Chihayaakasaka, Osaka

Chihayaakasaka 千早赤阪村
Village
Location of Chihayaakasaka in Osaka Prefecture
Chihayaakasaka Location in Japan
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai Kinki
Prefecture	Osaka Prefecture
District	Minamikawachi
Area
• Total	37.38 km2 (14.43 sq mi)
Population (2009)
• Total	6,131
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Website	www.vill.chihayaakasaka.osaka.jp

Chihayaakasaka (千早赤阪村, Chihayaakasaka-mura) is a village located in Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2009, the village has an estimated population of 6,131 and a population density of 164 persons per km². The total area is 37.38 km².

History

Village office of Chihayaakasaka

This village is known for the sites of Chihaya and Akasaka Castles. These were two different fortifications on Mount Kongo, where the Battle of Chihaya Castle and the Battle of Akasaka occurred in the 14th century, during the late Kamakura period. Kusunoki Masashige led the defense of the castles, and was the most important and reliable man to serve Emperor Go-Daigo. Today there is a museum to commemorate this battle and Kusunoki's participation.

In 1893, Akasaka, Kumatarō Kido and Yagorō Tani murdered 10 people, and left one infant alive. They then killed themselves after the murders.

On March 1, 2008 Chihayaakasaka requested a merge into the adjacent city of Kawachinagano, after talks of merging with the surrounding towns of Kanan and Taishi fell through. These plans also fell through as of August 14, 2009.

Places of interest

• Ruins of Chihaya Castle, a castle built by Kusunoki Masashige
• Mount Kongō, highest mountain in Osaka Prefecture
• Kongō Range, a mountain range on Chihayaakasaka's eastern border

Sources

• Asahi Shimbun, Osaka edition, April 30, 2007, p. 1, 大阪唯一の村消える？ Ōsaka yuiitsu no mura kieru?

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Chihaya Akasaka official website (Japanese)
• Chihaya Akasaka Tourism Association