Place:Karatsu, Saga, Japan

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is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Its name, formed from the Japanese word roots 唐 kara (China, or continental East Asia in general), and 津 tsu (port), signifies its historical importance as an ancient trading port between Japan with China and Korea. The central area of Karatsu, which does not include the former cities and villages of Higashimatsuura District, has a population of 78,386. As of January 1, 2020, the city had an estimated population of 117,663 and a population density of 241 persons per km². The total area is 487.59 km².

On January 1, 2005, the towns of Chinzei, Hamatama, Hizen, Kyūragi, Ōchi, Yobuko and the village of Kitahata (all from Higashimatsuura District) were merged into Karatsu.

On January 1, 2006, the village of Nanayama (from Higashimatsuura District) was merged into Karatsu.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Under ritsuryō, the current city area was part of the Hizen Province. In 1591, on the coast of the northern part of the city (formerly the town of Chinzei), Nagoya Castle was constructed. The following year, it became the location from which the Imjin War was launched by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the middle of 1593, Terazawa Hirotaka created the Karatsu Domain and began governing it. In 1602, replacing Nagoya Castle, Karatsu Castle was constructed in what is now the heart of Karatsu. The tower of Karatsu Castle was built in 1966 .

• 1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system was established. The current city region is occupied by 1 town (Karatsu), and 19 villages (Hamasaki, Irino, Kagami, Karatsu, Kirigo, Kitahata, Kuri, Kyūragi, Minato, Mitsushima, Nagoya, Nanayama, Ōchi, Ōmura, Onizuka, Sashi, Uchiage and Yobuko).
• 1896-07-28 - Ōmura was renamed Tamashima.
• 1922-07-01 - Hamasaki was elevated to town status.
• 1922-11-01 - Nagoya changes the kanji of its name.
• 1924-01-01 - Mitsushima was incorporated into Karatsu Town.
• 1928-08-01 - Yobuko was elevated to town status.
• 1931-02-01 - Karatsu Village was incorporated into Karatsu Town.
• 1932-01-01 - Karatsu Town was elevated to city status.
• 1935-09-01 - Sashi and Ōchi both were elevated to town status.
• 1941-11-03 - Sashi was incorporated into Karatsu.
• 1952-05-03 - Kyūragi was elevated to town status.
• 1954-11-01 - Kagami, Kuri, Minato and Onizuka were all incorporated into Karatsu.
• 1956-09-30 - Hamasaki and Tamashima were merged to create the town of Hamasaki-Tamashima; and Nagoya and Uchiage were merge to create the town of Chinzei.
• 1958-11-01 - Kirigo was split and its parts were incorporated into Karatsu and Irino (respectively), and Irino was elevated to town status and was renamed Hizen.
• 1966-11-01 - Hamasaki-Tamashima was renamed Hamatama.
• 2005-01-01 - Karatsu merged with Chinzei, Hamatama, Hizen, Kitahata, Kyūragi, Ōchi and Yobuko to retain the name Karatsu.
• 2006-01-01 - Nanayama was incorporated into Karatsu.

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