Itabashi (板橋区, Itabashi-ku; Japanese pronunciation: [i.taꜜ.ba.ɕi, -ta.ba.ɕi̥ꜜ.kɯ, -baꜜ.ɕi̥.kɯ]) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. In English, it is called Itabashi City. Itabashi has sister-city relations with Burlington, Ontario, in Canada; Shijingshan District of Beijing in the People's Republic of China; and Bologna in Italy.
As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 547,270, and a population density of 16,990 persons per km2. The total area is 32.22 km2.
Contents
Geography
Itabashi lies on the Kantō plain. The Arakawa River, a major river, forms part of the boundary with Saitama Prefecture. Surrounding the ward are, in Saitama, the cities of Wakō and Toda; and in Tokyo, the wards of Nerima, Toshima, and Kita.
Districts and neighborhoods
Notes:
a – (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
b – (formerly part of Shimura Nishidai area)
c – (1 & 9)
History
The name of the ward means "plank bridge" and derives from the wooden span over the Shakujii River that dates from the Heian period. Such a bridge was remarkable at the time, and the name has lasted since. The current bridge in that location is made of ferroconcrete. In the Edo period, the Nakasendō crossed the nearby Shimo Itabashi, and the name came to apply to that area as well. Itabashi was one of the Four Edo Post Towns, and travellers first lodged there after leaving the shogunal capital. Kaga Domain had a mansion there. The shogunate maintained the Itabashi execution grounds at Itabashi.
On October 1, 1932, nine towns and villages of Kita-Toshima District were merged and became part of Tokyo City as Itabashi Ward. It became a special ward May 3, 1947. On August 1 of that year, the localities of Nerima, Kami-Nerima, Naka-Arai, Shakujii and Ōizumi were split off from Itabashi to create Nerima Ward.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population growth has remained stable since 1970.
Education
Universities
Itabashi is home to four universities. Tokyo Kasei University has a campus in the Kaga neighborhood. Also in Kaga is the main campus of Teikyo University. Daito Bunka University has one campus in Takashima-daira, and another in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama. The fourth is the medical college of Nihon University.
Public schools
Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
Itabashi High School
Itabashi Yutoku High School
Kitatoshima Technical High School
Kitazono High School
Ohyama High School
Takashima High School
Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the Itabashi City Board of Education (板橋区教育委員会).
Public junior high schools:
Akatsuka No. 1 Junior High School (赤塚第一中学校)
Akatsuka No. 2 Junior High School (赤塚第二中学校)
Akatsuka No. 3 Junior High School (赤塚第三中学校)
Itabashi No. 1 Junior High School (板橋第一中学校)
Itabashi No. 2 Junior High School (板橋第二中学校)
Itabashi No. 3 Junior High School (板橋第三中学校)
Itabashi No. 5 Junior High School (板橋第五中学校)
Kaga Junior High School (加賀中学校)
Kami Itabashi No. 1 Junior High School (上板橋第一中学校)
Kami Itabashi No. 2 Junior High School (上板橋第二中学校)
Kami Itabashi No. 3 Junior High School (上板橋第三中学校)
Private schools
Tokyo Third Korean Elementary School (東京朝鮮第三初級学校) – North Korean school
Points of interest
Akatsuka Botanical Garden
Itabashi Botanical Garden
Jorenji temple and the Daibutsu of Tokyo
Jōhoku-Chūō Park
Transportation
Rail
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Saikyō Line: Itabashi Station, Ukima-Funado Station
Toei Mita Line: Shin-Itabashi, Itabashi Kuyakusho-mae, Itabashi-Honchō, Moto-Hasunuma, Shimura Sakaue, Shimura-Sanchōme, Hasune, Nishidai, Takashimadaira, Shin-Takashimadaira, Nishi-Takashimadaira Stations
Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line: Chikatetsu Narimasu Station
Tōbu Tōjō Line: Ōyama, Naka-Itabashi, Tokiwadai, Kami-Itabashi, Tobu-Nerima, Shimo-Akatsuka, Narimasu Stations
Some of these stations straddle the boundaries with other wards, or are within walking distance of Itabashi. The addresses of some stations are in neighboring wards. Shimo-Itabashi Station is in Toshima; Kotake Mukaihara Station and Akatsuka Subway Station are in Nerima; Ukima-Funado Station is actually in Kita.
Highways
Shuto Expressway
No.5 Ikebukuro Route (Takebashi JCT – Bijogi JCT)
C2 Central Loop (Itabashi JCT – Kasai JCT)
Sister cities
Shijingshan District, Beijing, China
Bologna, Italy
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Notable people from Itabashi
Tsubasa Akimoto, actress
Noriyuki Asakura, composer and vocalist
Yasuhiko Fukuda, Japanese composer and keyboardist
Tomoko Ikuta, actress
Shō Ishikawa, Japanese baseball player
Seizō Katō, actor, voice actor and narrator
Masakatsu Koike, Japanese politician
Jin Matsubara, Japanese politician
Junko Mihara, Japanese politician, singer, actress, and racing driver
Minami Minegishi, entertainer
Kayo Noro, Japanese idol, singer and entertainer
Takurō Ōno, Japanese actor and talent
Koichi Oshima, baseball player
Maaya Sakamoto, singer and voice actress
Yosuke Santa Maria, Japanese professional wrestler
Jin Shirosaki, entertainer and radio personality
Kento Yamazaki, Japanese actor and model