Chiba (city)

The name of Chiba in the Japanese language is formed from two kanji characters. The first, {{lang|ja|{{linktext|千}}}}, means "thousand" and the second, {{lang|ja|{{linktext|葉}}}} means "leaves". The name first appears as an ancient kuni no miyatsuko, or regional command office, as {{Nihongo|Chiha no Kuni no Miyatsuko|千葉国造}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.nihonjiten.com/data/263228.html |script-title=ja:千葉国造（下総） |website=nihonjiten.com |language=ja}} The name was adopted by a branch of the Taira clan, which moved to the area in present-day Chiba City in the late Heian period. The branch of the Taira adopted the name and became the Chiba clan, which held strong influence over the area of the prefecture until the Azuchi–Momoyama period. The name "Chiba" was chosen for Chiba Prefecture at the time of its creation in 1873 by the {{nihongo|Assembly of Prefectural Governors|地方官会議|Chihō Kankai Kaigi}}, an early Meiji-period body of prefectural governors that met to decide the structure of local and regional administration in Japan.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系) |script-title=ja:千葉県の成立と行政的変遷 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-04-01 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }}

The first records related to the city of Chiba record the emigration of Taira Tsuneshige (1083?–1088), a powerful bushi warlord of the late Heian period, to Shimōsa Province, which historically occupied the north of Chiba Prefecture. Tsuneshige was appointed as gunji administrator of Sōma District, but was transferred to the same position in Chiba District two years later. Here he proclaimed himself {{Nihongo|Chiba Tsuneshige|千葉常重}}, became a kokushi governor of the province, and used the area around present-day Chiba City as a power base to rule over Shimōsa Province, Kazusa Province, as well as establish himself as a military force in the Kantō region.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Jinmei Daijiten (日本人名大辞典) |trans-title=Chiba Tsuneshige |script-title=ja:千葉常重 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-04-10 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }} Tsuneshige's son, {{Nihongo|Chiba Tsunetane|千葉常胤}} (1118–1201) was instrumental in aiding Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199) with the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate. Tsuneshige built a spacious residence and numerous temples in present-day Chiba City, and in the same period he transferred his power base from Ōji Castle to a mansion in present-day Chiba City.{{Cite web |last=千葉市 |title=猪鼻城跡 Site of Inohana Castle |url=https://www.city.chiba.jp/kyoiku/shogaigakushu/bunkazai/tagengo_inohanajo.html |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=千葉市 |language=ja}}{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Nihon Jinmei Daijiten (日本人名大辞典) |trans-title=Chiba Tsunetane |script-title=ja:千葉常胤 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-04-10 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }} The area of present-day Chiba City became jōkamachi {{Nihongo||城下町|}}, or castle town, and prospered under the Chiba clan.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Chiba |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-04-10 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }} The clan's power extended in the region until the Muromachi period.{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Chiba |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-02-27 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }}{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Kokushi Daijiten (国史大辞典) |trans-title=Chiba-shi |script-title=ja:千葉氏 |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-04-10 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 }}

The Chiba clan's power and influence declined because of wars around the Kantō region during the Nanboku-chō and Muromachi periods. In the 16th century, the Hara clan, which were vassals of Chiba clan, took control of the region from the Chiba clan and built Inohana Castle. In the Sengoku period, the Hara clan was forcibly removed by Ashikaga Yoshiaki (足利義明, not to be confused with 足利義昭). Then, Ashikaga Yoshiaki was also removed by the Sakai (酒井 not to be confused with the Sakai clan in Mikawa) clan, which was one of the servants of the Satomi (里見) clan. Finally both the Chiba and Sakai clans were annihilated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

In the Edo period, the {{Nihongo|Oyumi|生実氏}}, {{Nihongo|Morikawa|森川氏}} clan, and the {{Nihongo|Sakura|佐倉氏}} clans governed the area now occupied by the city. A part of the area was also governed directly by the Tokugawa Bakufu. The Oyumi clan governed their territory stably. On the other hand, according to the Sakura clan, from the beginning of the Edo period, changed governors frequently, including Takeda Nobuyoshi, Matsudaira Tadateru, {{Nihongo|Ogasawara Yoshitsugu|小笠原吉次}}, and Doi Toshikatsu. Finally the Hotta clan stabilized the governance of their territory. Chiba prospered in this period as a {{nihongo|shukuba|宿場}} post-town of the Tokugawa shogunate.

After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Chiba Prefecture was established in 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture. The border between Kisarazu and Inba was the location of Chiba Town and was thus chosen as the location of the prefectural government. With the opening of the Sobu Main Line, Chiba developed rapidly, becoming the political, economic, and cultural capital of Chiba Prefecture. The town of Chiba was established within Chiba District with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Chiba City formed on January 1, 1921. Numerous small villages and towns were merged into the previous {{nihongo|town of Chiba|千葉町}}, a process that continued until 1944. Large-scale land reclamation added to the area of the city throughout the 20th century. The city was a major center of military production leading up to the Pacific War, and the aerial bombing of Chiba in 1945. The city was almost completely destroyed by the end of the war. Post-war industrialization led to the city becoming a major part of the Keiyō Industrial Zone. Chiba became a Designated City of Japan on April 1, 1992.

Per Japanese census data,[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-chiba.php Chiba population statistics] Chiba's population has expanded significantly over the past 70 years.[https://www.city.chiba.jp/other/100th_kiseki/population.html Chiba City Population Data]

As of March 2025, the total population is 983,045 people, with 39,537 registered foreign residents.

It is the 15th most populous city in Japan as of 2024.

{{Historical populations

| 1921 (founding) | 33,887

| 1930 | 49,088

| 1940 | 92,061

| 1950 | 133,944

| 1960 | 241,615

| 1970 | 482,133

| 1980 | 746,430

| 1990 | 829,455

| 2000 | 887,164

| 2010 | 961,749

| 2020 | 974,951

| align = none

| source =

}}

File:Chiba monorail and prefectual office.jpg]]

Chiba was governed by Keiichi Tsuruoka, an independent (elected with support of LDP and Kōmeitō), until May 1, 2009. He was arrested in April 2009 during a corruption investigation by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.{{Cite web |last=Kyodo News |first=No |date=2009-04-23 |title=Chiba's mayor arrested |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/04/23/national/chibas-mayor-arrested/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}} He was succeeded by Toshihito Kumagai of the DPJ, who won election in June 2009.[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090615a1.html DPJ-backed Kumagai takes Chiba mayoral election], Japan Times Online, June 15, 2009

The current Mayor is Shunichi Kamiya, who was first elected in 2021. Mayor Kamiya was subsequently re-elected as mayor for a second term on the 16th of March 2025.

The city assembly has 54 elected members.

{{div flex row|div o=y}}

Chiba has six wards (ku):

• Chūō-ku – administrative center
• Hanamigawa-ku
• Inage-ku
• Midori-ku
• Mihama-ku
• Wakaba-ku

{{div CO}}

{{Image label begin|image=Map of wards in Chiba city, Chiba prefecture, Japan.svg|width=330}}

{{Image label|x=0.37 |y=0.58 |scale=330|text=Chūō-ku}}

{{Image label|x=0.11 |y=0.2 |scale=330|text=Hanamigawa-ku}}

{{Image label|x=0.24 |y=0.33 |scale=330|text=Inage-ku}}

{{Image label|x=0.65 |y=0.7 |scale=330|text=Midori-ku}}

{{Image label|x=0.07 |y=0.4 |scale=330|text=Mihama-ku}}

{{Image label|x=0.55 |y=0.47 |scale=330|text=Wakaba-ku}}

{{Image label end}}

{{div flex row end|div c=y}}

Chiba has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool to mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter.

{{Weather box

|location = Chiba (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1966−present)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 20.7

|Feb record high C = 24.7

|Mar record high C = 25.3

|Apr record high C = 28.7

|May record high C = 31.7

|Jun record high C = 35.0

|Jul record high C = 37.8

|Aug record high C = 38.5

|Sep record high C = 36.2

|Oct record high C = 32.8

|Nov record high C = 26.0

|Dec record high C = 24.3

|Jan record low C = -5.1

|Feb record low C = -5.2

|Mar record low C = -4.4

|Apr record low C = 0.4

|May record low C = 6.8

|Jun record low C = 9.1

|Jul record low C = 12.5

|Aug record low C = 16.5

|Sep record low C = 10.7

|Oct record low C = 5.8

|Nov record low C = -0.9

|Dec record low C = -3.7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 67.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 59.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 111.3

|Apr precipitation mm = 110.4

|May precipitation mm = 122.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 150.9

|Jul precipitation mm = 136.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 115.7

|Sep precipitation mm = 204.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 225.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 94.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 56.8

|year precipitation mm = 1454.7

|Jan mean C = 6.1

|Feb mean C = 6.6

|Mar mean C = 9.6

|Apr mean C = 14.5

|May mean C = 18.9

|Jun mean C = 21.9

|Jul mean C = 25.7

|Aug mean C = 27.1

|Sep mean C = 23.8

|Oct mean C = 18.6

|Nov mean C = 13.4

|Dec mean C = 8.6

|year mean C = 16.2

|Jan high C = 10.1

|Feb high C = 10.7

|Mar high C = 13.8

|Apr high C = 18.7

|May high C = 23.0

|Jun high C = 25.6

|Jul high C = 29.4

|Aug high C = 31.0

|Sep high C = 27.5

|Oct high C = 22.3

|Nov high C = 17.3

|Dec high C = 12.5

|year high C = 20.2

|Jan low C = 2.4

|Feb low C = 2.8

|Mar low C = 5.7

|Apr low C = 10.6

|May low C = 15.4

|Jun low C = 19.0

|Jul low C = 23.0

|Aug low C = 24.3

|Sep low C = 21.0

|Oct low C = 15.6

|Nov low C = 9.9

|Dec low C = 4.9

|year low C = 12.9

|Jan humidity = 53

|Feb humidity = 55

|Mar humidity = 61

|Apr humidity = 66

|May humidity = 71

|Jun humidity = 77

|Jul humidity = 78

|Aug humidity = 77

|Sep humidity = 77

|Oct humidity = 73

|Nov humidity = 66

|Dec humidity = 57

|year humidity = 68

|Jan sun = 191.6

|Feb sun = 165.3

|Mar sun = 167.5

|Apr sun = 177.0

|May sun = 180.5

|Jun sun = 126.9

|Jul sun = 162.7

|Aug sun = 189.4

|Sep sun = 134.6

|Oct sun = 131.6

|Nov sun = 143.6

|Dec sun = 174.8

|year sun = 1945.5

|Jan snow cm = 2

|Feb snow cm = 4

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 0

|year snow cm = 7

|unit precipitation days = 0.5 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 6.2

|Feb precipitation days = 6.8

|Mar precipitation days = 11.2

|Apr precipitation days = 10.7

|May precipitation days = 11.2

|Jun precipitation days = 12.4

|Jul precipitation days = 10.7

|Aug precipitation days = 8.5

|Sep precipitation days = 12.0

|Oct precipitation days = 11.5

|Nov precipitation days = 8.8

|Dec precipitation days = 6.5

|year precipitation days = 116.6

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=45&block_no=47682&year=&month=&day=&view=

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = May 19, 2021}}

}}

One of the many points of interest is the Experimental Station for Landscape Plants.

• Chiba Zoo
• Makuhari Messe

• Chiba Park
• Aoba no Mori Park
• Showa no Mori Park

{{further|Transportation in Greater Tokyo}}

There is no commercial airport within city limits. Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) are the closest major airports.

File:Chiba Station May 2005-2.jpg]]

The Chiba Urban Monorail runs through Chiba City. The major intercity railway stations are Chiba Station, (Sobu Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibo Line, Sōbu Main Line, Narita Line, transfer for Chiba Urban Monorail), Keisei Chiba Station (Keisei Chiba Line), and Soga Station, (Keiyō Line, Sotobō Line, Uchibo Line) all in Chūō-ku.

• Higashi-Kantō Expressway to Tokyo, Narita and Kashima
• Tateyama Expressway to Kisarazu
• Keiyō Road
• Chiba-Tōgane Road (Japan National Route 126
• Japan National Route 14
• Japan National Route 16
• Japan National Route 51
• Japan National Route 128
• Japan National Route 357

File:Chiba Marine Stadium Complete View.jpg]]

Chiba plays host to the annual International Chiba Ekiden and the Chiba International Cross Country takes place just outside the city. Chiba Velodrome is located within the city. It also hosts the Bridgestone Open golf tournament.

Chiba is home to several professional sports teams, most notably:

• Chiba Keizai University
• Chiba Meitoku College
• Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences
• Chiba University
• Japan Christian Junior College
• Kanda University of International Studies
• Keiai University
• The Open University of Japan
• Shukutoku University
• Teikyo Heisei University (Chiba campus)
• Tokyo Dental College
• Tokyo University of Information Sciences
• Uekusa University

Chiba has 20 public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education and two public high schools operated by the Chiba City Board of Education, including Inage Senior High School. There are also nine private high schools, including the Makuhari Junior and Senior High School.

Chiba has 114 public and one private elementary school and 59 public and one private middle school.

• Chiba Korean Primary and Junior High School
• Inage International Combined Junior and Senior High School

• Chiba Kaihin Hospital (Mihama-ku)
• Chiba University Hospital (Chuo-ku)
• Hirayama Hospital (Hanamigawa-ku)
• Kashiwado Hospital (Chuo-ku)
• Koizumi Clinic (Hanamigawa-ku)
• Mizuno Clinic (Hanamigawa-ku)
• Tokyo Dental College Chiba Hospital (Mihama-ku)

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Chiba City is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Sister and Friendship Cities of Chiba City|url=https://www.city.chiba.jp/somu/shichokoshitsu/kokusai/sistercity-index-en.html|website=city.chiba.jp|publisher=Chiba|access-date=2021-02-14}}

• {{flagicon|CAN}} North Vancouver, Canada, since 1970
• {{flagicon|PAR}} Asunción, Paraguay, since 1970
• {{flagicon|USA}} Houston, United States, since 1972
• {{flagicon|PHL}} Quezon City, Philippines, since 1972
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Tianjin, China, since 1986
• {{flagicon|CHE}} Montreux, Switzerland, since 1996
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Wujiang (Suzhou), China, since 1996

{{more citations needed section|date=March 2010}}

• Sawa Ishige, born in Shizuoka but moved to Chiba
• Ryuta Kawashima, born in Chiba in 1959
• Masaki Aiba, of Arashi (born in Chiba in 1982)
• Pata, of X Japan and Ra:IN
• Yukihiro of L'Arc-en-Ciel, from Chiba and a graduate of The Chiba University of Commerce
• Tomohisa Yamashita, of NEWS (Originally from Funabashi, Chiba)
• Naohito Fujiki, Japan Academy Prize-winning actor (Originally from Kurashiki, Okayama)
• Natsuki Mizu, top star of Snow Troupe in the Takarazuka Revue (born in Chiba in 1972)
• Daiki Arioka, of Hey! Say! JUMP
• Shiho Fujita, better known as Sifow
• Mirei Kiritani, actress, model, news anchor
• Kentaro Miura, creator of Berserk (born in Chiba in 1966)
• Tsukasa Fushimi, creator of Oreimo (born in Chiba in 1981)
• Susumu Tadakuma, prominent electrical engineer and professor (retired) at Chiba Institute of Technology[https://web.archive.org/web/20180502140127/https://www.ieee.org/about/awards/bios/kaufmann-recipients.html#2019%20-%20Susumu%20Tadakuma IEEE Richard H. Kaufmann Award Recipients: Sususmu Tadakuma]
• Tao Okamoto, model (Originally from Ichikawa, Chiba)
• Rena Kato, formerly of AKB48
• Reina Fujie, formerly of NMB48
• Rina Hidaka, voice actress and former child actress
• Cho Chikun, Go-player and Honorable citizen of Chiba City (1996).{{Cite web |url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/htm/ki000004.htm |title=the Nihon Ki-in |access-date=2015-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227033812/http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/player/htm/ki000004.htm |archive-date=2010-02-27 |url-status=dead }}
• Shiina Natsukawa, pop idol and member of girl group TrySail
• Mitsuhiro Hidaka, rapper and member of co-ed group AAA
• Kenta Yamashita, racing driver
• Seiji Ara, racing driver
• Daiki Hashimoto, men's artistic gymnast, all-around champion at the 2020 Summer Olympics (born in Narita, but resides in Chiba)
• Wataru Watari, creator of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected (born and currently resides in Chiba)
• Shinichi Yamaji, racing driver
• Hideki Konno, video game director, game designer and producer
• Shiro Ishii, head of unit 731
• Kaho Minagawa, rhythmic gymnast, hoop bronze medallist at the 2017 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships
• Kabosu, the Shiba Inu dog featured in the Doge meme

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{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Chiba, Chiba}}

{{Wikivoyage|Chiba}}

• [https://www.city.chiba.jp/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}

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