Hakodate

Hakodate (函館市) is the third city of the island of Hokkaidō (Japan), behind Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Geography

In 2004, the city had a population of 299.737 inhabitants, one population density of 442,24 hab/km ² and a surface of 677,77 km ².

The city is dominated by the mount Hakodate (函館山), a mountain covered with forests. The top of this one can be reached easily thanks to a cable car. The sight on Hakodate especially the night is re-elected in all Japan as being one of the most beautiful sights of the country.

History

Hakodate was founded in 1454 when Kono Kaganokami Masmichi built a large manor in the village Aïnu of Usukeshi (the word aïnu for " baie").

Historically, Hakodate one of the two commercial stopovers is conceded with the the United States in 1854 with the admiral Matthew Perry. The city was then an important port of call for the American ships. It is around this port that the city developed. It was used for the Japanese, during the Period Meiji as bases to colonize the island of Hokkaidō which was at the time almost deserted. At the end of the shogunat, a war between the forces of the Meiji revolution and the forces remained faithful to the shogunat (to which the captain Jules Brunet belonged) took place in the city (see Goryōkaku and République independent of Ezo). Hakodate is a strategic place still today. The city faces the Détroit of Tsugaru and became a major passage between the islands of Honshū and Hokkaidō.

Hakodate obtained the statute of municipality the 1922. The city escaped the devastations mainly from the Second world war. Many prisoners of war were interned in Hakodate: the historians have the proof of the existence of 10 camps.

The size of the town of Hakodate almost doubled on February 1st 2004 when the municipalities close to You, Esan, Todohokke and Minamikayabe amalgamated with Hakodate.

Twinnings

Hakodate is twinned with:

Famous people originating in the city

  • members of GLAY (an rock group)

  • Naya Goro - actor

Religion

Zh-yue: 函館

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