Nishinomiya

Nishinomiya 西宮
—  Core city  —
西宮市 · Nishinomiya
Shukugawa Park in spring
Flag
Location of Nishinomiya in Hyōgo
Nishinomiya
Coordinates: 34°44′15.35″N 135°20′29.63″E / 34.7375972°N 135.3415639°E / 34.7375972; 135.3415639Coordinates: 34°44′15.35″N 135°20′29.63″E / 34.7375972°N 135.3415639°E / 34.7375972; 135.3415639
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo
Government
- Mayor	Masahiro Kouno
Area
- Total	99.96 km2 (38.6 sq mi)
Population (April 1, 2008)
- Total	476,329
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Camphor Laurel
- Flower	Sakura
Phone number	0798-35-3151
Address	10-3 Rokutanji-chō, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyōgo-ken 662-8567
Website	City of Nishinomiya

Nishinomiya (西宮市, Nishinomiya-shi^?) is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball championship is held. It is also the location of Kwansei Gakuin University, a private university founded by American missionaries in the nineteenth century. Nishinomiya is an important commercial and shipping city in the Kansai region with the third largest population in Hyōgo Prefecture.

Topography

Nishinomiya City is located in the south-east of Hyōgo Prefecture between the cities of Kobe and Osaka. It is bordered by Osaka Bay to the south, the cities of Amagasaki, Itami and Takarazuka along the Mukogawa and Nigawa rivers to the east and by a part of the Rokko Mountains and Kobe City to the north. The city can be divided into two areas: a mountainous area in the north and a coastal plain in the south. Situated in the middle is Mount Kabuto (309 meters), a landmark of the city.

History

• April 1, 1924: Opening of Kōshien Stadium
• April 1925: Nishinomiya Town became a municipal organization.
• April 1933: City merged with Imazu Town, Shiba Village and Taisha Village.
• February 1941: City merged with Koto Village.
• May 1942: City merged with Kawaragi Village.
• April 1951: City merged with Naruo Village, Yamaguchi Village, and Shiose Village.
• January 17, 1995: Great Hanshin earthquake disaster. Nishinomiya City received widespread damage.

Industry

Based on shipping volume, Nishinomiya ranks eighth in Hyōgo Prefecture as of 2001, with food processing industries making up 78.1% of the total. Of this percentage, sake production accounts for 24.3%.

To promote small and middle-size businesses and to improve the living environment in area where houses stand next to factories, the city conducted a collective relocation program of industrial facilities to Naruo-hama and Nishinomiya-hama reclaimed lands.

In general, local industries face difficulties due to the damage caused by the Great Hanshin earthquake and the present economic recession. The number of business establishments, employees, and the shipping volume of local industry is decreasing.

Kōshien Stadium

Agriculture

Since most of the farmland is located within the urban district, Nishinomiya agriculture is in a difficult situation and it worsens every year. Currently, efforts are being made to improve farming in order to make it profitable by growing such marketable products as soft vegetables for the big markets of Osaka and Kobe. Other efforts include effective land use by growing crops in greenhouses using hydroponic techniques and development of techniques for safe products.

Residential districts

Nishinomiya is situated between the major cities of Kobe and Osaka. Luxury neighborhoods are common in this city, especially in areas near Ashiya.. Some of the shopping malls in Nishinomiya are the Lalaport Koshien and the Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens.

Universities and colleges

• Konan University Nishinomiya Campus "Konan Cube"
• Kwansei Gakuin University
• Otemae University
• Kobe College (Women's university)
• Seiwa College and Junior College
• Hyogo College Of Medicine
• Mukogawa Women's University and Junior College
• Shukugawa Gakuin Junior College
• Koshien Junior College

Culture

Nishinomiya Shrine

• Hirota Shrine - Hirota Shrine was called Nishi no miya ("the West Shrine"^?) by aristocrats in Kyoto. That is the origin of the city name.^[1]
• Hyogo Performing Arts Center
• Kannō-ji
• Koshikiiwa Shrine
• Nishinomiya Shrine
• Mondo-yakujin (Tōkō-ji)
• Much of Grave of the Fireflies is set in Nishinomiya.^[2][3]
• Nishinomiya is the implied setting for the popular light novel, manga, and anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.^[4]

Points of interest

• Kitayama Botanical Garden
• Mount Kabuto

Sister and friendship cities

• Sister cities
  • Spokane since September, 1961 (U.S., Washington)

• Friendship cities
  • Londrina since May, 1977 (Brazil, Paraná)
  • Shaoxing since July, 1985 (China, Zhejiang)
  • District of Lot-et-Garonne and Agen since April, 1992 (France,

• • Burlington (U.S., Vermont)

Aquitaine)

• • Amami since October, 1981 (Japan, Kagoshima) (formerly Naze)
  • Yusuhara since March, 1991 (Japan, Kochi)

Special products

• Sake - Japanese Rice Wine
• Najio Japanese Paper
• Bamboo Crafts
• Japanese Candles

Notable people

• Nagaru Tanigawa - author of the light novel series Haruhi Suzumiya
• Yuichiro Nagashima - Japanese Kick Boxer
• Ryūsui Seiryōin - Japanese novelist
• Hōsei Yamasaki - Japanese comedian
• Eizo Sakamoto - heavy metal musician
• Soyo Oka - Video Game music composer
• Mana Ashida - Japanese child actor

Gallery

• 

  Nishinomiya cityscape

References

1. ^ Hirota Shino Shirine. "HIROTA SHINTO SHRINE" (in English). http://www.hirotahonsya.or.jp/english.html. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
2. ^ Ryuusenkaku. "Cherry Blossoms Spots in Nishinomiya / Ashiya" (in English). http://www.ryuusenkaku.jp/english/cherry02.html. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
3. ^ Online Ghibli. "Grave of the Fireflies: Review/Synopsis" (in English). http://www.onlineghibli.com/grave_of_fireflies/review.php. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 
4. ^ asahi.com (2010-07-08). "Anime's high school fends off fan invasions." (in English). http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201007070409.html. Retrieved 2011-01-17. 

External links

• (Japanese) Nishinomiya official website
• Hyogo Performing Arts Center