Fuchū (府中市, Fuchū-shi) is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2023, the city had an estimated population of 36,326 in 17013 households and a population density of 190 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 195.75 square kilometres (75.58 sq mi).

Fuchū
府中市
Fuchū City Hall
Fuchū City Hall
Flag of Fuchū
Official seal of Fuchū
Map
Location of Fuchu in Hiroshima Prefecture
Location of Fuchū
Fuchū is located in Japan
Fuchū
Fuchū
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°33′54″N 133°14′31″E / 34.56500°N 133.24194°E / 34.56500; 133.24194
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku (San'yō)
PrefectureHiroshima
Government
 • MayorShinji Ono (since May 2008)
Area
 • Total195.75 km2 (75.58 sq mi)
Population
 (April 1, 2023)
 • Total36,326
 • Density190/km2 (480/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address315 Fukawacho, Fuchu-shi, Hiroshima-ken 726-8601
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerHydrangea
TreeCherry blossom
Aerial view of central Fuchū
Panorama of Fuchū
Fuchū Park

Geography

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Fuchū is located in the basin of the Ashida River in eastern Hiroshima.

Adjoining municipalities

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Hiroshima Prefecture

Climate

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Fuchū has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Fuchū is 15.0 °C (59.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,257.7 mm (49.52 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C (38.5 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Fuchū was 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) on July 28, 2023; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.9 °C (14.2 °F) on 27 February 1981.[3]

Climate data for Fuchū (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7)
22.2
(72.0)
25.3
(77.5)
30.5
(86.9)
32.8
(91.0)
35.2
(95.4)
38.7
(101.7)
38.5
(101.3)
37.6
(99.7)
31.9
(89.4)
27.9
(82.2)
19.4
(66.9)
38.7
(101.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8)
10.0
(50.0)
13.9
(57.0)
19.8
(67.6)
24.7
(76.5)
27.5
(81.5)
31.2
(88.2)
32.9
(91.2)
28.7
(83.7)
22.9
(73.2)
16.8
(62.2)
11.1
(52.0)
20.7
(69.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.6
(38.5)
4.4
(39.9)
7.8
(46.0)
13.3
(55.9)
18.3
(64.9)
22.1
(71.8)
26.1
(79.0)
27.2
(81.0)
23.1
(73.6)
17.0
(62.6)
10.9
(51.6)
5.7
(42.3)
15.0
(58.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.7
(30.7)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.2
(36.0)
7.2
(45.0)
12.5
(54.5)
17.7
(63.9)
22.1
(71.8)
22.9
(73.2)
18.8
(65.8)
12.2
(54.0)
5.9
(42.6)
1.2
(34.2)
10.1
(50.3)
Record low °C (°F) −8.0
(17.6)
−9.9
(14.2)
−5.0
(23.0)
−2.4
(27.7)
1.5
(34.7)
9.2
(48.6)
13.4
(56.1)
14.9
(58.8)
6.6
(43.9)
0.6
(33.1)
−1.8
(28.8)
−6.0
(21.2)
−9.9
(14.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40.6
(1.60)
49.5
(1.95)
88.9
(3.50)
100.7
(3.96)
130.3
(5.13)
185.1
(7.29)
210.4
(8.28)
111.6
(4.39)
140.6
(5.54)
93.7
(3.69)
59.4
(2.34)
47.1
(1.85)
1,257.7
(49.52)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.8 7.6 9.5 9.4 9.3 11.2 10.5 7.5 8.7 6.9 6.4 6.8 99.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 136.4 139.4 174.3 193.3 209.4 148.5 167.0 196.5 153.4 167.5 148.3 138.2 1,984.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Fuchū in 2020 is 37,655 people.[4] Fuchū has been conducting censuses since 1960.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 54,327—    
1965 57,216+5.3%
1970 58,364+2.0%
1975 57,625−1.3%
1980 56,209−2.5%
1985 54,939−2.3%
1990 52,692−4.1%
1995 50,356−4.4%
2000 47,697−5.3%
2005 45,188−5.3%
2010 42,557−5.8%
2015 40,069−5.8%
2020 37,655−6.0%
Fuchū population statistics[4]

History

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The area of Fuchū was part on ancient Bingo Province, and was the site of the Nara period Bingo Provincial Capital. During then Edo Period, it was largely the territory of Fukuyama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Fuchūichi was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It became the town of Fuchū on June 3, 1896. Fuchū was raised to city status on March 31, 1954. On April 1, 2004, the town of Jōge (from Kōnu District) was merged into Fuchū.[5]

Government

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Fuchū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Fuchū contributes one member to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Hiroshima 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Fuchū is an inland industrial city. Furniture making as a local industry has a tradition from the Edo period and in particular, the Fuchū chest-of-drawers made of paulownia wood remains famous. It is also the production area of 'Fuchū Miso'. Cotton farming and processing, textiles and dying, tobacco farming and die-cast metal products contribute to the economy.

Education

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Fuchū has six public elementary schools, two public junior high schools and two public combined elementary/middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR West (JR West) - Fukuen Line

Highways

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References

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  1. ^ "Fuchū city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Fuchū population statistics
  5. ^ "Fuchu details". hiroshima-navi.or.jp. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
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