Higashi-ku, Sapporo

nihongo|Higashi-ku, Sapporo|東区、札幌| is one of the 10 wards in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is directly translated as "east ward", and is neighboured to Kita-ku, Chūō-ku, Shiroishi-ku, Ebetsu, Tōbetsu.

Overview

According to the jūminhyō (registry of current residential addresses and figures) in 2008, 254,360 people are living in Higashi-ku. It has 57.13 km² of areas, and a number of rivers are located in the ward including Toyohira River.

The ward has a mascot character, Tappy, which is designed as a fairy of the onion and named in 1993 as a portmanteau word of "Tamanegi (means onion in Japanese) " and "happy". [http://www.city.sapporo.jp/higashi/about/simbol.html#tappy Higashi-ku, symbol] ] The onion is one of the vegetables mainly raised in Higashi-ku, and that is a reason why Tappy is associated with onion.

History

Originally, at the place where Higashi-ku is currently located, Naebo Village and Okadama Village have been formed by the pioneers from the outside of Hokkaidō since 1870. Sapporo Village was established in 1871, and Kariki Village was established in 1873. In 1902, Naebo Village, Okadama Village, and Kariki Village were merged into Sapporo Village, which became almost same extent with current Higashi-ku. [http://www.city.sapporo.jp/higashi/about/kaitaku.html The history of the reclamation of Higashi-ku] ]

In 1955, Sapporo Village was merged into Sapporo City, and in 1972, Sapporo was listed as one of the cities designated by government ordinance, which enabled Higashi-ku to come into existence. In 1988, the Tōhō line of the Sapporo Municipal Subway was laid, and a number of subway stations were placed in some locations in Higashi-ku.

Points of interest

* Okadama Airport - an airport located in Okadama.
* Moerenuma park - a park designed by Isamu Noguchi, an American-Japanese artist.
* Sapporo Satoland - one of the venues of the Sapporo Snow Festival.
* Sapporo Beer Museum - an only beer museum in Japan.
* Sapporo Community Dome - a sports and event venue, which is also known as its nickname "Tsu-Dome".

Sources

External links

* [http://www.city.sapporo.jp/higashi/index.html Youkoso Higashiku - Official homepage of Higashi-ku] ja icon