Musashino, Tokyo
Musashino (武蔵野市, Musashino-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 143,868, and a population density of 13,090 persons per km². Its total area is 10.98 square kilometres (4.24 sq mi).[1] Based on the 2015 Kanto Ranking, Musashino was the fifth most desirable place to live in Central Japan.
Musashino
武蔵野市 | |
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![]() Location of Musashino in Tokyo | |
![]() ![]() Musashino | |
Coordinates: 35°43′3.8″N 139°33′57.8″E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Kantō |
Prefecture | Tokyo |
First official recorded | 1662 |
City Settled | November 3, 1947 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Reiko Matsushita (from October 2017) |
Area | |
• Total | 10.98 km2 (4.24 sq mi) |
Population (February 2016) | |
• Total | 143,686 |
• Density | 13,090/km2 (33,900/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
Symbols | |
• Tree | Magnolia kobus, Zelkova serrata, Cornus florida |
• Flower | Lespedeza, Lithospermum purpurocaeruleum, Orychophragmus, Azalea, Daphne odora, Narcissus, Hibiscus mutabilis, Ipomoea nil, Chrysanthemum |
Phone number | 0422-51-5131 |
Address | 2-2-28 Midori-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8777 |
Website | www |
Popular attractions in Musashino include Kichijōji; a residential and shopping neighborhood with malls such as Atre Kichijoji, recreational areas such as Inokashira Park, Musashino Chuo Park, Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium and Musashino Sports Complex.
Geography
![](../I/Sun_Road.jpg.webp)
Musashino is located in the Musashino Terrace of central Tokyo Metropolis.
It is bordered by the 23 Special Wards of Tokyo.[2][3]
Musashino is composed of the following neighborhoods: Kichijoji Kitamachi, Kichijoji Higashicho, Kichijoji Honcho, Kichijoji Minamicho, Kyonancho, Gotenyama, Sakai, Sakurazutumi, Sekimae, Nakacho, Nishikubo, Midoricho, and Yahatacho.[4]
Kichijōji includes the source of the Kanda River.[5]
Surrounding municipalities
History
The area of present-day Musashino was part of ancient Musashi Province.[6] In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Kitatama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The village of Musashino was created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of municipalities law. Kitatama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893.[7] Musashino was elevated to town status in 1928. Nakajima Aircraft Company has an aircraft engine plant in Musashino, which became a target for American bombers in World War II.[8] Musashino was elevated to city status on November 3, 1947.[9]
Economy
Musashino is largely a bedroom community for central Tokyo.
The anime and manga company Coamix has its headquarters in the Kichijōji neighborhood of Musashino.[10] At one time Studio Ghibli was located in Kichijōji.[11] Several other animation studios are located in Musashino, including J.C.Staff,[12] Artland, Studio Ponoc, Production I.G, Bee Train, and Tatsunoko Production.
The electrical engineering and software company Yokogawa Electric has its headquarters in Nakacho, Musashino. Tokyo Musashino City FC, a football (soccer) club, is also located there.
Education
Universities and colleges
Primary and secondary schools
- Musashino has 12 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the Musashino city government. There are also three private elementary schools, two private middle schools and two private combined middle/high schools.
- The city also has two public high schools operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.
International schools
- Little Angels International School, a private international school, previously had a campus in Kichijōji, Musashino.[13]
Transportation
Railways
Highways
- Musashino is not served by any national highways or expressways
![](../I/Inokasira_Park.jpg.webp)
Local attractions
- Inokashira Park
- Musashino Central Park
- Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium
- Musashino Sports Complex
Sister cities
Musashino in popular culture
- Satoshi Kon's anime series Paranoia Agent and Oyuki Konno's shōjo novel series Maria-sama ga Miteru take place in Musashino.
- Shōhei Ōoka's 1951 novel A Wife in Musashino (Musashino Fujin) is a drama in which a moral and stoic woman, trapped in a loveless marriage with a selfish and morally decadent man, becomes implicated against her will in what looks like an affair with her younger cousin. The story ends tragically as she is let down by him as well as by her husband. Kenji Mizoguchi made the story into a film in 1951, starring Kinuyo Tanaka and Masayuki Mori.
- Innocent Grey's 2007 visual novel Kara no Shoujo features many scenes set in Musashino in 1956. Inokashira Park in particular serves as a pivotal setting for much of the story.
- In the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō manga by Hitoshi Ashinano, Musashino is the "former capital of the East" in a post-Apocalyptic Japan in which the ocean level continually rises, implying Tokyo itself had been submerged many years before it.
- In the anime Shirobako the animation studio is named Musashino Animation.
References
- 武蔵野市. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
- "64 Things to Do in Musashino: Points of Interest + Activities". Inspirock. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- Adriana (2019-05-22). "Kichijoji – Tokyo's hottest suburban area". REthink Tokyo - Real Estate Information for Buyers and Investors. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- Mapion. 住所一覧から地図を検索 > 関東 > 東京都 > 武蔵野市 地図. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
- "Hanami at Inokashira park | MustLoveJapan Video Travel Guide". www.mustlovejapan.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "Kokubunji, Musashino, the belly button of Tokyo". www.mactionplanet.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- Writers, YABAI. "The Tourist's Complete Guide to Exploring the City of Kokubunji | YABAI - The Modern, Vibrant Face of Japan". YABAI. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "THIRD B-29 RAID ON JAPANESE CAPITAL TOKYO". ww2days.com. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "2017 Musashino City Overview". www.city.musashino.lg.jp. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "事業概要." "【住所】 [出版コンテンツ事業部(編集部)・キャラクター事業部・総務部] 〒180-0004 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町 2-4-14 メディ・コープビル8 3F TEL/0422-29-0414(代表) FAX/0422-29-0413"
- "The Animerica Interview: Takahata and Nosaka: Two Grave Voices in Animation." Animerica. Volume 2, No. 11. Page 11. Translated by Animerica from: Takahata, Isao. Eiga o Tsukurinagara, Kangaeta Koto ("Things I Thought While Making Movies") Tokuma Shoten, 1991. Originally published in Animage, June 1987. This is a translation of a 1987 conversation between Takahata and Akiyuki Nosaka. "Kichijoji is the Tokyo area where "Studio Ghibli," frequent Takahata collaborator Hayao Miyazaki's studio, is located.[...]—Ed."
- "http://www.jcstaff.co.jp/"
- "Spring School Program 2011 Application Form Archived 2015-03-09 at WebCite" (Archive). Little Angels International School. Retrieved on March 9, 2015. "Little Angels International School 4-9-15, Honcho, Kichijoji, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0004 (〒180-0004 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町4-9-15)"
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Musashino, Tokyo. |
Musashino travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Musashino City Official Website (in Japanese)