Tsukidate, Fukushima

Tsukidate (月舘町, Tsukidate-machi) is one of five neighborhoods within the city of Date, Fukushima, along with the former towns of Date, Hobara, Ryozen, and Yanagawa. Until the merger in 2006 it was a town located in Date District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

Tsukidate 月舘町
Former municipality
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima Prefecture
Merged	January 1, 2006 (now part of Date)
Area
• Total	43.63 km^2 (16.85 sq mi)
Population  (January 1, 2003)
• Total	4,443
• Density	101.83/km^2 (263.7/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
Symbols Bird Japanese bush warbler Flower Golden-rayed lily Tree Japanese zelkova

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 4,443, and a density of 101.83 persons per km². The total area is 43.63 km².

Tsukidate is primarily known for rice and wasabi cultivation. It is host to a hydrangea festival in Spring.[1]

History

Tsukidate Town Symbol

The town symbol was established in 1965. It includes a representation of the kanji "tsuki" (月), with the horizontal lines extended to indicate unlimited progress. In 1985, the golden-rayed lily, Japanese zelkova, and Japanese bush warbler were named the town's official flower, tree, and bird, respectively.[2]

On January 1, 2006, Tsukidate, along with the towns of Date, Hobara, Ryōzen and Yanagawa (all from Date District), was merged to create Date City.

Local attractions

• Hana Koubo[3] (resort and bathhouse)
• 16 Rakan Statues[4]
• Tsukimidate Forest Park[5]

International relations

Since 1994, Tsukidate has been involved in a cultural exchange program with students from Revere, Massachusetts. Every two years, students from Tsukidate travel to the US for a week-long home-stay. On alternate years, those same students from Revere visit Tsukidate and stay in the student's homes. This program was expanded to include all of Date City in 2006. In the summer of 2016, Date City and Revere City became sister cities. The program has been on hiatus since 2017.[6]

References

1. http://www.date-shi.jp/wp-content/uploads/brochure/dateshikonjyaku_story.pdf
2. "旧5町紹介「月舘町」 - 福島県伊達市ホームページ". www.city.fukushima-date.lg.jp. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
3. "Tsukidate Hana Koubo". t-hanakobo.jp. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
4. "Update from Coordinator for International Relations October 2017・国際交流員日記10月2017年 - 福島県伊達市ホームページ". www.city.fukushima-date.lg.jp. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
5. "Updates from Coordinator for International Relations July 2017　・　国際交流員日記7月2017年 - 福島県伊達市ホームページ". www.city.fukushima-date.lg.jp. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
6. "Revere to become sister city of Date, Japan - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.

External links

• Date official website in Japanese