New city as a result of a merger
On February 13, 2005, the new Shimonoseki City was born through a merger of Shimonoseki City, Kikugawa Town, Toyota Town, Toyoura Town, and Hohoku Town. The City is located at the west end of the mainland of Japan, is blessed with nature, and has long history. gAn exchange city supported by nature, history and peopleh is a basic concept described in the plan for creating the new City. To realize such a city, the municipality has been striving to find ways for people to create the new City by utilizing the natural and historic resources of Shimonoseki more effectively.
Visions for the City
- Convenient city for developing activities with ample information (Urban infrastructure)
- Eco-friendly and human-friendly city where people can live in safety and without anxiety (Natural environment, living environment)
- Independent city where people can work with high motivation and hope for the future (Promotion of industry)
- Appealing city with various aspects for tourism and exchanges (Promotion of tourism)
- Healthy and humane city where importance is placed on communication among people (Healthcare, medical services, welfare)
- Learning city where the characteristics of the City are utilized (Education, culture)
- Active city supported by partnership among the citizens, companies and the municipality (Partnership)
Core city
Shimonoseki City transformed into a core city on October1, 2005 as the first case in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Since part of authority was transferred from the prefectural government to the municipality, the municipality has become able to develop its administrative work closer to the residents. The municipality will promote the creation of a unique city by utilizing the transferred authority related to welfare, urban planning, and environmental administration and by utilizing the characteristics of the City.
Administrative work undertaken by the municipality after the transfer of authority
- Affairs concerning administration for peoplefs livelihood
Delivery of identification booklets for the physically disabled, loan of welfare funds for mother-and-child households and widows, designation of businesses that support disabled people at home under the Assistance Benefit Supply System, guidance and audit for social welfare corporations - Affairs concerning administration for health
Acceptance of dogs and cats based on the Law Concerning the Protection and Control of Animals, designation of medical institutions involved in the prevention of tuberculosis - Affairs concerning urban planning
Regulation and removal of outdoor advertisements - Affairs concerning administration for environmental conservation
Constant monitoring of pollution with dioxins
Emblem of the City
The combination of the five lines represents the harmonious blending separate strands to create the new Shimonoseki City, which was born by merging the former Shimonoseki City with four towns of the former Toyoura district. The emblem is also dynamically expressed by a mixture of shapes such as the letters, gJh of Japan and gSh of Shimonoseki as well as the hiragana syllables of gshih and gmoh. The overall figure depicts a gfuguh, or blowfish as well as expressing the limitless potential () of the future of the citizens. The City of straits also has a sail, symbolic of interaction, that will lead them to an abundant natural environment and to the world.
| Total area: | 715.89square kilometers |
| Location: | Eastern boundary; longitude 131.06 degrees east |
| Western boundary; longitude 130.46 degrees east (the western tip of Honshu) | |
| Southern edge; latitude 33.54 degrees north | |
| Northern edge; latitude 34.07 degrees north | |
| Population: | 294,148 |
| The number of households: | 128,314 |
| (according to the Basic Resident Register and Alien Registration as of 1 September 2006) | |
