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Kushiro

Coordinates: 42°59′N 144°23′E / 42.983°N 144.383°E / 42.983; 144.383
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the city. For the town, see Kushiro, Hokkaido (town). For the district, see Kushiro District, Hokkaido. For the subprefecture, its same name, see Kushiro Subprefecture.
Kushiro
釧路市
City
Top：Kushiro Wetland Park 2nd left：Nusamai Bridge, 2nd right：Lake Akan and Mount Oakan 3rd left：Kushiro Ramen, 3rd right：Port of Kushiro
Top：Kushiro Wetland Park
2nd left：Nusamai Bridge, 2nd right：Lake Akan and Mount Oakan
3rd left：Kushiro Ramen, 3rd right：Port of Kushiro
Flag of Kushiro
Flag
Official seal of Kushiro
Emblem
Location of Kushiro in Hokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
Location of Kushiro in Hokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
Kushiro is located in Japan
Kushiro
Kushiro
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°59′N 144°23′E / 42.983°N 144.383°E / 42.983; 144.383
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Kushiro Subprefecture)
Government
 • MayorHidenori Tsuruma
Area
 • Total1,362.90 km2 (526.22 sq mi)
Population
 (January 31, 2024)
 • Total157,288
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address7-5 Kuroganechō, Kushiro-shi, Hokkaido
085-8505
Websitewww.city.kushiro.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerNasturtium
MascotRin-chan (りんちゃん)
TreeSyringa reticulata

Kushiro (釧路市, Kushiro-shi) is a city in Kushiro Subprefecture on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Located along the coast of the North Pacific Ocean, it serves as the subprefecture's capital and it is the most populated city in the eastern part of the island.

History

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An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Kushiro as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.[1]

Kushiro had been an important port because it is more reliably ice-free during winter than alternative Russian Far East warm-water ports such as Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky or other ports in Hokkaido such as Hakodate, which occasionally freeze for short periods due to the lower salinity of the Sea of Japan. For this reason, Kushiro was considered a valuable target for the Tsars during the Russo-Japanese Wars. Its importance grew during the 1920s with the growth of commercial fishing, for which its reliable freedom from ice reduced costs.[2]

In addition to its port, Kushiro is serviced by Kushiro Airport with flights from Honshu and by the Ōzora limited express train service, which runs six times per day to the main population centres in the west of Hokkaido.

In July 1945 the city of Kushiro was bombed by American naval aircraft; hundreds of people, mostly civilians, were killed.[3] Following the Invasion of the Kuril Islands in August 1945, Kushiro was favoured by the Russians as the eastern cornerstone of a border between an American-occupied south and a Soviet-occupied north-coupled with Rumoi as the western cornerstone. However, these plans were cancelled after pressure by US President Harry S. Truman.[4][5][6][7]

On October 11, 2005, the town of Akan, from Akan District, and the town of Onbetsu, from Shiranuka District, was merged into Kushiro. The town of Shiranuka now lies between the two sections of Kushiro.

In 2008, the city had an estimated population of 189,539 and a total area of 1,362.75 km2 (526.16 sq mi), giving a population density of 140 persons per km2 (363 persons per sq. mi.).

Kushiro was one of the many Japanese cities to receive a Peace Pagoda. Built by the monks and nuns of the Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji, it was inaugurated in 1959.

Kushiro was accorded city status on August 1, 1922. It is the sister city of Burnaby, British Columbia; Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia; and Kholmsk, Russia.[8]

  • 1869: Kusuri becomes Kushiro.
  • 1900: Kushiro becomes a First Class Municipality as Kushiro Town.
  • 1920: Kushiro Town becomes Kushiro-ku. Kushiro Village (now Town) splits off.
  • 1922: Kushiro-ku becomes Kushiro City.
  • 1949: Tottori-cho was merged into Kushiro City.
  • 2005: The old city of Kushiro City, Akan Town, and Onbetsu Town merged was expanded city of Kushiro City.

Geography

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Train passing through Kushiro Wetlands, in Hokkaido, Japan
Kushiro Marsh
Central business district of Kushiro City
City central

Mountains

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Rivers

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Lakes

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  • Lake Akan
  • Lake Harutori
  • Lake Panketō
  • Lake Penketō
  • Lake Shunkushitakara

National Parks

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Climate

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Kushiro has a humid continental climate (Dfb) but its winter temperatures are less severe than those of inland East Asia at the same latitude. Its port is the most reliably ice-free throughout winter in all of Hokkaido, due to the lack of indentation in the coastline and absence of large inflows of cold fresh water nearby. It is also markedly sunnier than the extremely gloomy Kuril Islands to its north, being sheltered by Hokkaido's mountains from the heavy snowfalls produced on the Sea of Japan side by the Aleutian Low. It receives only a third as much snowfall as Sapporo and almost twice as much sunshine as the Kuril Islands are estimated to. Its daytime summer temperatures are noticeably cooler than in the interior, sheltered coastal areas and the south coast of Hokkaido.

Climate data for Kushiro/Kenebetsu weather station, 14m amsl (WMO identifier: 47418) 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1910−present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7) 		7.9
(46.2) 		15.9
(60.6) 		23.5
(74.3) 		28.0
(82.4) 		32.4
(90.3) 		33.5
(92.3) 		31.1
(88.0) 		29.6
(85.3) 		23.7
(74.7) 		18.7
(65.7) 		16.1
(61.0) 		33.5
(92.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.2
(31.6) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		3.3
(37.9) 		8.0
(46.4) 		12.6
(54.7) 		15.8
(60.4) 		19.6
(67.3) 		21.5
(70.7) 		20.1
(68.2) 		15.1
(59.2) 		8.9
(48.0) 		2.5
(36.5) 		10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.8
(23.4) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		4.0
(39.2) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.2
(54.0) 		16.1
(61.0) 		18.2
(64.8) 		16.5
(61.7) 		11.0
(51.8) 		4.7
(40.5) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		6.7
(44.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		0.7
(33.3) 		5.4
(41.7) 		9.5
(49.1) 		13.6
(56.5) 		15.7
(60.3) 		12.9
(55.2) 		6.1
(43.0) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		2.8
(37.0)
Record low °C (°F) −28.3
(−18.9) 		−27.0
(−16.6) 		−24.8
(−12.6) 		−14.1
(6.6) 		−4.6
(23.7) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		3.3
(37.9) 		5.4
(41.7) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		−15.2
(4.6) 		−25.7
(−14.3) 		−28.3
(−18.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40.4
(1.59) 		24.8
(0.98) 		55.9
(2.20) 		79.4
(3.13) 		115.7
(4.56) 		114.2
(4.50) 		120.3
(4.74) 		142.3
(5.60) 		153.0
(6.02) 		112.7
(4.44) 		64.7
(2.55) 		56.6
(2.23) 		1,080.1
(42.52)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 32
(13) 		27
(11) 		31
(12) 		7
(2.8) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		4
(1.6) 		26
(10) 		127
(50)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.5 mm) 6.4 5.6 8.1 9.8 11.3 10.2 11.5 11.8 11.8 8.7 8.0 7.7 110.8
Average relative humidity (%) 67 69 71 77 80 87 88 87 84 76 69 67 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 186.7 183.1 200.8 182.2 177.5 126.8 118.9 117.6 143.9 177.0 167.6 175.6 1,957.6
Percent possible sunshine 65 63 55 45 39 27 25 28 39 53 58 62 47
Average ultraviolet index 1 2 3 5 7 8 8 7 5 3 2 1 4
Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency,[9] (December record high)[10]
Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[11]
Climate data for Kushiro Airport weather station, 94.8m amsl (WMO identifier: 47489) 1985−2015 dewpoints
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average dew point °C (°F) −11
(12) 		−10
(14) 		−6
(21) 		−1
(30) 		5
(41) 		10
(50) 		15
(59) 		17
(63) 		13
(55) 		6
(43) 		−2
(28) 		−8
(18) 		2
(36)
Source: Time and Date[12]

Graphs are temporarily unavailable due to technical issues. See or edit raw graph data.

Education

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Universities

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National

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Public

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Colleges

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National

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Private

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High schools

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Public

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  • Hokkaido Akan High School (Municipal)
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Commercial High School
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Hokuyo High School
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Konan High School
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Koryo High School
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Meiki High School
  • Hokkaido Kushiro Technical High School

Private

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  • Bushukan High School
  • Ikegami Gakuen High School, Kushiro Campus

Transportation

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Airways

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Airport

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Railways

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Conventional lines

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Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaidō)
Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight)
Taiheiyō Coal Services

Roads

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Expressways

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Japan National Route

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Bus

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Local bus

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Operates both city, suburban, and intercity routes

Seaways

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Seaport

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  • Port of Kushiro

Sightseeing

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Local attractions

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Culture

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Kushiro Ice Arena
Rin-chan, the city's mascot

Sports

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Ice hockey

Ice hockey is one of the most popular winter sports in Kushiro. In addition to several leagues devoted to amateur play of all ages, Kushiro is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey Nippon Paper Cranes, three time Asia League Champions.

Kushiro and many other cities are interested in hosting bandy teams.[13] On January 8, 2017, the township of Akan hosted the first national championship,[14] although the size of the field was a smaller version than the official rules for a bandy field. In January 2018, the first championship on a full-sized field took place in Shintoku, with participation from three teams, including FACEOFF Kushiro.[15] The national team for women is based in Kushiro and made its World Championship debut in 2020.[16]

The Kushiro Ice Arena is the city's biggest stadion for ice hockey, figure skating and shorttrack.[17]

Speed skating

The Yanagimachi Speed Skating Rink hosted the 2003 World Junior Speed Skating Championships and several Japanese Championships. It has an asphalt inline speed skating track on the middle field.

Mascot

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Kushiro's mascot is Rin-chan (りんちゃん). She is a gentiana triflora flower (though she represents all flowers) from Onbetsu. Her favourite drink is milk.[18]

External relations

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Kushiro Tourism and International Relations Center

Sister cities

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Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

International

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Sister cities
City Country State since
Burnaby Canada Canada British Columbia 1965
Kholmsk Russia Russia Sakhalin Oblast 1975
Partner cities
City Country State since
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Russia Russia Kamchatka Krai 1998

Domestic

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Sister cities
City Prefecture region since
Yuzawa Akita Prefecture Akita Tōhoku region October 4, 1963
Tottori Tottori Prefecture Tottori Chūgoku region October 4, 1963
Okayama Okayama Prefecture Okayama Chūgoku region October 9, 1980
Partner cities
City Prefecture region since
Yachiyo Chiba Prefecture Chiba Kantō region 1982
Izumi Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima Kyushu region August 22, 1989
Tsuru Yamanashi Prefecture Yamanashi Chūbu region September 1, 1992
Naka (Naka District) Tokushima Prefecture Tokushima Shikoku region September 2, 2006

Sister ports

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Port of Kushiro's sister ports are:

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ US Department of State. (1906). A digest of international law as embodied in diplomatic discussions, treaties and other international agreements (John Bassett Moore, ed.), Vol. 5, p. 759.
  2. ^ "Port of Kushiro". World Port Source.
  3. ^ The Asahi Shimbun. "朝日新聞デジタル：空襲の記憶 風化させぬ - 北海道 - 地域". www.asahi.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Holloway, David, ‘Jockeying for Position in the Postwar World: Soviet Entry into the War with Japan in August 1945’, in The End of the Pacific War: Reappraisals, ed. by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2007), pp. 145-188 (pp. 178-179).
  5. ^ Nimmo, William F (2001). Stars and Stripes Across the Pacific: The United States, Japan, and Asia page 237. ISBN 9780275964535. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  6. ^ Clark, Gregory (August 22, 2014). "How WWII could have ended". Japan Times. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  7. ^ Yumashev, Ivan (August 19, 1945). "REPORT BY IVAN YUMASHEV TO ALEKSANDR VASILEVSKY". Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Russian presence in Japan Archived August 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  10. ^ 釧路 1890年（月ごとの値） 主な要素. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  11. ^ "Kushiro, Japan – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast". Weather Atlas. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Climate & Weather Averages at Kushiro Airport weather station". Time and Date. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Greetings from Yukiaki Okada President Japan Bandy Federation
  14. ^ "鈴木貴子『あの噂のスポーツが阿寒にやって来た！～私を五輪につれてって♥～』".
  15. ^ "Рюджи Тсуджитсугу: хочу разобраться во всех тонкостях хоккея с мячом - Архив новостей - Федерация хоккея с мячом России". rusbandy.ru.
  16. ^ "北海道ニュースリンク | 北海道の情報配信サイト".
  17. ^ City of Kushiro. "Training Camp Guide (Ice sports facilities on page 10-11)" (PDF). Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  18. ^ "旧音別町の概要". Kushiro.
  19. ^ "Port Stephens Council: Port Stephens Sister Cities". September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
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