| Akō | |||
| Native Name Lang: | ja | ||
| Settlement Type: | City | ||
| Image Blank Emblem: | Emblem of Akō, Hyōgo.svg | ||
| Blank Emblem Type: | Emblem | ||
| Pushpin Map: | Japan | ||
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Japan | ||
| Coordinates: | 34.7517°N 134.3931°W | ||
| Subdivision Type: | Country | ||
| Subdivision Name: | Japan | ||
| Subdivision Type1: | Region | ||
| Subdivision Name1: | Kansai | ||
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture | ||
| Subdivision Name2: | Hyōgo | ||
| Subdivision Type3: | District | ||
| Extinct Title: | Now part of | ||
| Leader Title: | Mayor | ||
| Leader Name: | Masatoshi Murei (since 2019)http://www.city.ako.lg.jp/koushitsu/hishokouhou/mayors.html | ||
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor | ||
| Unit Pref: | Metric | ||
| Area Total Km2: | 126.85 | ||
| Population Total: | 45,747 | ||
| Population As Of: | May 31, 2022 | ||
| Population Density Km2: | auto | ||
| Timezone1: | JST | ||
| Utc Offset1: | +09:00 | ||
| Blank Name Sec1: | City hall address | ||
| Blank Info Sec1: | Kariya 81, Akō-shi, Hyōgo-ken 678-0292 | ||
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is a city located in southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 45,747 in 20,563 households and a population density of 360 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 126.85sqkm.
Akō is located in far southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture. The city is on the border of the Hyōgo and Okayama prefectures, which also divides the Kinki and Chūgoku areas. On each side of the border, ancient Harima and Bizen provinces, which are now Akō and Bizen cities, respectively (except for the former village of Fukukawa, now part of Akō but formerly belonging to Bizen Province), have cultivated their own cultures. Therefore, even at the present days, dialects are vastly different on the sides of the border. A traveller from west to east on the JR San'yō Main Line will notice that the dialect of passengers suddenly changes between Kamigori station in Hyogo prefecture and Mitsuishi station in Okayama prefecture. In Akō, people speak a type of the Kansai dialect whose intonation is however of the Tokyo type. The superset of the dialect spoken in Akō, called Banshū-ben, is known as one of the harshest-sounding dialects. The Chikusa River flows through the center of the city, providing the moat of Akō Castle with water through a branch, Kariya River. The central part of the city around the castle has been built on the alluvial plain of Chikusa River. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Setonaikai National Park.
Hyōgo Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
Akō has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Akō is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1519 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.8 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Akō has remained relatively constant over the past 40 years.
Akō was part of ancient Harima province, and has been settled since at least the Jomon period, with numerous remains from the Yayoi period and Kofun period found within city limits. During the Edo period, Akō was a capital of Akō Domain, which was noted for its salt production. The town Akō was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on September 1, 1951.
Akō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Akō contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Akō has traditionally been famous for salt production was its main industry during the feudal period. Other industries are light manufacturing, commercial fishing, agriculture and tourism thanks to the story of the forty-seven rōnin, as featured in the Chūshingura.
Akō has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped. The Kansai University of Social Welfare was founded in 1997 is also located in Akō.
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