Kamogawa, Chiba


Kamogawa is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
As of March 2017, the city had an estimated population of 33,307, and a population density of 175 persons per km². The total area is 191.14 km².
The name of the city consists of two kanji characters: the first, kamo, meaning "duck", and the second, kawa, meaning "river".

Geography

Kamogawa is near the southeastern tip of the Bōsō Peninsula, facing the Pacific Ocean, about 70 km south of the prefectural capital, Chiba City, and about 85 km from the capital of Japan, Tokyo. The area has a warm maritime climate with hot summers and mild winters. Kamogawa is home to Mount Atago, which at is the highest point in Chiba Prefecture. Mount Kiyosumi is home to Seichōji. The Kamo River empties into the Pacific Ocean at Kamogawa.

Neighboring municipalities

Early history

The area of present-day Kamogawa was part of ancient Awa Province. Nichiren was born in the Kominato district of Kamogawa, and his birthplace is commemorated at Tanjō-ji. During the Edo period, it was mostly tenryō territory controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, with portions under the control of the feudal domains of Funagata Domain, Tateyama Domain, Iwasuki Domain and Tsurumaki Domain. The short-lived Tōjō Domain and the Bakumatsu period Hanabusa Domain were also located within the borders of modern Kamogawa.

Modern history

In 1877, ten years after the beginning of the Meiji era, Kamogawa suffered a notable cholera outbreak. In 1927 Awa-Kamogawa Station became the terminus of both the Sotobō Line and the Uchibō Line. The city sustained injuries and fatalities during World War II via aerial bombing by the United States. The city was occupied by American forces after the war. Soon after, land reform and economic reform were carried out in Kamogawa. In 1958 the coastal areas of Kamogawa became a part of Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park, and the town became a tourist destination as a result of the establishment of the park.

Economy

Kamogawa serves as a commercial center for the surrounding region of south-central Chiba Prefecture. Commercial fishing remains the primary industry in Kamogawa, which has five active fishing ports. The city is noted for its sardine and mackerel production. Rice farming and floriculture are practiced. The tourist industry is a growing component of the local economy, with visitors attracted to the area's beaches, hot spring resorts, Kamogawa Seaworld, and the Futomi Flower Center.

Administrative history

At the start of the Meiji period, Kamogawa consisted of all of Nagasa District with two towns and nine villages, and two villages from neighboring Asai District. All of these villages and towns became part of Awa District in 1890. Kamogawa was elevated to city status on March 31, 1971.
On February 11, 2005, the town of Amatsukominato was merged into Kamogawa.

Transportation

Railway

The anime series is set in Kamogawa.