Mobara, Chiba

Mobara 茂原市
—  City  —
Mobara Koen in the Spring
Location of Mobara in Chiba
Mobara
Coordinates: 35°26′N 140°17′E / 35.433°N 140.283°E / 35.433; 140.283Coordinates: 35°26′N 140°17′E / 35.433°N 140.283°E / 35.433; 140.283
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
Area
– Total	100.01 km2 (38.6 sq mi)
Population (September 2010)
– Total	92,449
– Density	924/km2 (2,393.1/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Azalea
- Flower	Cosmos
- Bird
Phone number	0475-33-2111
Address	1 Dōbyō, Mobara-shi, Chiba-ken 297-8511
Website	city.mobara.chiba.jp

Mobara (茂原市, Mobara-shi^?) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city has an estimated population of 92,449 and a population density of 924 persons per km². The total area is 100.01 km².

Geography

Mobara is located in an inland area of north-central Bōsō Peninsula. The elevation is low, ranging from 8-9 meters in the east, and rising to 100 meters in the west. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and with warming effects of the Kuroshio Current give the area a mild maritime climate, with hot, humid summers and cool, mild winters.

Surrounding municipalities

• Midori-ku, Chiba
• Ichihara, Chiba
• Nagara, Chiba
• Chonan, Chiba
• Shirako, Chiba
• Ōamishirasato, Chiba

History

Prehistory

Mobara was settled from the earliest times, as evidenced by archaeological sites and shell mounds dating from the Jōmon period and Yayoi periods. The city also has examples of kofun, or burial tombs, from the Kofun period.

Early history

Mobara was the location of at least two shōen estates, the Mobara-sō and the Tachibana-sō, in the Heian period. At the beginning of the Edo period, in 1591, an extensively land survey was carried out by the Tokugawa clan.

Modern history

The modern town of Mobara was created during the early Meiji period-cadastral reforms in the Chōsei District. Numerous small villages were brought together to form the present-day city of Mobara.

The Bōsō Tetsudo, now the JR Sotobō Line, was established in 1897 between Ichinomiya and Ōami Station in present-day Ōamishirasato. Mobara Station was one station established on the line, thus connecting Mobara to the wider rail network. In 1909 a handcar system ran from Mobara Station and Chonan. The handcar railroad was constructed and operated by the prefecture.

A base for the 252 Air Group of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), a fighter aircraft unit, was established in 1941 in Mobara. By orders of the IJN residences, schools, town halls, police substations, temples, and shrines were confiscated to build the base. Mobara Air Field was completed in 1943, on the east banks of the small Aku River, directly to the east of Mobara Station. Tokubetsu kōgekitai, or kamikaze units, were reportedly sent to Okinawa from the base. Remains of the runway, approximately ten air field structures, and a tunnel are now on the property of the Mitsui　Toshō chemical company.^[1]

Post-war history

At the end of World War II the 113th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army occupied the base. The Japan Self-Defense Forces attempted to confiscate the former Mobara Air Base in 1954, but after organized efforts by residents, agricultural organizations, the town and prefectural governments, the plans were abandoned the following year.

On April 1, 1952, Mobara expanded by annexation of neighboring villages of Tōgō, Toyoda, Ninomiya-Hongō, Tsurue, and Gogō and was elevated to city status. On May 1, 1972, Mobara merged with the neighoring town of Honnō. On December 11, 1990, the city was hit by an F-3 tornado, which destroyed 58 houses and damaged over 148 others.

Economy

Mobara serves as a regional commerce center for surrounding Chōsei District. The economy of Mobara is dominated by electronics manufacturing, and by natural gas production and distribution. Futaba Corporation, a major manufacturer of radio control models and toys, is headquartered in Mobara. The main agricultural products are rice and onions.

Transportation

Rail

• JR East - Sotobō Line
  • Honnō - Shin-Mobara - Mobara

Highways

• Ken-Ō Expressway
• Japan National Route 128
• Route 409 (Japan)

Local attractions

• Tachibana Jinja - a Shintō shrine connected with the Yamatotakeru mythology, the ninomiya of Kazusa Province

Tanabata Festival

The Mobara Tanabata Festival

A popular annual event in Mobara is the Tanabata Festival, during which a wide array of stalls and parades dominate much of the city's central shopping district. While the rest of Japan usually celebrates Tanabata on July 7, the Mobara festival is held in late July so as to coincide with school holidays.

Sister city relations

• Salisbury, South Australia, Australia (since May 25, 2002)

Notable people from Mobara

• Naoki Kawano - actor and musician
• Ishii Kikujirō - prewar diplomat and cabinet minister
• Michitaka Kobayashi - seiyu
• Yuko Ogura - gravure idol
• Yōko Shōji - manga artist

Mobara is also the hometown of Akira Haraguchi, the man famous for reciting over 100,000 digits of Pi, who works as a mental health counsellor and business consultant in Mobara.^[2]

References

• "Mobara-shi". Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系 “Compendium of Japanese Historical Place Names”). Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2011. http://rekishi.jkn21.com/. Retrieved 2011-10-19. 

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Japanese man recites pi from memory to 100,000 decimal places, claims world record International Herald Tribune

External links

Media related to Mobara, Chiba at Wikimedia Commons

• Official city website (Japanese)
• Mobara Tanabata Festival website (Japanese)