Akashi 明石
—  Special city  —
明石市
Akashi from the remains of the old castle.
Flag
Location of Akashi in Hyōgo
Akashi
Coordinates: 34°39′N 135°0′E / 34.65°N 135°E / 34.65; 135Coordinates: 34°39′N 135°0′E / 34.65°N 135°E / 34.65; 135
Country	Japan
Prefecture	Hyōgo
Government
• Mayor	Fusaho Izumi (since May 2011)
Area
• Total	49.22 km2 (19.00 sq mi)
Population (April 1, 2011)
• Total	290,776
• Density	5,907.68/km2 (15,300.8/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Sweet Osmanthus
- Flower	Chrysanthemums
Phone number	078-912-1111
Address	1-5-1 Nakasaki, Akashi-shi, Hyogo-ken 673-8686
Website	Akashi

Akashi (明石市, Akashi-shi^?) is a city located in southern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the Seto Inland Sea west of Kobe.

As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 290,776, with 117,392 households, and a population density of 5,907.68 persons per km². The total area is 49.22 km².

History[link]

Akashi was an important city during Japan's pre-modern period due to the presence of Akashi Castle, headquarters of the Akashi Domain. The city, in its current form, was founded on November 1, 1919.

On 21 July 2001, 11 people were killed and 247 injured in a pedestrian stampede after a fireworks show. Five city and civil officials were subsequently convicted for negligence for not preventing the disaster.^[1]

Geography[link]

Akashi Municipal Planetarium, as known land of Japan Standard Time site

Akashi Municipal Planetarium stands on the meridian of 135 degrees east longitude, and is used to determine Japan Standard Time. Contrary to the name, the terminus of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge that connects Honshu to Awaji Island (and thereby to Shikoku) is not in Akashi but in Tarumi-ku, Kōbe.

The remains of Akashi Castle are located just north of Akashi Station and are visible from the station platform.

Politics and government[link]

Akashi is governed by Mayor Hiroto Kitaguchi, an independent. The city assembly has 31 elected members and is dominated by independents.

Culture[link]

Akashi is well known for Akashiyaki, a kind of takoyaki particular to the region. Small pieces of octopus (tako) are placed inside a ball-shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs and this is then fried. Akashiyaki is often eaten by dipping in a thin soup. Akashi is the site of the Uontana (Uo-no-Tana, 魚の棚, lit."fish-shelf") Fish Market where local fishermen display an array of fresh seafood caught in the Akashi strait.

Gallery[link]

This section looks like an image gallery. Wikipedia policy discourages galleries of random images of the article subject; please improve or remove the section accordingly, moving freely licensed images to Wikimedia Commons if not already hosted there. (November 2011)

• 

  Port of Akashi

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  Sanyo Akashi Station

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  Old town area

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  Uontana

References[link]

External links[link]

Media related to Akashi, Hyogo at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)

v t e 20x20pxHyōgo Prefecture Kobe (capital city) Chūō Higashinada Hyōgo Kita Nada Nagata Nishi Suma Tarumi Other cities Aioi Akashi Akō Amagasaki Asago Ashiya Awaji Himeji Itami Kakogawa Kasai Katō Kawanishi Miki Minamiawaji Nishinomiya Nishiwaki Ono Sanda Sasayama Shisō Sumoto Takarazuka Takasago Tamba Tatsuno Toyooka Yabu Akō District Kamigōri Ibo District Taishi Kako District Harima Inami Kanzaki District Fukusaki Ichikawa Kamikawa Kawabe District Inagawa Mikata District Kami Shin'onsen Sayō District Sayō Taka District Taka