Shinjuku, Tokyo

Shinjuku (新宿 区jap -ku, dt " new property " ) is a district (English City) and the administrative seat of the Japanese Tokyo Prefecture. It is located in the west of Tokyo.

History

During the 17th century

In 1634, the former daimyo Naitō ordered the construction of a post and way station on the Kōshū Kaidō, one of the five main roads of Japan, Edo combined with the provinces, which received the name Naito -Shinjuku. In the former grounds of the hotel is now home to the Shinjuku Gyoen, a public park.

1920-1945

1920, the city created in 1889 as a municipality in the district Toyotama Naito -Shinjuku was (essentially the present-day districts of Shinjuku and Naitōmachi ) incorporated in the former city of Tokyo. 1932, with the incorporation of the former county town Yodobashi and other communities ( on the territory of today's Shinjuku district, the cities Okubo, Totsuka and Ochiai ) areas west of the present-day Yamanote Line part of the city of Tokyo.

From the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 Shinjuku was largely spared, as it is located in a seismically hazardous area. In particular, the district Nishi -Shinjuku is known today due to its many skyscrapers that emerged after the relocation of the sewage treatment plant Yodobashi.

1945-2000

The air raids on Tokyo was destroyed in 1945 about 90 % of the area around Shinjuku Station. After the war the city was rebuilt after nearly identical plan again. Exclusively in Kabukicho there were basic renovations.

The Shinjuku district was created in its present form in 1947 by the merger of the old city districts Yotsuya, Ushigome and Yodobashi.

In 1991, the district Shinjuku with moving the prefectural government of Marunouchi, Chiyoda administrative headquarters of the Tokyo prefecture.

Origin of the name

During the Edo period there were five major roads, all of which emanated from the bridge Nihombashi. Along these roads originated hotels where postal workers could rest the horses their stagecoach. Also at the Koshu - road that led one of the five roads to Kōfu, originated this, but there was a point where the two hotels were at a greater distance from each other. Therefore, the daimyo Naito gave the call to build another hotel, then the name " Naito -Shinjuku " received (Eng. New Naito hotel). As of 1947 the area became a city, it took the name of " Shinjuku ".

Attractions

Around the same Shinjuku Station, which has one of the busiest in the world, focus on only two square kilometers:

  • The most important commercial and administrative center of Japan with the largest skyscraper district of the country in Nishi -Shinjuku. There, next to the main hotels are the city, among other things, each with its own high-rise building, the offices of Mitsui and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, in which the management of the Tokyo prefecture ( Tōkyō-to ) has its seat. The Tokyo Metropolitan represents the merger in 1943 of the former Tokyo Prefecture ( Tōkyō- fu) with the city of Tokyo ( Tōkyō- shi). The management of the Tokyo prefecture fulfills tasks of a prefectural government and a town hall.
  • The largest shopping district in Japan with nearly a dozen giant department stores ( including the 15-storey Takashimaya department store ).
  • The Imperial Park Shinjuku, one of the most famous parks in Japan, which is famous for its cherry blossom.
  • Kabukicho, the biggest ( and one of the oldest ) entertainment district in Japan with most cinemas in the city, many restaurants and pubs, and above all a huge red-light district and several dozen so-called love hotels and the town hall of Shinjuku.
  • Shinjuku ni -chome, see the nightclub for gays in Tokyo.

In addition, there are several major universities in Shinjuku, such as Waseda University. Not far from the Shinjuku train station is the district Okubo. Okubo is the center of Korean residents in Tokyo.

Statistics

To February 1, 2014 the district had a reported population of 331 400 and an area of ​​18.23 km ², a population density of 18 179 persons per km ². Because of the central function of the district but it is estimated that the actual population is at any time day or night, over one million. Shinjuku has almost 10 % one of the highest proportions of foreigners of all Japanese municipalities.

Area (selection)

For a full list of today's districts of Shinjuku, see List of districts of Tokyo's Shinjuku district.

  • Shinjuku (新宿)
  • Ichigaya (市ヶ谷)
  • Kabukicho (歌舞 伎 町)
  • Nishi -Shinjuku (西 新宿)
  • Okubo (大 久保)
  • Shinanomachi (信 浓 町)
  • Takadanobaba (高田 马 场)
  • Yotsuya (四 谷)

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Abe Shintaro, ( politician and secretary general of the LDP )
  • Mishima Yukio ( writer )
  • Hidenao Nakagawa ( politician)
  • Natsume Soseki ( writer )
  • Ooka Shohei ( writer )
  • Takuma Satō (Formula 1 driver )
  • Tetsuro Tamba (actor)

Policy

  • LDP: 9
  • Kōmeitō: 9
  • JCP: 8
  • Minshu / Mushozoku Club: 4
  • Kumin Shuken no kai: 3
  • Other fractions ( one member each ): 2

Acting Mayor of Shinjuku is Hiroko Nakayama; In 2002 she became the first mayor of a Tokyo district. Your third term expires in November 2014. The Parliament of Shinjuku has 38 regular members and is in uniform regional elections ( most recently in 2011 selected).

For the Prefecture Parliament of the district forms a four- mandate constituency. At the last election in 2013 the seats won two Liberal Democrat, and one member each from Kōmeitō and CPY.

For the national House of Representatives, together with Shinjuku Chiyoda and Minato the constituency of Tokyo 1, which was fought between the long Liberal Democrat Minister Kaoru Yosano and the Democrats Banri Kaieda. Since 2012, the constituency after the withdrawal Yosanos by the Liberal Democrat Miki Yamada is represented.

Partnerships

Shinjuku has partnerships with the following administrative units:

Adjacent Cities and Towns

  • Tokyo: City district Shibuya, Chiyoda, Nakano, Minato, Bunkyo, Toshima
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