| Ushiku | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | 北緯35度58分45.7秒東経140度8分58.4秒 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 35.9794°N 140.1496°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Kantō |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ibaraki |
| Established Title: | Village Settled |
| Established Date: | April 1, 1889 |
| Established Title2: | Town Settled |
| Established Date2: | January 1, 1954 |
| Established Title3: | City Settled |
| Established Date3: | June 1, 1986 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Kazutoshi Numata (from September 2023) |
| Area Total Km2: | 58.92 |
| Population Total: | 83,826 |
| Population As Of: | January 2024 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | City Symbols |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | - Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Osmanthus fragrans |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | - Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Chrysanthemum |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | - Bird |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Japanese bush warbler |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 029-873-2111 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 3-15-1 Chuo, Ushiku-shi, Ibaraki-ken 300-1292 |
is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 83,826 in 36,380 households and a population density of 1423 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 29.5%.[1] The total area of the city is 58.92sqkm.
Ushiku is located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, in the low-lying marshy flatlands south of Lake Kasumigaura. It is about 50 kilometers from central Tokyo.
Ushiku has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ushiku is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1304 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.0 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ushiku has grown nearly ninefold over the past 100 years, with especially rapid growth taking place in the late 20th century.
The area of Ushiku developed as a castle town around Ushiku Domain, a minor feudal holding under the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. The village of Ushiku was created after the Meiji restoration with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On January 1, 1954 it was elevated to town status and to city status on June 1, 1986.
On January 31, 2020, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake hit 6 kilometres west of the town. The official time of the earthquake was 17:07:47 (UTC).[4]
Ushiku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Ushiku contributes two members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Ushiku is a local commercial center and has a small industrial park. It is also a bedroom community for Tokyo Metropolis. However, the local economy remains based on agriculture, primarily rice cultivation.
Ushiku has eight public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private combined middle/high school.
Hitachiōta, Ibaraki, Japan (1986) Shikama, Miyagi, Japan (1988)
Greve in Chianti, Italy (2013)[5]
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada (1985) [6]
Orange, New South Wales, Australia (1990)[7]