Atsugi, city in central Japan, on southeastern Honshu Island, in central Kanagawa Prefecture on the Sagami River. Atsugi's industrial products include electrical appliances, automobile parts, and rubber goods. A commuter suburb, Atsugi is about 30 km (about 19 mi) west of Yokohama and about 45 km (about 28 mi) southwest of Tokyo. Atsugi holds an annual festival in August to celebrate the ayu (sweetfish) caught in the river.
Atsugi was founded as a river port and post-station town (an officially regulated settlement catering to travelers) during the Edo period (1603-1867). United States general Douglas MacArthur—who supervised the U.S. occupation of Japan after World War II—made his first appearance as an occupational leader at Atsugi Base on August 20, 1945, shortly after Japan's surrender. In 1982 the U.S. military began using Atsugi Base, located in the smaller city of Ayase to the east, for night-landing practice. The noise generated by this activity caused 77 citizens to file a lawsuit requesting compensation for their discomfort. In 1986 the Tokyo high court denied the citizens' appeal. Population (1999) 208,575.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Atsugi Information info
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