Ibara

[edit] Per Japanese census data, the population of Ibara is as follows. Historical populationYearPop.±% 1920 51,283—     1930 52,461+2.3% 1940 51,797−1.3% 1950 63,290+22.2% 1960 60,899−3.8% 1970 54,350−10.8% 1980 51,669−4.9% 1990 49,255−4.7% 2000 46,489−5.6% 2010 43,936−5.5%

[edit] The Ibara area is part of ancient Bitchū Province and was the site of a shōen landed estate ruled by the Nasu clan. In the Muromachi period, the lord of Ibara-shō, Ise Moritoki, went to Suruga Province in 1476 to assist his nephew Imagawa Ujichika succeed to the head of the Imagawa clan. Ise Moritoki later changed his name to Hōjō Sōun and seized control of the Kanto region from his stronghold at Odawara Castle. During the Edo Period, it was largely divided between the holdings of Fukuyama Domain and direct territory of the shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Shitsuki District, Okayama with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Ibara was elevated to town status on February 26, 1896. The city of Ibara was established on March 30, 1953, from the merger of the three towns of Ibara, Nishiebara, and Takaya and the five villages of Ebara, Kinoko, Kenshu, Aono, Yamanoue plus the villages of Itakura and Oe from Oda District, Okayama. (Akaiwa)|Yoshii]] (all from Akaiwa District).[citation needed] On March 1, 2005, the town of Yoshii (from Shitsuki District), and the town of Bisei (from Oda District) were merged into Ibara. [citation needed]

[edit] Ibara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Ibara, together with the municipalities of Oda District, contributes two members to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Okayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

[edit] Then economy of Ibara is primarily based on light industry. Textiles, automobile parts, electronic parts, food container manufacturing, mining, are major contributors. Ihara Seiki, an automobile parts manufacturer, is headquartered in Ibara.

[edit] Ibara has 13 public elementary schools, five public junior high schools and one public high school operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

[edit] Railway[edit] Ibara Railway Company - Ibara Line Sōunnosato-Ebara - Ibara - Izue - Komoriutanosato-Takaya Highways[edit] San'yō Expressway National Route 313 National Route 486

[edit] Ibara is twinned with: Uozu, Toyama, Japan (1982) Ōtawara, Tochigi, Japan (1984)

[edit] Bisei Astronomical Observatory Chūsei Yumegahara, a theme park with a faux medieval mountain village and handicraft shops. Denchū Art Museum, centered on the works of sculptor Hirakushi Denchū (1872–1979), who was born in Nishiebara (now part of Ibara)