Yokkaichi, Mie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Yokkaichi City**
**四日市市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Tokai
Prefecture	Mie prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	205.16 km²
Population (as of 2005)
Total	309,998
Location	34°58′N 134°37′E
Symbols
Yokkaichi City Hall
Official website: Yokkaichi City

Coordinates: 34°58′N 134°37′E

Yokkaichi (四日市市; -shi) is a city located in Mie, Japan.

As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 309,998. The total area is 205.16 km².

The closest major city is Nagoya in Aichi prefecture.

It is a manufacturing center that produces banko ware (a kind of porcelain), automobiles, cotton textiles, chemicals, tea, cement, and computer parts such as DRAM.

The city was founded on August 1, 1897. From 1960 to 1972, the city suffered health problems caused by the emission of SOx into the atmosphere from local oil chemical plants. In Japan, a disease called Yokkaichi zensoku (Yokkaichi Asthma) derives its name from the city, and it is considered one of the Four Big Pollution Diseases of Japan.