Mount Akagi

Mount Akagi (赤城山, Akagi-yama, Red Castle) is a mountain in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

Mount Akagi
赤城山
Highest point
Elevation1,828 m (5,997 ft) [1]
Coordinates36°33′26″N 139°11′47″E [1]
Naming
English translationRed Castle
Language of nameJapanese
Geography
Mount Akagi
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruptionPossibly 1251[1]
Relief Map of Akagi Volcano

The broad, low dominantly andesitic stratovolcano rises above the northern end of the Kanto Plain. It contains an elliptical, 3 x 4 km summit caldera with post-caldera lava domes arranged along a NW-SE line. Lake Ono is located at the NE end of the caldera. An older stratovolcano was partially destroyed by edifice collapse, producing a debris-avalanche deposit along the south flank. A series of large plinian eruptions accompanied growth of a second stratovolcano during the Pleistocene. Construction of the central cone in the late-Pleistocene summit caldera began following the last of the plinian eruptions about 31,000 years ago. During historical time unusual activity was recorded on several occasions during the 9th century, but reported eruptions in 1251 and 1938 are considered uncertain.[1]

Mount Akagi, along with Mount Myōgi and Mount Haruna, is one of the "Three Mountains of Jōmō" (上毛三山), and the cold north winds down from it are called Akagi-oroshi (赤城おろし) or Karakkaze (空っ風).

The Amagi-class battlecruiser, converted into an Aircraft Carrier during construction, Akagi was named after Mount Akagi and was the flagship for the strike force commanded by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The carrier was later sunk in the Battle of Midway.

Religion

Mount Akagi is an object of worship in this region. On Ōno Lake, there is Akagi Shrine.

Access

The upper portions of the prefectural road Route 4 approach the top of Mount Akagi. Kanetsu Kotsu Bus comes to Akagi Visitor Center from Maebashi Station or Fujimi Onsen Bus Stop.

Climbing routes

To the top of Mount Kurobi, the highest point of this mountain, it takes about three hours from the Akagi Hiroba Bus Stop.

The sixth Zatoichi film, Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold, this mountain is the destination of Ichi as he searches for the brigand Chuji.

Mount Akagi is mentioned in the street racing manga and anime series Initial D. The portions of Gunma Route 62 [GPS Coordinates +36° 34' 22.83", +139° 13' 57.56"] and Gunma Route 257 [GPS Coordinates +36° 33' 37.54", +139° 17' 21.03"] that pass by Mount Akagi are featured in numerous Initial D episodes. It is the home course of the racing team called the Akagi RedSuns.

Mount Akagi is also featured in the street racing game Tokyo Xtreme Racer: Drift 2 and the arcade/simulator game Auto Modellista.[2]

Mt. Moon from the Pokémon franchise is based on Mount Akagi.

  • Mountaintop
  • View from Maebashi city
  • Lake Ōno and Mount Jizo in summer
  • Lake Ōno and Mount Jizo in winter
  • Kurobi Ōkami Shrine near the top of Mount Kurobi
  • Mount Kurobi from Akagi Hiroba Bus Stop
  • Mikuni Mountains from the middle of Mount Kurobi

References
  1. "Akagi". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  2. Digital Displacement, http://www.digitaldisplacement.com/?p=2705 Archived 2012-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
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