Arakawa, Tokyo

Japanese city
Name=Arakawa Ward
JapaneseName=荒川区
Prefecture=Tokyo
Region=Kantō
Area_km2=10.20
Population=197,716
PopDate=2008
Density_km2=18800
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LatitudeDegrees= 35
LatitudeMinutes= 44
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LongtitudeDegrees= 139
LongtitudeMinutes= 47
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Postal code=
Area code=
Mayor =
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CityHallAddress=
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CityHallLink = [http://www.city.arakawa.tokyo.jp Arakawa] | City

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nihongo|Arakawa|荒川区|Arakawa-ku is a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan. The ward takes its name from the river, the Arakawa. Its neighbors are the wards of Adachi, Kita, Bunkyo, Taito and Sumida. In English, the ward calls itself Arakawa City.

Arakawa has sister-city relationships with Donaustadt in Vienna, Austria, and with Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Domestically, it has similar relationships with nine cities, towns and villages.

As of April 1, 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 197,716 and a density of about 18,800 persons per km². The total area is 10.20 km².

Geography

Arakawa is in the northeastern part of Tokyo. The shape is long and narrow, stretching from west to east. The Sumida River forms the northern boundary.

The ward is surrounded by five other special wards. To the north lies Adachi; to the west, Kita; to the southwest, Bunkyo. South of Arakawa is Taito, and southeast is Sumida.

History

During the Edo period, the region was agricultural. Beginning in the Meiji era, it became industrial as the waters of the Arakawa began to attract factories. From 1651 onwards, it housed the Tokugawa's largest execution ground of Kozukappara (now next to Minami-Senju station).

In 1932, it became one of the 35 wards of Tokyo City.

Neighborhoods

*Machiya
*Arakawa
*Nishi Ogu
*Nishi Nippori
*Higashi Ogu
*Higashi Nippori
*Minami Senju

Famous people

*Kitajima Kosuke (Olympic gold-medalist in swimming)
*Leopard Tamakuma (former WBA boxing flyweight champion)
*Misora Hibari (singer)
*Yamada Kuniko (comic)
*Yamaguchi Momoe (singer, actress)

Landmarks

Arakawa Nature Park

Education

Public elementary and middle schools are operated by the Arakawa City Board of Education.

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.
* Arakawa Technical High School [http://www.arakawakogyo-h.metro.tokyo.jp/]
* Takenodai High School [http://www.takenodai-h.metro.tokyo.jp/]

The metropolis also operates the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Aeronautical Engineering [http://www.kouku-k.ac.jp/index_e.html EN] , [http://www.kouku-k.ac.jp/ JP] in Arakawa.

Transportation

Rail

* JR East
** Yamanote Line, Keihin Tohoku Line: Nishi Nippori, Nippori Stations
** Joban Line: Nippori, Minamikawashima, Minami-Senju Stations
* Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
**Toden Arakawa Line (13 stations)
**Nippori-Toneri Liner: Nippori, Nishi-Nippori, Akado-Shōgakkō-mae, Kumano-mae
* Tokyo Metro
** Chiyoda Line: Nishi Nippori, Machiya Stations
** Hibiya Line: Minami Senju Station
* Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Main Line: Nippori, Shin-Mikawashima, Machiya Stations
* Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company Tsukuba Express: Minami Senju Station

Additional facilities are under construction.

Major Roads

*Route 4 (the Nikkō Kaidō)
*Meiji Street
*Ogubashi Street
*Otakebashi Street

Events

*Sada Abe incident
*The attempted assassination of the head of the National Police Agency following an investigation of Aum Shinrikyo-related facilities (1995)

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.city.arakawa.tokyo.jp/foreign/english/index.html Arakawa City official website] in English