Akō, Hyōgo
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Akō 赤穂市 |
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| City | ||
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 Location of Akō in Hyōgo Prefecture |
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 Akō
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| Coordinates: 34°45′06″N 134°23′35″E / 34.75167°N 134.39306°ECoordinates: 34°45′06″N 134°23′35″E / 34.75167°N 134.39306°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Kansai | |
| Prefecture | Hyōgo Prefecture | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Masaaki Mameta (since January 2003) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 126.88 km2 (48.99 sq mi) | |
| Population (April 30, 2011) | ||
| • Total | 50,902 | |
| • Density | 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi) | |
| Symbols | ||
| • Tree | Cherry blossom | |
| • Flower | Azalea | |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
| City hall address | Kariya 81, Akō City, Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県赤穂市加里屋81) 678-0292 |
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| Website | www |
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Akō (赤穂市 Akō-shi?) is a city located in southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
As of April 30, 2011, the city had an estimated population of 50,902, with 19,841 households and a population density of 401.18 persons per km². The total area is 126.88 km².
The city was officially founded on September 1, 1951. The city faces the Inland Sea and salt production was its main industry during the feudal period. Other industries are fishery, and tourism thanks to a famous act of vengeance by the forty-seven rōnin in 1703, featured in the Chūshingura.
During the Edo period, Akō was a capital of Akō han. Akō was a small han of 50,000 koku but rich thanks to salt production. Akō salt is famous for its high quality. Among the former daimyō of Akō was Asano Naganori, the master of the forty-seven rōnin. In memory of the forty-seven ronin, who finally accomplished the vengeance against Kira Yoshihisa for their master after hardship on January 30, 1703 (December 14, Genroku 15), the city has held a festival (gish-sai) on December 14, every year in the last hundred years. On the day of the festival, all the elementary and middle schools in the city are off, and the students and pupils are encouraged to participate in one of the sports and art competitions including those in kendo, judo, and shodō, or one of the parades, including the one re-enacting the victory of the forty-seven rōnin and another one exhibiting the cultural features of the Edo period, such as sankin-kotai.
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