - sumo wrestler
*[[Hideo Hagiwara]] – woodblock print artist
*[[Hideo Hagiwara]] – woodblock print artist
*[[Tsuneo Horiuchi]] – former manager of Yomiuri Giants baseball team
*[[Tsuneo Horiuchi]] – former manager of Yomiuri Giants baseball team
Line 372: Line 512:
*[[Junichi Kanemaru]] - voice actor
*[[Junichi Kanemaru]] - voice actor
*[[Yoshinobu Kanemaru]] – professional wrestler
*[[Yoshinobu Kanemaru]] – professional wrestler
* Hiroki Nakamura – founder and designer of cult fashion brand [[Visvim]]
*[[Hidetoshi Nakata]] - [[football (soccer)|football]] player who last played with the [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] in the [[Premier League]], but has since retired following the [[2006 World Cup]].
*[[Hidetoshi Nakata]] - [[football (soccer)|football]] player who last played with the [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] in the [[Premier League]], but has since retired following the [[2006 World Cup]].
*[[Naoko Takeuchi]] – manga artist, creator of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and other comics.
*[[Naoko Takeuchi]] – manga artist, creator of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and other comics.
* [[Mariko Tsutsui]] - actress with notable lead roles in [[Kōji Fukada]]'s ''[[Harmonium (film)|Harmonium]]'' and ''[[A Girl Missing]]''
*[[Fujizakura Yoshimori]] – former sumo wrestler
*[[Fujizakura Yoshimori]] – former sumo wrestler
* Hiroki Nakamura – founder and designer of cult fashion brand [[Visvim]]


== List of mayors of Kofu ==
== List of mayors of Kofu ==
Line 382: Line 523:
{{col-start}}
{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
*Itsupei Wakao (若尾逸平) 29 August, 1889 to 3 June, 1890
*Itsupei Wakao (若尾逸平) 29 August 1889 to 3 June 1890
*Tadao Takagi (高木忠雄) 11 July, 1890 to 28 September, 1897
*Tadao Takagi (高木忠雄) 11 July 1890 to 28 September 1897
*Hikotaro Ishihara (石原彦太郎) 6 November, 1897 to 18 June, 1898
*Hikotaro Ishihara (石原彦太郎) 6 November 1897 to 18 June 1898
*Kunsaku Kobayashi (小林董作) 19 September, 1898 to 18 June, 1906
*Kunsaku Kobayashi (小林董作) 19 September 1898 to 18 June 1906
*Tamizo Wakao (若尾民造) 24 July, 1906 to 5 March, 1907
*Tamizo Wakao (若尾民造) 24 July 1906 to 5 March 1907
*Heishiro Kato (加藤平四郎) 20 April, 1907 to 17 August, 1915
*Heishiro Kato (加藤平四郎) 20 April 1907 to 17 August 1915
*Tadayoshi Natori (名取忠愛) 15 January, 1916 to 25 June, 1919
*Tadayoshi Natori (名取忠愛) 15 January 1916 to 25 June 1919
* 23 September, 1922 to 14 March, 1923
* 23 September 1922 to 14 March 1923
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
*Nobutsugu Hori (堀信次) 23 October, 1919 to 19 June, 1922
*Nobutsugu Hori (堀信次) 23 October 1919 to 19 June 1922
*Atsuo Ishii (石井淳雄) 31 July, 1923 to 30 July, 1927
*Atsuo Ishii (石井淳雄) 31 July 1923 to 30 July 1927
*Jihei Narishima (成島治平) 8 October, 1927 to 8 August, 1931
*Jihei Narishima (成島治平) 8 October 1927 to 8 August 1931
*Eiji Shinkai (新海栄治) 24 August, 1931 to 26 August, 1935
*Eiji Shinkai (新海栄治) 24 August 1931 to 26 August 1935
* 12 September, 1939 to 11 September, 1943
* 12 September 1939 to 11 September 1943
*Itsuzo Saiki (斎木逸造) 27 August, 1935 to 11 September, 1939
*Itsuzo Saiki (斎木逸造) 27 August 1935 to 11 September 1939
*Jiro Noguchi (野口二郎) 12 September, 1943 to 27 February, 1946
*Jiro Noguchi (野口二郎) 12 September 1943 to 27 February 1946
*Moemon Imai (今井茂右衛門) 18 March, 1946 to 3 September, 1947
*Moemon Imai (今井茂右衛門) 18 March 1946 to 3 September 1947
{{col-3}}
{{col-3}}
*Shigehisa Kawamura (川村茂久) 10 October, 1947 to 25 December, 1948
*Shigehisa Kawamura (川村茂久) 10 October 1947 to 25 December 1948
*Tatsuo Yamamoto (山本達雄) 25 February, 1949 to 22 February, 1953
*Tatsuo Yamamoto (山本達雄) 25 February 1949 to 22 February 1953
*Keijiro Takano (鷹野啓次郎) 25 February, 1953 to 11 November, 1968
*Keijiro Takano (鷹野啓次郎) 25 February 1953 to 11 November 1968
*Kiyoshi Akiyama (秋山清) 29 November, 1968 to 24 February, 1971
*Kiyoshi Akiyama (秋山清) 29 November 1968 to 24 February 1971
*Chikayoshi Kawaguchi (河口親賀) 25 April, 1971 to 26 April, 1983
*Chikayoshi Kawaguchi (河口親賀) 25 April 1971 to 26 April 1983
*Chuzo Hara (原忠三) 27 April, 1983 to 26 April, 1991
*Chuzo Hara (原忠三) 27 April 1983 to 26 April 1991
*Hidehiko Yamamoto (山本栄彦) 27 April, 1991 to 19 December, 2002
*Hidehiko Yamamoto (山本栄彦) 27 April 1991 to 19 December 2002
*Masanobu Miyajima (宮島雅展) 3 April, 2003 to 1 February, 2015
*Masanobu Miyajima (宮島雅展) 3 April 2003 to 1 February 2015
*Yuichi Higuchi (樋口雄一) 2 February, 2015 to Incumbent
*Yuichi Higuchi (樋口雄一) 2 February 2015 to Incumbent
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


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{{Wikivoyage|Kofu}}
{{Wikivoyage|Kofu}}
{{Commons category|Kofu, Yamanashi}}
{{Commons category|Kofu, Yamanashi}}
*[http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
*{{official|http://www.city.kofu.yamanashi.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|4791896}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|4791896}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kofu, Yamanashi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kofu, Yamanashi}}
[[Category:Cities in Yamanashi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Cities in Yamanashi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Kōfu, Yamanashi]]
[[Category:Kōfu, Yamanashi| ]]

Latest revision as of 21:50, 23 October 2024

For the town in Tottori Prefecture, see Kōfu, Tottori.
Kōfu
甲府市
Core city
View from Sakaorimiya Kai-Zenko-ji, Kakueno in autumn Moats of Kofu Castle, Takeda Shingen festival Night view of Kofu, Kofu motsu-ni stew Kose Sports Stadium
View from Sakaorimiya
Kai-Zenko-ji, Kakueno in autumn
Moats of Kofu Castle, Takeda Shingen festival
Night view of Kofu, Kofu motsu-ni stew
Kose Sports Stadium
Flag of Kōfu
Flag
Official seal of Kōfu
Seal
Map
Location of Kōfu in Yamanashi Prefecture
Location of Kōfu
Kōfu is located in Japan
Kōfu
Kōfu
Coordinates: 35°39′43.7″N 138°34′5.6″E / 35.662139°N 138.568222°E / 35.662139; 138.568222
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureYamanashi
First official recorded100 BC
City SettledJuly 1, 1889
Government
 • MayorYūichi Higuchi (since February 2015)
Area
 • Total
212.47 km2 (82.04 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
 • Total
187,985
 • Density880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeQuercus
- FlowerDianthus
- BirdCommon kingfisher
Phone number055-237-1161
Address2-17-1 Aioi, Kōfu-shi, Yamanashi-ken400-8585
WebsiteOfficial website

Kōfu (甲府市, Kōfu-shi, Japanese: [ko̞ːɸɯᵝ]) is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households,[1] and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 212.41 square kilometres (82.01 sq mi).

Overview

[edit]

Toponymy

[edit]

Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province". During the Sengoku period, it was famous as the stronghold of Takeda Shingen.

Cityscapes

[edit]

Geography

[edit]
Shōsenkyō
The Kōfu Basin with Kōfu City and a view of Mount Fuji

Kōfu is located in north-central Yamanashi Prefecture which is in Central Honshu. It extends from the northern border of the prefecture with Nagano Prefecture to the south until it almost reaches the prefecture's southern border. It is narrow along its east–west axis. The city bisects the Kōfu Basin and is 250 to 300 meters above sea level. Kōfu is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Three quarters of Kōfu's territory is a part of Mount Kinpu in the north. Much of the northern portion of the city is within the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Mount Fuji is visible in the distance from Kōfu to the south.

Climate

[edit]

Kōfu has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), though it is less wet than either the south or Sea of Japan coast due to its location in a shielded mountain valley. Temperature ranges are noticeably greater than in coastal regions: in 2004 Kōfu reached a temperature of 40 °C (104 °F) previously almost unknown in Japan, and it has fallen below 0 °C (32 °F) as early as 26 October,[2] which is about a month before the earliest freezing temperatures in such coastal cities as Kanazawa or Tokyo.

Climate data for Kofu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1894−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.2
(68.4) 		25.4
(77.7) 		28.8
(83.8) 		33.1
(91.6) 		35.2
(95.4) 		38.3
(100.9) 		40.4
(104.7) 		40.7
(105.3) 		38.0
(100.4) 		33.8
(92.8) 		29.6
(85.3) 		24.9
(76.8) 		40.7
(105.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.1
(48.4) 		10.9
(51.6) 		15.0
(59.0) 		20.7
(69.3) 		25.3
(77.5) 		27.8
(82.0) 		31.6
(88.9) 		33.0
(91.4) 		28.6
(83.5) 		22.5
(72.5) 		16.7
(62.1) 		11.4
(52.5) 		21.0
(69.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6) 		4.7
(40.5) 		8.6
(47.5) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.8
(65.8) 		22.3
(72.1) 		26.0
(78.8) 		27.1
(80.8) 		23.2
(73.8) 		17.1
(62.8) 		10.8
(51.4) 		5.4
(41.7) 		15.1
(59.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		3.1
(37.6) 		8.4
(47.1) 		13.7
(56.7) 		18.3
(64.9) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.3
(73.9) 		19.4
(66.9) 		13.0
(55.4) 		5.9
(42.6) 		0.3
(32.5) 		10.4
(50.7)
Record low °C (°F) −19.5
(−3.1) 		−17.2
(1.0) 		−11.4
(11.5) 		−4.6
(23.7) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		5.4
(41.7) 		12.6
(54.7) 		13.2
(55.8) 		6.0
(42.8) 		−1.8
(28.8) 		−6.0
(21.2) 		−11.7
(10.9) 		−19.5
(−3.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42.7
(1.68) 		44.1
(1.74) 		86.2
(3.39) 		79.5
(3.13) 		85.4
(3.36) 		113.4
(4.46) 		148.8
(5.86) 		133.1
(5.24) 		178.7
(7.04) 		158.5
(6.24) 		52.7
(2.07) 		37.6
(1.48) 		1,160.7
(45.70)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 9
(3.5) 		11
(4.3) 		1
(0.4) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4) 		23
(9.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 4.7 5.2 9.0 8.3 8.9 12.0 12.3 10.4 10.8 9.7 6.1 4.9 102.2
Average relative humidity (%) 55 52 55 57 62 69 72 70 71 71 67 60 64
Mean monthly sunshine hours 209.1 195.4 206.3 206.1 203.9 149.9 168.2 197.0 150.9 159.6 178.6 200.9 2,225.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3]
An overview of Kofu city from Mount Atago. The left end is east and the right end is west. Mount Atago at the shooting point is located at the southern end of the Oku Chichibu Massif. Mount Fuji over Mount Misaka, the Southern Alps soars to the west, and it is surrounded by a 360-degree mountain area. A panorama photo taken in November 2013.

Surrounding municipalities

[edit]
Nagano Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture

Demographics

[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Kōfu has remained relatively stable over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 102,419—    
1950 121,645+18.8%
1960 160,963+32.3%
1970 182,669+13.5%
1980 199,262+9.1%
1990 200,626+0.7%
2000 196,154−2.2%
2010 198,992+1.4%
2020 189,591−4.7%

History

[edit]

Prehistoric ages

[edit]

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of human settlement in the Kōfu area dating to the Japanese Paleolithic period, with continuous settlement through the Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods.

Ancient ages

[edit]

During the Nara period, the provincial temple of Kai Province was established in what is now Kōfu, indicating that the Nara period provincial capital was located nearby, as the name of the city implies.

During the Heian period, a branch of the Minamoto clan, the "Kai-Genji" ruled over vast shōen estates, and developed a military force noted for its use of cavalry.

Feudal period

[edit]

By the Muromachi period, a branch of the Kai-Genji, the Takeda clan came to dominate the area, and built a castle in what is now part of Kōfu.

Under the rule of Takeda Nobutora, Kōfu was rebuilt as a castle town starting in 1519, and remained the capital of the Takeda clan under Takeda Shingen and his son Takeda Katsuyori.

Early modern ages

[edit]

During the Edo period, Kai Province was tenryō territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, and Kōfu Castle remained its administrative center. In 1705, in a signal honour, it was conferred on Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu a favourite of the fifth shōgun. He was a member of the Yanagisawa clan descendants of the "Kai-Genji", the branch of the Minamoto clan which had been enfeoffed with the province of Kai in the eleventh century. His son, Yoshiyasu was transferred to Yamato-Koriyama Castle in 1724 after which Kofu Castle was again held directly by the Shogunate.

Late modern ages

[edit]

Following the Meiji restoration, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Kōfu was proclaimed on July 1, 1889.

The city experienced a major flood disaster in 1907 (明治40年の大水害) caused by heavy rain in a typhoon from the night of August 21, 1907 and by deforestation which was accelerated in Yamanashi Prefecture, due to the need for wood for fuel of the steam engines of the growing industrial policy of the Fujimura Prefectural Government. A police officer inspected the stricken area from August 23 to October 10, 1907. Patrol diaries of Masaki Tsukasa Kasaburo said "This heavy rainfall causes rivers to run down, landslides and levee failures, bridge piers destruction, etc., resulting in the destruction of homes and villages, village isolation, runoff, and traffic disruptions caused serious damage[5] 233 people died, 5757 houses were run out, 650 hectares of lands have been buried or run down, 3353 landslides, collapse and damage distance of about 140 kilometers of levees, runoff and burial of roads, the damage distance was about 500 kilometers, 393 telephone poles collapsed. It was the largest natural disaster in modern times in Yamanashi Prefecture.[6]

During World War II, much of the city was destroyed by United States Army Air Forces B-29 Superfortress bombers during a major air raid during the night of 6 July 1945.[7]

Contemporary ages

[edit]

Kōfu was designated as one of the special cities of Japan on April 1, 2000. On March 1, 2006, Kōfu, with a population of 193,795, absorbed the town of Nakamichi (from Higashiyatsushiro District), and the northern part of the village of Kamikuishiki (from Nishiyatsushiro District) increasing the population to 201,184.

On April 1, 2019, Kōfu's city status was elevated to a core city.[8]

Government

[edit]
Kōfu City Hall

Council

[edit]

Kōfu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 32 members. The city supplies nine members to the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Yamanashi 1st district and the Yamanashi 2nd district for the House of Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

[edit]
I messe Yamanashi

International

[edit]
City Country State Since
Des Moines United StatesUnited States Iowa August 16, 1958
Lodi United StatesUnited States California April 11, 1961[9]
Pau FranceFrance Nouvelle-Aquitaine August 18, 1975[10]
Chengdu ChinaChina Sichuan September 27, 1984[10]
Cheongju South KoreaSouth Korea North Chungcheong September 26, 2002[10]

National

[edit]
City Prefecture region Since
Yamatokōriyama Nara PrefectureNara Kansai region January 22, 1992

Economy

[edit]
Bank of Japan Kōfu branch

The city is a regional commercial and transportation center for central Yamanashi Prefecture. Local industries include food processing including wine production, textiles and crystalware.

Media

[edit]

Education

[edit]
University of Yamanashi

Universities and colleges

[edit]
Public
Private

Primary and secondary education

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  • Kōfu has 25 public elementary schools and 11 public junior high schools operated by the city government, as well as one national combined elementary/middle school. In addition, there are two private elementary schools and three private junior high schools. The city has eight public high schools operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education, and five private high schools.

Transportation

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Kōfu Station
Kōfu Station Bus Terminu

Airways

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Airports

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The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport & Shizuoka Airport or Haneda Airport & Narita International Airport.

Railways

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Conventional Lines

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East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tōkai)

Buses

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Bus Terminus

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Roads

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Expressway

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Japan National Route

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Local attractions

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Historical Sites

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Other sites

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Culture

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Festivals

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Shingen-ko Festival

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Shingen-ko Festival — the army corps in front of Kōfu Castle (2019)

The biggest festival in Kōfu is the Shingen-ko Festival (信玄公祭り, Shingen-ko Matsuri). It is held annually on the first or second weekend of April and celebrates the legacy of Takeda Shingen. The festival is three days long. Usually a famous Japanese celebrity plays the part of Takeda Shingen. There are several parades going to and from the Takeda Shrine and Kōfu Castle. This is the largest public history play in Japan. In 2012 the event was included in the Guinness World Records as the "largest gathering of samurai" in the world with 1061 participants.[11]

Sports

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Club Sport League Venue Established
Yamanashi Queenbees Basketball W.League Kose sports park gymnasium, Kōfu General Civic Center 1968
Ventforet Kofu Soccer J.League (J2) JIT Recycle Ink Stadium 1990

Notable people from Kofu

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Hidetoshi Nakata

List of mayors of Kofu

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This is a list of Kofu majors starting from 1889.

References

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  1. ^ Kōfu City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=19&prec_ch=%8B%FA%98H%8Ex%92%A1&block_no=47638&block_ch=%8B%FA%98H&year=&month=10&day=&view= 観測史上1～10位の値（10月としての値）
  3. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Kōfu population statistics
  5. ^ Iwami Ryotaro "Water Damage and Flood Control" "Great Water Damage" "The History of Yamanashi Prefecture History Series 5 Modern 1" Yamanashi Prefecture, 2005
  6. ^ "" Rice Kita "" Asuyal "-One Hundred Years of Great Floods in Meiji 40" Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, 2007
  7. ^ Ijiri, Toshiyuki (1991). Paul Rusch. Cincinnati, Ohio: Forward Movement Publications. p. 167.
  8. ^ 中核市移行式を行いました。. Official site of Kofu (in Japanese). April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Consolidation of Local Governments in Japan and Effects on Sister City Relationships Archived 2007-10-19 at the Wayback Machine," Consulate General of Japan, San Francisco
  10. ^ a b c "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Shingen-ko Festival". "Shingen-ko Festival" Executive Planning Committee. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kofu.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kofu, Yamanashi.
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