Katsushika (葛飾区) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is known as Katsushika City in English. As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 444,356, and a population density of 12,770 people per km2. The total area is 34.80 km2.

Geography

Katsushika Ward is at the east end of Tokyo Metropolis. It is on an alluvial plain and it is low above sea level. The ward office (Katsushika city hall) is located at Tateishi.

Boundaries

Katsushika has boundaries with three wards of Tokyo: Adachi, Edogawa and Sumida. The cities of Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture, and Misato and Yashio in Saitama Prefecture form the northeast border of the ward.

Rivers

Major rivers in Katsushika include the Edogawa, Arakawa and Ayasegawa. Nakagawa and Shin-nakagawa flows through the ward.

Districts and neighborhoods

History

Katsushika District was originally a division of Musashi Province. When the province was divided and reconfigured, the district was partitioned between Kita-Katsushika District (within Saitama Prefecture), Higashi-Katsushika District (within Chiba Prefecture) and the remainder was based in Tokyo Prefecture. Minami-Katsushika District conformed today's Katsushika Ward proper, plus Edogawa, Koto and Sumida wards. On October 1, 1932, the former Minami-Katsushika District of what was then known as Tokyo Prefecture, and its seven towns and villages, merged and became part of the old Tokyo City. The special ward was founded on March 15, 1947. Katsushika contains the Kasai Shrine, Narihira Santosen Temple, the "Bound Jizō" of Ōoka Echizen, and Shibamata Taishakuten, selected as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan and 100 Landscapes of Japan (Heisei era).

Economy

Takara Tomy has its headquarters in Katsushika.

Government and infrastructure

The Tokyo Detention House, a correctional facility, is in the ward. One of Japan's seven execution chambers is located there.

Education

Colleges and universities

Metropolitan schools

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates public high schools. Special school:

Municipal schools

Katsushika City Board of Education operates public elementary and junior high schools. Municipal junior high schools: Elementary schools include: Special schools:

Transportation

Rail

Highways

Notable works set in Katsushika

The longest-running manga series in history, Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo takes place in Katsushika. The neighborhood of Shibamata is the home of Tora-san, the protagonist of the long-running Otoko wa Tsurai yo film series, played by Kiyoshi Atsumi. A statue of Tora-san stands outside of Shibamata Station. Other notable works set in Katsushika are the television series Kamen Rider Hibiki and the TV drama series Long Vacation. A statue of Captain Tsubasa main character, Tsubasa Ozora, is also located there, as the fictional town of Nankatsu was inspired by Katsushika itself.

Notable people

Sister cities

Katsushika has sister-city relationships with Fengtai District in Beijing, China, and with Floridsdorf, a district of Vienna, Austria.