Imari, Saga

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**Imari**
**伊万里市**
Imari's location in Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Saga Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	254.99 km² (98.45 sq mi)
Population (as of September 1, 2007)
Total	57,514
Density	226 /km² (585 /sq mi)
Location	33°16′N, 129°53′E
Symbols
Flower	Azalea
Imari Government Office
Mayor	Yoshikazu Tsukabe
Address	〒848-8501 1355-1 Tachibana-chō, Imari-shi, Saga-ken
Phone number	0955-23-2111
Official website: City of Imari

Imari (伊万里市, Imari-shi^?) is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Imari is most notable because of Imari porcelain, which is the European collectors' name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, Saga Prefecture. The porcelain was exported from the port of Imari specifically for the European export trade.

1 Geography
- 1.1 Adjoining municipalities
2 History
3 Education
- 3.1 Vocational schools
- 3.2 High schools
4 Transportation
5 Pottery
6 Festivals
7 People from Imari

[edit] Geography

Imari is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. The city center is located around the mouth of the Imari River.

Mountains: Mt. Hachiman (764 m), Mt. Seira (599 m), Mt. Eboshi (597 m)
Rivers: Matsuura River, Imari River, Hata River, Kurōtake River, Arita River

[edit] Adjoining municipalities

Saga Prefecture
- Arita
- Karatsu
- Takeo
Nagasaki Prefecture
- Sasebo
- Matsuura

[edit] History

During the Edo period this region flourished due to the export of ceramics and porcelain. High quality goods to be presented to shogun and the Imperial Court were produced in what is now called Ōkawachiyama. From the Meiji period to 1955 coal was also a major export.

1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system is established. The current city region is occupied by 1 town, Imari, and 11 villages: Higashiyamashiro, Kurokawa, Makishima, Matsuura, Minamihata, Niri, Nishiyamashiro, Ōdake, Ōkawa, Ōkawachi, Ōtsubo.
1901-02-16 - Ōdake Village is renamed Hatatsu Village.
1928-12-10 - Makishima Village is incorporated into Imari Town.
1936-04-01 - Nishiyamashiro Village becomes Yamashiro Town.
1943-12-08 - The villages of Ōkawachi and Ōtsubo are incorporated into Imari Town.
1954-04-01 - Imari Town, Yamashiro Town, and the villages of Higashiyamashiro, Kurokawa, Hatatsu, Minamihata, Ōkawa, Matsuura, and Niri merge to form Imari City.

[edit] Education

[edit] Vocational schools

Imari College of Nursing

[edit] High schools

Saga Prefectural Imari High School (佐賀県立伊万里高等学校)
Saga Prefectural Imari Agriculture and Forestry High School (佐賀県立伊万里農林高等学校)
Saga Prefectural Imari Business High School (佐賀県立伊万里商業高等学校)
Keitoku High School (敬徳高等学校)

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Air

The nearest airports are Saga Airport, Fukuoka Airport, and Nagasaki Airport.

[edit] Rail

JR Kyushu
- Chikuhi Line
  - Komanaki Station - Ōkawano Station - Hizen-Nagano Station - Momonokawa Station - Kanaishihara Station - Kami-Imari Station - Imari Station
Matsuura Railway
- Nishi-Kyūshū Line
  - Kanatake Station - Kawahigashi Station - Imari Station - Higashiyamashiro Station - Sato Station - Kusuku Station - Naruishi Station - Kubara Station - Haze Station - Uranosaki Station - Fukushimaguchi Station

The main station is Imari Station.

[edit] Road

Expressways:
- There are no expressway interchanges in Imari. The closest is the Nagasaki Expressway Takeo-Kitagata Interchange.
National highways:
- Route 202
- Route 204
- Route 498
Prefectural roads:
- Saga Prefectural Route 5 (Imari-Matsuura)
- Saga Prefectural Route 32 (Hatagawachi-Chikushino)
- Saga Prefectural Route 321 (Kurokawa-Matsushima)

[edit] Pottery

Imari porcelain
Okawachiyama, 'The Village of the Secret Kilns', used to be the home of the Nabeshima clan Kilns.

[edit] Festivals

The Imari Ton-Ten-Ton Festival is held annually for 3 days from October 22nd to 24th, beginning at the Imari Shrine in Imari City. The festival is well known as one of the three great fighting festivals of Japan.