Gifu

Located on the alluvial plain of the Nagara River, Gifu has taken advantage of the surrounding natural resources to create both traditional industries (including Mino washi and agriculture) and tourism opportunities such as cormorant fishing. and a population density of about . The total area of the city was . Cityscape File:Gifu station.jpg|Gifu Station (2021) File:Meitetsu Gifu Station2021.jpg|Meitetsu Gifu Station (2021) File:Views of Gifu city from Gifu City Tower 43 - 2022 Jan 3.webm|Various Gifu city views seen from Gifu City Tower 43 (2022) File:Central Business District of Gifu City2022.jpg|CBD of Gifu viewed from Gifu Castle File:Yanagase03.jpg|Yanagase area (2020) File:Gifu Family Park Adventure 04.JPG|Gifu Family Park (2009) == Geography ==

The city of Gifu is located in the southern portion of the prefecture and is on the northern edge of the Nōbi Plain. It is also the main city of the Gifu region of the prefecture. Much of Gifu's land area has been gained as the result of mergers, but the city's size grew the most through mergers with the neighboring towns of Kanō (in 1940) and Yanaizu (in 2006). As a result, Gifu's geography is very diverse, ranging from the built-up city center to persimmon orchards and strawberry patches in the outlying areas. The northern part of the city is bordered by tree-covered mountains, whereas most of the city center is spread throughout the southern part. The Nagara River cuts the city in half, running from the northeast to the southwest. Much of the city is part of the Nagara River's alluvial plain and an environmental conservation district. Because of the formation of the river, the area is prone to flooding when typhoons or heavy thunderstorms occur; however, dykes and levies have been built to control the excess water. The rich soil of the area is prime farmland; as of 2005, 6,731 farms were operating on . Gifu recorded a record high of 38.8 °C on August 16, 2007 and record low of minus 14.3 °C on January 24, 1927. Surrounding municipalities ;Gifu Prefecture • Ginan • Hashima • Kakamigahara • Kasamatsu • Kitagata • Mizuho • Motosu • Ōgaki • Seki • Yamagata == Demographics ==

When Gifu was founded in 1889, it was a small city that experienced moderate growth as Japan industrialized at the beginning of the century. During Japan's military buildup in the 1930s, the city became an industrial center and experienced exponential growth. Gifu remained prosperous in the post-war years, until its population started to decline like many Japanese cities in the 1980s and '90s. Though the city has shown a large increase in population in recent years, this trend results largely from the inclusion, for the first time, of the population of Yanaizu, which added about 13,000 people to Gifu's numbers. Gifu's estimated population, as of July 2011, is 412,895. The gender breakdown is 196,762 males and 216,133 females, with a total of 162,060 households within the city limits. Similar to many areas in Japan, the percentage of senior citizens over 65 years of age is approximately 21.67%, compared to only 14.13% of the population younger than 15. This is comparable to the population of the prefecture and of Japan as a whole. In the prefecture, 22.1% of the population is over 65 and 14.4% of the population is less than 15 years old. Throughout Japan, only 21% are over the age of 65 and 13.6% are younger than 15 as of 2008. The average age of city residents is 43.37. == History ==

Two archaeological sites in the city of Gifu have shown that the area around modern-day Gifu has had residents since pre-history because of Gifu's location in the fertile Nōbi Plain. The Ryomonji and Kotozuka sites have produced large burial mounds that are representative of the late-Yayoi period, was a common phrase during the Sengoku period (15th to 17th century), since Gifu's central location in Japan made it a desirable location for those trying to unify the country. For over 200 years, the Mino Province (including the present-day city of Gifu) was under control of the Toki clan, a powerful regional clan. However, during the Sengoku period, Saitō Dōsan, a Toki vassal, rebelled against his clan and took control of Mino Province in 1542 and built Inabayama Castle atop Mount Inaba, It was during Nobunaga's reign of power that the area finally received its modern name. After consulting with a Buddhist priest, He took the first character (岐 gi) from Qishan (岐山), the legendary mountain from which most of ancient China was unified. The second character (阜 fu) means "base of the mountain" and comes from Qufu (曲阜), the birthplace of Confucius. Though he was not originally from the area, Nobunaga chose to use Dōsan's castle and mountain as his base of operations, which he renamed Gifu Castle and Mount Kinka, respectively. In 1586, the Tenshō earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 affected the region, killing several thousand people. Gifu's economy grew immensely during this period, primarily due to its location at the center of Nobunaga's expanding empire. Additionally, Nobunaga established Rakuichi Rakuza (楽市楽座), a free market for his citizens to use, in direct response to the commercial monopoly of the area's temples and shrines. On October 28, 1891, two years later, the Mino–Owari earthquake occurred, estimated at 8 magnitude on the Richter Scale. About 37% of the city was lost to fire, resulting in 1,505 casualties (245 dead, 1,260 injured) and 6,336 buildings affected (3,993 of which were completely destroyed). As a result, Gifu erected the first Earthquake Memorial Hall in all of Japan, which holds memorial services for the victims on the 28th of every month. As a result, Gifu was the target of heavy firebombing by the United States Army Air Forces, culminating in the Gifu Air Raid of July 9, 1945, which resulted in 1,383 casualties (863 dead, 520 injured) and 20,426 buildings affected. Originally, rubberized silk was used to help these bombs use the newly discovered jet stream to traverse the Pacific Ocean, but Gifu's paper was found to be both stronger, lighter, and more airtight. Modern history In the years following the wars, tragedy struck Gifu once again. On September 12, 1976, Typhoon 17 (Super Typhoon Fran) struck the city, killing five people and affecting over 40,000 families. Gifu expanded its size in 2006 by merging with the neighboring town of Yanaizu (from Hashima District) during the great Heisei merger. == Government ==

Local government As with all Japanese cities, Gifu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature. The mayor serves a four-year term. Supporting the mayor are two vice-mayors and the city treasurer, all of whom are appointed by the mayor. The city legislature has 38 seats. No members of the city council are selected through at-large election. Like the mayor, each member of the city council serves a four-year term and all seats are up for election at the same time. The council chair and vice-chair are elected by members of the city assembly. The city also supplies nine members of the Gifu Prefectural Assembly, who are also elected for a four-year term. In terms of the national government, Gifu 1st district (Gifu-ken dai-ikku) is a single-member electoral district for the House of Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet. The district consists of all of Gifu, excluding the former town of Yanaizu, which falls into the Gifu 3rd District. == External relations ==

Twin towns – sister cities International Gifu is twinned with: ;Sister cities • Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, since 1982 • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, since 1988 • Meidling (Vienna), Austria, since 1994 • Thunder Bay, Canada, since 2007 ;Friendship cities • Florence, Italy, 1978 • Hangzhou, China, 1979 National • Toyama, Toyama, Japan, since 2007 == Economy ==

Gifu's first major industry was textiles. For a long period of time it rivaled Tokyo and Osaka as a leader of the Japanese fashion industry. The area just north of JR Gifu Station contains a variety of small clothing stores catering to many types of consumers. Furthermore, the city's main downtown covered shopping arcade, Yanagase, features many clothing, shoe, and accessory shops that carry both domestic and overseas goods. Over the past decade, though, as Gifu's fashion industry has declined steeply, the city has begun developing other industries to support the local economy. One such industry is manufacturing. Because the city is located near Aichi Prefecture and its many major automotive and heavy industry companies, such as Toyota, In the Kanō area, visitors have the opportunity to take a course and make their own paper umbrellas. == Education ==

Gifu has 48 nursery schools and 43 kindergartens available for children. The city government operates 47 public elementary schools, and one additional public elementary school is under the aegis of the national government; there is also one private elementary school. The city also has 22 public junior high schools, with one additional public junior high school and one private junior high school. There are also three private combined junior/senior high schools. After graduating from junior high school, students have the option of attending one of Gifu's 12 public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education or 5 private high schools. Gifu also has a North Korean school, the . The city has 19 technical institutions and two public and six private colleges and universities. The largest of these is Gifu University, the city's national university, which includes a hospital. Among the private universities, Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University, located in the area of the former town of Yanaizu offers a four-year program and also has an associated junior college. Gifu Women's University, a private women's university founded in 1968 is also a four-year school. Gifu City Women's College was founded in 1946 as traditional college, but later became a city-supported, public junior college. Gifu Pharmaceutical University, founded in 1932 as the Gifu City Pharmaceutical College, remains a public university offering graduate-level courses. Colleges and universities • Gifu City Women's College • Gifu Junior College of Health Science • Gifu Pharmaceutical University • Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University • Gifu Shotoku Gakuen Junior College • Gifu University • Gifu Women's University • Heisei College of Health Sciences == Transportation ==

Gifu's central location and its past connection with the Nakasendō make it one of Japan's central transportation hubs. In addition to being in the center of many rail and bus lines, the city also has nine national highways running through its borders. These include the Meishin Expressway, Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway and Japan National Route 21, 22, 156, 157, 248, 256, and 303. Two rail companies have major train stations downtown: JR Central (Central Japan Railway Company) and Meitetsu. The JR Tōkaidō Main Line runs through and the Takayama Main Line begins at JR Gifu Station. The JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen, however, does not run through Gifu Station; its nearest stops are Nagoya Station and Gifu-Hashima Station. The Meitetsu lines include the Nagoya Line, the Kakamigahara Line, and the Takehana Line, all of which originate at Meitetsu Gifu Station. ;Central Japan Railway Company (JR Tōkai) • Tōkaidō Main Line: - '''''' - • Takayama Main Line: - Gifu - ;Japan Freight Railway Company • Tōkaido Main Line: Gifu Freight Terminal ;Meitetsu • Nagoya Line: - - '''''' • Kakamigahara Line: Meitetsu Gifu - - - - - • Takehana Line: Until April 1, 2005, Meitetsu also operated a streetcar line that ran through Gifu. Municipal bus service first began in Gifu in 1949. Bicycles can be rented at JR Gifu Station (second floor), Gifu City Hall (South Branch), Gifu Park (Museum of History), and the Cormorant Fishing Boat Viewing Office. == Tourism ==

Cormorant fishing Cormorant fishing is the representative tourist attraction of Gifu. Though it occurs in many places in Japan, cormorant fishing on the Nagara River dates back more than 1,300 years. Matsuo Bashō, a renowned haiku poet in the Edo period, spent many months in Gifu, creating haiku about many things, including cormorant fishing. Famed comedian Charlie Chaplin also came to view cormorant fishing on the Nagara River twice, reportedly moved by the experience. Museums The largest of the city-supported museums is the Gifu City Museum of History. It is located in Gifu Park and its permanent exhibit primarily focuses on Gifu's past, containing many hands-on exhibits. It often hosts special exhibits, though, providing a broader field of information to its visitors. Also located in Gifu Park is the Eizō & Tōichi Katō Memorial Art Museum, which is a semi-autonomous branch of the history museum. This art museum is dedicated to the works of the brothers Eizō and Tōichi Katō, famous artists born in Gifu Prefecture. The Nagara River and cormorant fishing feature prominently in a number of their pieces. The Yanaizu Folklore Museum in the Yanaizu-chō area of the city is the other branch of the Museum of History. In 2006 the city instituted a policy that allows elementary and junior high school students to enter many of the city's museums free of charge. Festivals and events The first major festivals of the year are the Dōsan Festival and the Gifu Festival, both of which occur on the first Saturday and following Sunday of April. Because the Dōsan Festival is a memorial to Saitō Dōsan, many of the festivities take place near Jōzai-ji, where his remains are buried. The Gifu Festival is a Shinto festival that begins at Inaba Shrine and winds its way through other shrines within the city. Both festivals include street vendors, flea markets, and floats paraded through the city. The Gifu Nobunaga Festival, which takes place on the first Saturday and following Sunday of October, also pays homage to a former lord of Gifu. This festival centers on the downtown area and includes a procession of horses and warriors down the city's main streets. The first festival, the Chunichi Shimbun Nagara River All-Japan Fireworks Festival, occurs on the last Saturday of July. The second, the Nagara River National Fireworks Display, occurs on the first Saturday of August. Each set of displays revolves around a different theme (such as the beauty of Gifu or AIDS Awareness) or are created by a specific group of persons (for example, local school students or local artists). Athletics The main sporting facility in the city is the Gifu Memorial Center, whose complex includes facilities for athletic and other events. Its athletic facilities include a track and field complex, a baseball stadium, and plazas for tennis and swimming, as well as martial arts and traditional arts facilities. There are also two large multi-purpose domes: the Deai Dome (seats 5,000) and the Fureai Dome (seats 700). All of the facilities are equipped for night events. The soccer field at the Memorial Center serves as the home to FC Gifu, the city's football representative in the J-League. Next to Memorial Center is the Nagaragawa Sports Plaza, a sports science and training center. The facility accommodates up to 300 people and provides access to equipment for improving athletic ability. This pedestrian pathway is named after the Gifu-born marathoner Naoko Takahashi, who won the gold medal in the event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. This road primarily stretches from Nagara Bridge to Chusetsu Bridge, providing a convenient course for events such as the Terry Fox Run, the Nagaragawa International Inline Skating Competition, and the Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon. Other attractions Gifu Park is one of the major tourist attractions of the city because it contains many of the museums and is near many other sightseeing spots. However, it also serves as a gathering place because of its large shaded areas that include ponds, waterfalls, cherry trees and wisteria vines. Next to Gifu Park is Mount Kinka, which serves as one of the main symbols of Gifu. It rises into the sky along the banks of the Nagara River and serves as the home of Gifu Castle, as well as many hiking trails. Other attractions include Bairin Park, filled with over fifty types of plum trees Its many springs have a high iron content, considered beneficial for a variety of ailments. == Historical areas ==

Castles Gifu's most famous castle is Gifu Castle, located on Mount Kinka. First built by the Nikaidō clan during the Kamakura period, the castle has gone through many forms, with its current version rebuilt in 1956. Kawate Castle was used by the Toki clan while they were guarding Owari, Ise and Mino provinces as the Chief Retainer of the shogunate during the Muromachi period. It was also used as a meeting place for the cultural and social elite from Kyoto. Inaba Shrine was originally located on the northern side of Mount Kinka, but was moved to its present location by Saitō Dōsan during his reign over Gifu. Kogane Shrine is located in Kogane Park, behind the Gifu City Culture Center, and a popular legend says that, behind Kashimori Shrine, you can see the footprints of Tenba, a mythical horse. Major temples Because of the importance of both Saitō Dōsan and Oda Nobunaga, many of Gifu's temples hold strong connections to them. Jōzai-ji, for instance, was built by Saitō Myōchin, an ancestor of Dōsan, under the protection of Toki Shigeyori. Dōsan took advantage of this temple's support as he began his domination of Mino Province. His presence was so strong that his death was mourned at the temple for three generations, and his remains are now interred there. Zuiryō-ji was also built by Myōchin and is currently undergoing restoration. It contains the tombs of Shigeyori, Myōchin, and Gokei Kokushi. Sōfuku-ji contains the "Blood Ceiling"; it was stained with the blood of the vassals of Oda Nobunaga's grandson, Oda Hidenobu, who committed seppuku during the Battle of Sekigahara after their leader's defeat. This temple contains the mausoleums of both Nobunaga and his son, Oda Nobutada. Jōdo-ji holds the remains of Hanako, Rodin's only Japanese model, who traveled extensively throughout Europe during her career. A statue of Hanako was erected at the temple in 2004. Hanako spent most of her later years in Gifu's Nishizono-chō, just east of Yanagase. == Culture ==

Lifestyle The central area of the city serves as a satellite of nearby Nagoya, which has large offices of many international companies, including Toyota. The ease of commute between the two cities, as well as the plentiful apartment construction underway, has contributed to this distinction. Just west of Gifu Station is Gifu City Tower 43, a 43-story high-rise building developed by Takenaka Corporation that opened on October 13, 2007 as the tallest building in Gifu Prefecture. The lower floors will be used as offices or shops for targeted services such as medical care. Additionally, public space exists at the top of the building, allowing residents another 360-degree view of Gifu, complementing that offered from Gifu Castle. which is similar to, but more comprehensive than, the slow food initiative. It is designed to encourage residents to lead slower lifestyles and provide an alternative to the fast-paced life of the modern world. Major elements of this campaign include more dependence on locally grown food; traditional culture and arts; and activities to increase citizens’ participation in their community. In addition to slow food, Gifu also hopes to include slow industry (traditional crafts), slow education (studying quality of life), and slow tourism (represented by cormorant fishing). == Notable people from Gifu ==

Politicians • Yasuhiko Funago • Hajime Furuta • Iwao Matsuda • Yoji Muto • Seiko Noda • Yasuhiro Sonoda • Atsuko Wakai Culture and arts • Haruka Aizawa - manga artist • Eizō Katō - painter • Tōichi Katō - painter • Nobuo Kojima - writer • Seijirō Kōyama - film director • Makoto Raiku - manga artist • Aki Shimazaki - writer (moved to Canada in 1981) • Masahiro Shinoda - film director • Morita Sōhei - novelist • Masamitsu Tsuchida - Go player • Kansai Yamamoto - fashion designer Entertainment • Gō Ayano - actor • Yu Hasebe - actress • Miona Hori - idol, Nogizaka46 • Hideaki Itō - actor • Yoko Kumada - gravure idol • Mina - voice actress • Nana Okada - singer • Reina Sumi - announcer • Shinnosuke Tachibana - voice actor • Minase Yashiro - gravure idol Athletes • Sayaka Aoki - track and field • Takahiro Aoki - former baseball player • Yuko Arai - fencer • Kenta Asakura - former baseball player • Shinji Iwata - former baseball player • Masaaki Mori - former baseball player and manager • Yasuyuki Moriyama - former football player • Tomoko Okuda - professional boxer • Toru Suzuki - golfer • Morimichi Takagi - former baseball player • Jumpei Takahashi - baseball player, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks • Naoko Takahashi - long-distance runner • Hiroshi Tanahashi - wrestler • Tsuyoshi Tezuka - drifting driver • Kazuhiro Wada - former baseball player • Naofumi Yamamoto - Former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Yoshi Tatsu • Kokomo Murase - Professional snowboarder Others • Kenkichi Kagami - entrepreneur • Takeyoshi Kawashima - jurist • Hirosi Ooguri - physicist == See also ==