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Higashikurume (東久留米市, Higashi-kurume-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 April 2021^[update], the city had an estimated population of 117,020, and a population density of 9100 persons per km². The total area of the city was 12.88 square kilometres (4.97 sq mi).[1]

Higashikurume 東久留米市
City
Higashikurume City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Higashikurume in Tokyo Metropolis
Higashikurume
Coordinates: 35°45′28.8″N 139°31′47.5″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo
Government
• Mayor	Katsumi Namiki
Area
• Total	12.88 km2 (4.97 sq mi)
Population  (April 2021)
• Total	117,020
• Density	9,100/km2 (24,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo
• Flower	Azalea
• Bird	Azure-winged magpie
Phone number	042-470-7777
Address	3-3-1 Hon-cho, Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo 203-8555
Website	Official website

Geography

Higashikurume is in the north-center of Tokyo Metropolis, on the Musashino Terrace, approximately 25 kilometers from downtown Tokyo. The Kurome River flows through the western end of the city, and the Ochiai River flows through the center of the city. The land slopes gently from west to east.

Surrounding municipalities

Tokyo Metropolis

• Kiyose
• Higashimurayama
• Kodaira
• Nishitokyo

Saitama Prefecture

• Niiza

Climate

Higashikurume has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Higashikurume is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1647 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Higashikurume increased rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s due to the establishment of many large scale public housing complexes, but has remained relatively constant for the past 40 years, and is now suffering from rapid aging of the population base.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	4,605	—
1930	5,153	+11.9%
1940	6,168	+19.7%
1950	8,415	+36.4%
1960	19,637	+133.4%
1970	78,075	+297.6%
1980	106,556	+36.5%
1990	113,818	+6.8%
2000	113,302	−0.5%
2010	116,572	+2.9%

History

The area of present-day Higashikurume was part of ancient Musashi Province. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, Kurume Village were established within Kitatama District of Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Prefecture on April 1, 1893. The area began development after connection to central Tokyo was established by the Musashino Railway from 1915. In 1956, the village of Kurume attained town status. In the 1960s and 1970s, the population rapidly expanded with the construction of large public housing estates. The city was founded on October 1, 1970.

Etymology of the city name

The origin of the name Kurume is unclear, but there are several theories:

• as a variante of the ancient "kuruma muchibe", maintenance staff of the emperor's litter
• a dialect form of the Japanese word for "walnut"
• a word meaning "small, flat place"
• The theory that the "Kurome" of the Kuromegawa River：黒目川 flowing through the city turns into the place name of "Kurume". Originally, the Kurome River was also called "Kurume" River, the later people used the kanji notation such as Kurume＝久留米or久留目or来梅・Kurome＝黒目etc. . This was later recognised as the most likely theory.

At the time of the founding of the city, the name was changed to Higashikurume in order to avoid being confused for Kurume, Fukuoka. Since the new name already had already existed since 1915 as the name of the local train station, the name was already familiar to residents and adopted quickly.[4]

Government

Higashikurume has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Higashikurume, collectively with the city of Kiyose, contributes two members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokyo 20th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The mayor is Katsumi Namiki, an independent candidate.

City council

The current city council was elected on April 26, 2015, with 21 council seats currently occupied.[5]

Political party	Number of representatives
Liberal Democratic Party	6
Komeito	5
Japanese Communist Party	4
Democratic Party	3
Citizen Autonomy Forum	2
Others	1

Former mayors

• Kenko Fujii (1970 - 1975)[6]
• Masaji Ishidsu (1975 - 1978)[7]
• Kojiro Ito (1978 - 1982)
• Saburo Yoshida (1982 - 1990)
• Mitsuo Inaba (1990 - 2001)
• Shiyega Nozaki (2002 - 2010)
• Kazuhiko Baba (2010 - 2014)
• Katsumi Namiki (2014 - )

Economy

Higashikurume is primary a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community for central Tokyo. According to the 2010 census, the commuting rate to the special wards of Tokyo is 33.2%. Globeride has its headquarters and a factory in the city.[8] Factories of Coca-Cola and Yamazaki Baking are also located in the city. A few attractions exist, such as Chukurin Park.

Education

Higashikurume has 13 public and one private elementary schools, seven public and two private middle school. The city also has two public and one private high school. Higashikurume is the site for Tokyo Gakugei University's International Student Dormitory, as well as the private Christian Academy in Japan.

Transportation

Railway

- Seibu Railway, Seibu Ikebukuro Line

• Higashi-Kurume

Highway

• Musashino is not served by any national highways or expressways

Notable people from Higashikurume

• Ken Akamatsu, manga artist (A.I. Love You, Love Hina, Negima! Magister Negi Magi and UQ Holder!)
• Akihiro Gono, mixed martial arts fighter
• Taichi Kokubun, musician, keyboardist and actor (Tokio)
• Nobunaga Sato, basketball coach
• Maria Ozawa, Movie actress, model and former AV idol
• Hekiru Shiina, Japanese voice actress and singer
• SoulJa (rapper), musician (Real Name: Johannes Maria Leenders Zwaan)
• Papaya Suzuki, musician (Real Name: Hiroshi Suzuki, Nihongo: 鈴木 寛, Suzuki Hiroshi)
• Hinano Yoshikawa, fashion model, actress and singer (Real Name: Ai Takada, Nihongo: 高田愛, Takada Ai)

References

External links

• Higashikurume City Official Website (in Japanese)

На других языках

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- [en] Higashikurume, Tokyo

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[ru] Хигасикуруме

Хигасикуруме (яп. 東久留米市 Хигасикурумэ-си) — город в Японии, находящийся в префектуре Токио. Площадь города составляет 12,92 км²[1], население — 115 227 человек (1 октября 2020)[2], плотность населения — 8918,50 чел./км².

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