Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Kashima (鹿嶋市) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 31.5%. The total area of the city is 106.02 square km (40.93 sq mi). Kashima is the home of the J. League's Kashima Antlers. Its home field, Kashima Soccer Stadium, was used as a site during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The city is also the site of the Kashima Shrine, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in eastern Japan, and considered the birthplace of many influential styles of Japanese swordsmanship (Kenjutsu).

Geography Kashima is located in south-eastern Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and Lake Kitaura (Lake Kasumigaura) to the west, with a width of less than 10 km from east-to-west. It is approximately 110 km to the north-east of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities Ibaraki Prefecture • Itako • Kamisu • Namegata • Hokota.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kashima has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History Kashima was developed from the Nara period together with the ichinomiya of Hitachi Province, Kashima Shrine. After the Meiji Restoration, the town of Kashima was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 within Kashima District. In 1954, Kashima annexed with the neighboring villages of Takamatsu, Toyosu, Toyosato and Namino. Kashima merged with the village of Ono on September 1, 1995 and was elevated to city status.

Government Kashima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Kashima contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Kashima is the central city of the Kashima Industrial Zone, and it has a large industrial park with about 1500 factories, especially petrochemical and steel plants. The Japanese government created this zone in 1963, and the development was mostly completed in 1973. Agriculture and commercial fishing also play a part in the local economy.

Education Kashima has 12 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private middle school and two private high schools. • Seishin Gakuen Women's Junior College (1984–2003).

Sport Kashima Antlers is the local J. League football club.

Transport: Rail JR East – Kashima Line • Kashimajingū - Kashima Soccer Stadium; - Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line • Kashimanada - Kashima-Ōno - Chōjagahamashiosaihamanasukōenmae - Kōyadai - Kashima Soccer Stadium - Kashimajingū.

Transport: Road • National Route 51 • National Route 124.

Seaport • Port of Kashima.

Local attractions • Kashima Shrine.