Karatsu

Karatsu 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 China, and Korea.

History

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 merged 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.

Culture and tourism

The graceful Karatsu Castle stands to watch over this castle town.

Karatsu is famous for its Karatsu Kunchi festival, which runs annually from November 2 to November 4 and is visited by approximately 500,000 visitors from all over Japan. The festival consists of 14 hikiyama (floats made of many layers of paper mache) being carried around the city's narrow streets to calls of "Enya!". Some hikiyama members say "Yoisa!". This accompaniment is one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. Regularly during Karatsu Kunchi, people in this town open their homes to friends and strangers to eat and drink; the primary focus is enjoying food, beer, and shochu, and having a lively conversation.

In between Karatsu Station (唐津駅) and the main bus center (大手口バスセンター) is a 170-meter arcade containing many small shops that specialize in Karatsu Kunchi omiyage, and the Korean-influenced local pottery which are called "Karatsu ware" since they refer to Japanese ceramic wares of Korean origin. The actual date of production of the 'Karatsu Yaki' is believed to have begun being produced sometime "during the first half of the 16th century in the late Muromachi period."

Museums in Karatsu include Kawamura Art Museum, Saga Prefectural Nagoya Castle Museum, and Matsurokan, and shrines, Kagami Jinja.

Yobuko

The former town of Yobuko merged with Karatsu on January 1, 2005.

Yobuko is famed for its fresh squid, Ika (烏賊) in Japanese, which is offered sashimi style, or it can be eaten while the squid is still alive. Yobuko also attracts local tourists, who come to see the Yobuko Big Bridge (呼子大橋).

Yobuko has a festival known as Yobuko Tsunahiki (呼子大綱引), or the Yobuko Tug of War, which takes place annually on the first Saturday and Sunday of June. The event involves a big tug-o-war between two factions in the town, the fishermen and farmers, and local legend says that if the hills faction wins, there will be a good harvest that year; and if the sea faction wins, there will be a good fishing harvest that year.

Beaches

Hamatama is one of the nicest beaches in Saga Prefecture. It is located close to central Karatsu and can be accessed by the JR Chikuhi Line.

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