Akitakata, Hiroshima


Akitakata is a city located in north-central Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
As of April 1, 2011, the city has a population of 31,565, with 13,223 households and a population density of 59 persons per km². of The total area is 538.17 km².
The modern city of Akitakata was established on March 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Kōda, Midori, Mukaihara, Takamiya, Yachiyo and Yoshida. Therefore, Takata District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
It is a mountainous farming area known for many traditional events as well as certain food products.
One such food product is Ebisu tea, a sweet fragrant tea, that comes from Mukaihara Town. Another is yuzu juice, a product of the Kawane area of Takamiya town in the northeastern part of the city.
The city also lays claim to be the birthplace and hometown of Mōri Motonari, the Warring States-era daimyō of the 16th century.

History

The area of Akitakata City was originally known as Takata District, which combined 26 villages into a single administrative unit on April 1, 1889.
The area now known as Akitakata was the site of a number of fortifications during the period when Mori Motonari fought against the Amago clan. Mori Motonari himself was born in Suzuo Castle in 1497, the remains of which are in the town of Yoshida. In 1500, Motonari's father, Mōri Hiromoto retired to Tajihi-Sarukake castle, about 4 kilometers north of the family's base in Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle, both of whose remains are also in Yoshida town. Motonari would remain based here until the age of 27 when he would return to the family base in Yoshida-Kōriyama Castle.
Ikenouchi in Koda was the site of a battle against the Amago clan on September 26, 1540. The Amago clan was defeated, and it is said that the leader, Yubara Yajirō committed seppuku there. A monument commemorates the occasion. Koda is also the site of the remains of Goryū castle, of the Shishido clan.The family would become tied to the Mori clan with the marriage of Motonari's eldest daughter to Shishido Takaie.

Culture

, an ancient traditional form of Shinto dance and music, is still alive there today. The towns of Midori and Takamiya practice the "new dance" style, which is not actually new at all, just a later emergent performance style compared to the "old style".
Akitakata City is in the countryside, and still maintains many traditional local festivals. One such is Hanadaue, or rice-planting festival where men play flutes and taiko while women sing and plant rice.

Notable places