Kujūkuri Beach
Kujūkuri Beach | |
---|---|
九十九里浜 Kujūkuri-hama | |
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location | Chiba Prefecture, Japan |
Coordinates | 35°31′44″N 140°27′07″E / 35.529°N 140.452°E |
Kujūkuri Beach (九十九里浜, Kujūkuri-hama) is a sandy beach that occupies much of the northeast coast of the
Geography
Kujūkuri Beach extends in the shape of an arc from
Municipalities
Kujūkuri Beach extends across ten municipalities in Chiba Prefecture. They include:
- Asahi
- Sōsa
- Yokoshibahikari
- Sanmu
- Kujūkuri
- Ōamishirasato
- Shirako
- Chōsei
- Ichinomiya
- Isumi
Etymology
"Kujūkurihama" literally means "ninety nine ri (sandy) beach." Minamoto no Yoritomo was thought to order the measurement of the beach, and 99 arrows were stuck on the sand—one every ri.[1] The unit "ri" was then 6 chō (approx. 660 m), but later the ri extended to 36 chō (ca. 3.9 km). The short ri of 6 chō has long been forgotten or not in use, thus today many believe and explain incorrectly that 99 is just an inference of its long distance. The actual length of the beach is approximately 66 km, making the original measurement by Minamoto no Yoritomo an accurate one.
History
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In the
In the last days of World War II, the Allied forces planned to land on Kujūkuri Beach in Operation Coronet. Japan's failure to complete the beach's defences on schedule contributed to Emperor Hirohito's decision to surrender.[7]
Flora and fauna
A northern species chum salmon returns to a river of the beach every year, the southernmost in Japan. According to a programme of NHK, Kujūkuri is the best place in Japan to observe the sanderling. These tiny birds can be seen on most spring and autumn days following the ebb and flow of the waves at amazing speeds in search of food. [citation needed] Kujūkuri Beach is a noted area for sardine fishing.[3][5] Japanese black pines have been planted along the length of the beach to prevent erosion.[1]
In popular culture
The song Omoide no Kujukurihama (Kujukuri Beach of Memories), by girl group
See also
- Shichirigahama - a similarly named beach in Kanagawa Prefecture
References
- ^ OCLC 153301537. Archived from the originalon 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- OCLC 173191044. dlc 2009238904. Archived from the originalon 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ^ a b "Kujūkurihama". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ a b "Kujūkuri-hama". Dijitaru daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ^ a b "Kujūkuri-hama". Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (日本国語大辞典) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ a b "Kujukuri/Choushi Area". Tokyo: Japan National Tourism Organization. Retrieved Dec 4, 2012.
- ^ Bix, Herbert P. (2009). Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan. HarperCollins. p. 515.
External links
- 99Beach Tourist Guide (in Japanese)