Arakawa (荒川区) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The ward takes its name from the Arakawa River, though the river does not run through or touch the ward. Its neighbors are the wards of Adachi, Kita, Bunkyo, Taito and Sumida. In English, the ward calls itself Arakawa City. Arakawa has sister-city relationships with Donaustadt in Vienna, Austria, and with Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Domestically, it has similar relationships with nine cities, towns and villages. As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 208,763, and a population density of about 20,550 persons per km2. The total area is 10.16 km2.

Geography

Arakawa is in the northeastern part of Tokyo. The shape is long and narrow, stretching from west to east. The Sumida River forms the northern boundary. The ward is surrounded by five other special wards. To the north lies Adachi; to the west, Kita; to the southwest, Bunkyo. South of Arakawa is Taito, and southeast is Sumida.

History

The area was mainly agricultural in the Edo period. In 1651, Kozukappara, the Tokugawa's largest execution ground (now located next to Minami-Senju station), was built. Beginning in the Meiji era, the area became industrial as factories were built on the waterfront. In 1932, it became one of the 35 wards of Tokyo City. On 1 July 1944, during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army established the #20-B prisoner-of-war camp on the grounds near Hashiba Bridge, Minami-Senju, at the current day location with the address of 3-41 Minami-Senju, Arakawa. The camp was renamed to #10-B in August 1945. The prisoners were liberated in September 1945. At the time, there were 256 prisoners of war (87 British, 64 American, 55 Canadian and 50 Dutch) held at the camp. Two prisoners died during their imprisonment. Other events:

Districts and neighborhoods

Notes: a - (1-chōme) b - (1, 2, 3, 4 & 8-chōme) c - (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-chōme) d - (5, 6, 7-chōme)

Notable people

Economy

MIAT Mongolian Airlines's Tokyo Branch Office is on the fifth floor in the Tachibana Building in Arakawa. Iseki, a tractor and engine equipment manufacturer has its Tokyo head office in the ward.

Landmarks

Arakawa Nature Park

Education

Metropolitan high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education. Private schools: Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the Arakawa City Board of Education (荒川区教育委員会). Municipal junior high schools: Municipal elementary schools: The Tokyo First Korean Elementary and Junior High School (東京朝鮮第一初中級学校), a North Korean school, is in the ward. The metropolis operated the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Aeronautical Engineering in Arakawa until 2010.

Transportation

Rail

Additional facilities are under construction.

Major roads