Toyama

Toyama is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km (120 mi) north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km (190 mi) northwest of Tokyo.

Historically, Toyama was the capital of Etchu Province. The modern city was incorporated on April 1, 1889, withdrawing from Kaminiikawa District.

As of May 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 417,324, with 162,663 households and a population density of 336.05 persons per km². The total area is 1,241.85 km².

Toyama is served by Toyama Airport and Toyama Station of West Japan Railway Company, with Toyama Light Rail, Toyama Chiho Railway.

History

The Toyama Plain is good farmland and historically it was a point of strategic and traffic importance. During the Feudal Age, it was frequently turned into a battlefield. Toward the end of the period of confusion, Sassa Narimasa became the governor of Etchū Province (the ancient name for present Toyama), and he accomplished the feat of taming the rampaging rivers, bringing about an even more flourishing agricultural industry in Toyama. In the early Edo Period, a positive industrial promotion policy was implemented on the production of medicine and washi (Japanese paper). Also, thanks to the improvement of both land and sea transportation routes, these industries thrived and Toyama became known nationwide as the province of medicine.

After the Meiji Restoration, heavy and chemical industries developed in Toyama, based on abundant electricity which was generated in some hydro power stations in the mountains near-by. During World War II, Allied POWs were sent to Toyama as forced labor. Although the streets of Toyama were devastated by an air raid in August 1945, Toyama has become one of the most influential cities on the Japan Sea side with its good water supply, drainage system and thriving agricultural, forestry, fishery, commercial and manufacturing industries.

The city was completely destroyed on the night of August 1–2, 1945, possibly due to it being a major center for the Japanese military holding American prisoners of war. At the time of the bombing, the city was a center for aluminum, ball-bearing and special steel production. The city during the time had a population of around 150,000 residents.

Mergers

On April 1, 2005, the towns of Ōsawano and Ōyama (both from Kaminiikawa District), the towns of Fuchū and Yatsuo, and the villages of Hosoiri and Yamada (all from Nei District) were merged into Toyama. Kaminiikawa District and Nei District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.

Points of interest

• Botanic Gardens of Toyama
• Toyama International Conference Center
• Toyama Castle
• Museum of Modern Art, Toyama
• Toyama Athletic Recreation Park Stadium, home of Toyama's representative in the J. League, Kataller Toyama football club
• Toyama Glass Studio

Festivals and events

• Toyama Chindon Contest (Toyama Band of musical sandwichmen contest) - proposed by the Toyama Chamber of Commerce in 1955 and is held annually in early April. This event has become a festival, and many bands of sandwichmen (men wearing sandwich boards for advertisements) participate, attracting many tourists every year. But in 2011, the event was cancelled in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
• Kaze No Bon - held annually on September 1 to 3, in the Yatsuo region.

Educational Institutions

• Toyama College
• Toyama National College of Technology
• Toyama Prefectural University
• Toyama University of International Studies
• University of Toyama