Echizen, Fukui

For the town located in Nyū District, Fukui, Japan, see Echizen, Fukui (town).

Template:Infobox City Japan Echizen (越前市, Echizen-shi) is a city located in Fukui, Japan.

As of August 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 86,562 and the density of 375 persons per km². The total area is 230.75 km².

Echizen has several large electronics and apparel factories, but it is known for the large number of small businesses that flourish there; indeed, the local joke that everyone in town addresses each other as "shacho" ("company president") is almost true. Echizen is home to a small but vibrant community of Brazilians, who mostly work in a ceramic capacitor factory, and a smaller Chinese community, largely linked to the garment industry. A large contingency of foreign English teachers also lives in Echizen teaching at local High schools, middle schools,and elementary schools. These foreigners can most easily be found at their local haunts, Matsuri Sushi, Tom's Toast, and various other restaurants around town.

History

Echizen city was incorporated in its present form on October 1, 2005, when the city of Takefu and the town of Imadate (from Imadate District) merged to form the new city, although it has been an important regional center for over 1500 years. It has two former castle sites and some prehistoric archeological sites. Echizen is known for its well over 300 shrines and temples. It was the home (for a year) of Murasaki Shikibu, the celebrated author of The Tale of Genji. Her father was governor of the Heian province of Echizen.

Festivals

• Echizen Manzai, one of Japan's National folk customs
• The Takefu International Music Festival
• Takefu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival, ranked in Japan's top 3 best chrysanthemum dolls
• Takefu Summer Festival
• Souja Daijingu Festival
• Onigadake Fire Festival
• Mt. Hino Festival
• Imadate Exhibition of Contemporary Paper Art Works
• International Tannan Art Festival
• Tannan Industrial Crafts Fair

Specialty Products

Foods

• Echizen soba
• Echizen crab
• Habutaemaki
• Habutaemochi
• Satsukigase
• Mizuyoukan
• Kenkera
• Bolga rice
• Chrysanthemum soft cream
• Chrysanthemum wine

Traditional Crafts

• Echizen washi
• Echizen cutlery
• Echizen pottery
• Chrysanthemum dolls

Images

• 
  A neighborhood called Kyomachi in the center of the city
• 
  Nishitakefu Station on the Fukui Railroad
• 
  Takefu-Shin Station on the Fukui Railroad
• 
  Mt. Hino during cherry blossom season
• 
  Takefu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival

External links

Media related to Echizen, Fukui at Wikimedia Commons