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Tim McGraw

Samuel Timothy McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has released 16 studio albums (11 for Curb Records, four for Big Machine Records and one for Arista Nashville). 10 of those albums have reached number one on the Top Country Albums charts, with his 1994 breakthrough album Not a Moment Too Soon being the top country album of 1994. In total, McGraw's albums have produced 65 singles, 25 of which have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs or Country Airplay charts. Three of these singles – "It's Your Love", "Just to See You Smile", and "Live Like You Were Dying" – were respectively the top country songs of 1997, 1998, and 2004 according to Billboard Year-End. He has also won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards, and three People's Choice Awards. His Soul2Soul II Tour, which was done in partnership with his wife, Faith Hill, is one of the highest-grossing tours in country music history, and one of the top five among all genres of music. He has sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

McGraw has ventured into acting, with supporting roles in The Blind Side, Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom, Tomorrowland, Four Christmases, flashback scenes in 2 episodes of Yellowstone (American TV series), and The Shack as well as lead roles in Flicka (2006), Country Strong (2010), and 1883 (2021). He was a minority owner of the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats. McGraw has been married to singer Faith Hill since 1996 and is the eldest son of former MLB pitcher Tug McGraw.

Early life
Samuel Timothy McGraw was born in Delhi, Louisiana, the only child of Elizabeth "Betty" Ann D'Agostino, a waitress from Jacksonville, Florida, and Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr., a pitcher for the minor league Jacksonville Suns and future star pitcher for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1966, D'Agostino was a student at Terry Parker High School. She lived in the same apartment building as Tug McGraw, who was playing baseball for Jacksonville. When she became pregnant with McGraw as a teen, D'Agostino's parents sent her to Louisiana to live with relatives. Through his father, McGraw has two half-brothers, Mark and Matthew, and a half-sister named Cari. He also has two younger half-sisters, Tracey and Sandra, through his mother's marriage to Horace Smith.

McGraw grew up believing Smith was his father, and used this stepfather's surname until meeting Tug. At age 11, McGraw discovered his birth certificate while searching in his mother's closet to look for a picture for a school project. Following the discovery, he learned from her who his biological father was and she took him to meet the elder McGraw for the first time. Tug McGraw denied the parentage for seven years until Tim was 18 years old. After that time, the two formed a relationship and remained close until the former baseball star died in 2004.

As a child, McGraw played competitive sports, including baseball, even before the knowledge of who his father was and his professional baseball career. McGraw was also a member of the FFA in high school. Following high school graduation, he attended Northeast Louisiana University on a baseball scholarship, where he was a pre-law major and pledged as a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. A knee injury sustained while playing baseball for the college prevented him from pursuing a professional career in sports.

While in college, McGraw learned to play guitar and would frequently perform and sing for money. He has claimed his roommates often hid the guitar because he was so bad. McGraw followed his mother when she returned to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1987. After the move, he attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville for one term, and occasionally sat in with local bands. In 1989, on the day his hero Keith Whitley died, McGraw dropped out of college to head to Nashville and pursue a musical career.

Tim McGraw
McGraw came to the attention of Curb Records in 1990. After cutting a demo single, McGraw gave a copy to his father. A man who was friends with Curb Records executives heard the demo while driving with Tug one day and recommended that Curb contact the young singer. Several weeks later, he was able to play his tape for Curb executives, after which they signed him to a recording contract. McGraw made his debut with the single "What Room Was the Holiday In", which was released on March 29, 1991, and did not enter the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart upon its release. In a 2001 retrospective on McGraw's career in Billboard, a former program director for Nashville station WSM-FM said that he added the song to the station's playlist because it showed "undeniable promise", while another former program director at WXTU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, recalled that McGraw's debut single was "terrible" but that he booked the singer to make an appearance at the station due to his father's fame.

Two years later in April 1993, McGraw released his debut album Tim McGraw, which was commercially unsuccessful and did not sell well. This is his only studio album not to achieve a music recording sales certification or to enter the Top Country Albums charts. Three more singles were released from Tim McGraw: "Welcome to the Club", "Memory Lane", and "Two Steppin' Mind". None made country Top 40 and the album itself did not chart. Both "Memory Lane" and "Tears in the Rain", another cut from the album, were co-written by Joe Diffie. "Memory Lane" had originally appeared on Keith Palmer's self-titled 1991 debut album.

Not a Moment Too Soon
McGraw's second album, entitled Not a Moment Too Soon, was much more successful than his self-titled debut, and it was the best-selling country album of 1994. Its first single, "Indian Outlaw", sparked controversy, as critics argued that it presented Native Americans in a patronizing way. Some radio stations even chose not to play it. However, the controversy helped spur sales, and the song became McGraw's first Top 10 entry on the U.S. country charts after getting as high as number 8. The song also peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album's second single, "Don't Take the Girl", became McGraw's first number one on the U.S. country charts, in addition to peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also "helped cement his image as a ruggedly good-looking guy with a sensitive side." By year's end, the third single from the album, "Down on the Farm" peaked at number 2; after that, the album's fourth single, also its title track, became the singer's second number one song in early 1995. The fifth and final single "Refried Dreams" reached number 5. The album sold over 6 million copies, topping the Billboard 200 and Top Country Album charts. On the strength of this success, McGraw won Academy of Country Music awards for Album of the Year and Top New Male Vocalist in 1994. Billboard named Not a Moment Too Soon as the top country album of 1994 on Billboard Year-End.

All I Want
McGraw's third studio album, All I Want, was released in 1995. Just like its predecessor, this album debuted at No. 1 on the country charts. The album even sold over 2 million copies in the United States and reached the Top 5 on the Billboard 200. The album's first single, "I Like It, I Love It", became McGraw's third number one on the American country charts and it also peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song also eventually became the goal song for the Nashville Predators once they began their inaugural season and since then has been left unchanged. The album's next two singles, "Can't Be Really Gone" and "All I Want Is a Life" (its partial title track) both made the top 5 at numbers 2 and 5, respectively. The fourth single, "She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart", gave McGraw his fourth number one on the U.S. country charts in 1996. Finishing off the singles was "Maybe We Should Just Sleep on It", which peaked at number 4.

In 1996, McGraw headlined the most successful country tour of the year, The Spontaneous Combustion Tour, with Faith Hill as his supporting act. Hill broke off her engagement to her former producer Scott Hendricks so that she and McGraw could start dating each other; they then married on October 6, 1996.

Everywhere
The singer's fourth album, 1997's Everywhere was released in 1997. It topped the country charts as well and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 4 million copies. The album spawned six singles. Four of those singles - "It's Your Love" (a duet with Faith Hill), the title track, "Where the Green Grass Grows", and "Just to See You Smile" - reached number one on the country charts. The Country Music Association awarded Everywhere its Album of the Year award for 1997. At the 40th Grammy Awards, "It's Your Love" received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals and Best Country Song. Both "It's Your Love" and "Just to See You Smile" were the number one country songs of 1997 and 1998 according to Billboard Year-End charts; "Just to See You Smile" also set a record for the longest run on the country charts at the time, at 42 weeks. The album's other two singles, "One of These Days" and "For a Little While" both peaked at number 2.

A Place in the Sun
McGraw's fifth album, A Place in the Sun, continued his streak in 1999, debuting atop both the US country and pop album charts and selling 3 million copies. Over 251,000 of those copies were sold during its first week, making this the singer's first number 1 opener on the Billboard 200. It produced another four number one hits on the U.S. country charts with "Please Remember Me", "Something Like That", "My Best Friend", and "My Next Thirty Years". "Some Things Never Change" peaked at number 7 on the charts. McGraw also contributed a song for the Grammy-winning tribute album to Bob Wills entitled Ride With Bob. A cover of "Milk Cow Blues", this song was recorded as a duet with Asleep at the Wheel, whom he had met while performing together at the George Strait Country Music Festival.

McGraw recorded two more duets with his wife in the late-1990s, both of which appeared on her albums. "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me", from her multi-platinum-certified 1998 album Faith, reached the Top 5 of the US country charts. Her follow-up album, 1999's Breathe, featured "Let's Make Love", which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration in 2000.

Greatest Hits
In 2000, McGraw released his first Greatest Hits album, which topped the country albums charts for nine weeks and sold nearly 6 million copies, making this one of the biggest-selling albums in the modern country market. In the latter half of the year, he and Hill went out on the Soul2Soul Tour, playing to sellout crowds in 64 venues, including Madison Square Garden. The tour was one of the top tours of any genre in the U.S. It was also the leading country tour of 2000.

While in Buffalo, New York, McGraw and Kenny Chesney became involved in a scuffle with police officers after Chesney attempted to ride a police horse. McGraw came to Chesney's aid after police officers nearby believed the horse was being stolen and tried to arrest him. The two were arrested and charged with assault but were later cleared. During a concert with the George Strait Country Music Festival several weeks later, Hill, dressed as a police officer, made an unscheduled appearance at the end of McGraw's set and led him off the stage.

Set This Circus Down
McGraw's sixth studio album, Set This Circus Down, was released in April 2001. It even spawned four number one hits on the country charts as well, this time with "Grown Men Don't Cry", "Angry All the Time" (with Faith Hill), "The Cowboy in Me", and "Unbroken". The singer provided harmony vocals for Jo Dee Messina's song "Bring On the Rain", which he also produced. That song topped the country charts.

Hungry for more of his music, fans downloaded a version of his performance of the song "Things Change" from his appearance at the Country Music Association Awards Show. The song was played extensively on radio, becoming the first country song to appear on the charts from a fully downloaded version.

Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
In 2002, McGraw bucked country music traditions by recording his seventh studio album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors with his tour band The Dancehall Doctors. Unlike rock music—where it is commonplace for touring bands to provide the music on albums recorded by the artist they support, country albums are typically recorded with session musicians. McGraw chose to use his own touring band, in order to recognize their part in his success, and to capture some of the feel of a real band.

All of the Dancehall Doctors have worked with McGraw since at least 1996. Their lineup includes:
 * Darran Smith – lead guitar, acoustic guitar
 * Bob Minner – rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin
 * Denny Hemingson – steel guitar, electric, baritone, and slide guitars, dobro
 * John Marcus – bass guitar
 * Dean Brown – fiddle, mandolin
 * Jeff McMahon – piano, organ, synthesizer, keyboards ... etc.
 * Billy Mason – drums
 * David Dunkley – percussion

The album debuted at No. 2 on the country albums charts, Its fourth and fifth singles "Real Good Man" and "Watch the Wind Blow By" both climbed to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "She's My Kind of Rain" peaked at No. 2 in 2003, and "Red Rag Top" reached number 5. The album also features a cover of Elton John's early-1970s classic "Tiny Dancer," as well as duets with Kim Carnes on "Comfort Me" (a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks) and Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles on "Illegal." "She's My Kind of Rain" also received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance-Male at the 46th Grammy Awards.

Live Like You Were Dying
His eighth album, 2004's Live Like You Were Dying, continued the singer's record of commercial success. The album's first single and its title track was dedicated to his father Tug McGraw, who died of a brain tumor earlier in the year, was an ode to living life fully and in the moment. The second single "Back When" was a paean to an easy nostalgia. In December 2019, McGraw spoke on stage at the annual End Well Symposium about why he wrote "Live Like You Were Dying" and his struggles with caregiving for his dying father. "Live Like You Were Dying" spent seven non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard and went on to become the top country song of 2004 on the Billboard Year-End charts. It also became one of the most awarded records by winning ACM Single and Song of the Year, CMA Single and Song of the Year, and a Grammy. "Back When" went to number one on the country charts as well. The album produced three more singles with "Drugs or Jesus", "Do You Want Fries with That", and "My Old Friend". "Drugs or Jesus" became McGraw's first single since 1993 to not ever reach within the Top 10 on the U.S. country charts, while "Do You Want Fries with That" and "My Old Friend" peaked at numbers 5 and 6, respectively.

In late 2004, his unlikely duet with hip hop artist Nelly on "Over and Over" became a crossover hit, spending 10 weeks atop the top 40 chart. "Over and Over" brought McGraw a success he had never previously experienced on contemporary hit radio or R&B radio, and brought both artists success neither had previously experienced in the hot adult contemporary market. The song also spent a week at the top of the charts in the United Kingdom, becoming McGraw's first hit single in Britain and Nelly's third number one hit in the country after "Dilemma" and "My Place". "Over and Over" also reached the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland, and the top 10 in Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Romania, and Switzerland.

Throughout the 2005 NFL season, McGraw sang an alternate version of "I Like It, I Love It" every week during the season. The alternate lyrics, which changed each week, would make reference to plays during Sunday's games, and the song would be played alongside video highlights during halftime on Monday Night Football. Later in the year, McGraw became a minority owner of the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats when majority owner Bud Adams (owner of the NFL's Tennessee Titans) was awarded the expansion franchise.

Let It Go
In April 2006, McGraw and Hill began their 73-concert 55-city Soul2Soul II Tour, again to strong commercial acceptance. The tour grossed roughly $89 million and sold approximately 1.1 million tickets, making it the top-grossing tour in the history of country music. It was also named "Major Tour of the Year" by Pollstar, beating out such heavyweights as Madonna and the Rolling Stones. In a special gesture, the couple donated all of the profits from their performance in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina relief.

McGraw, along with Kenny Chesney, contributed to a version of Tracy Lawrence's song "Find Out Who Your Friends Are", which can be found on Lawrence's album For the Love. Although the official single version features only Lawrence's vocals, many stations have opted to play the version with McGraw and Chesney instead.

McGraw released his eleventh studio album, Let It Go, on March 27, 2007. The album's first single, "Last Dollar (Fly Away)", peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart. This marked McGraw's first No. 1 single since "Back When" in late 2004. The album debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Album charts, marking his fourth No. 1 album on the 200 charts and his ninth overall. His daughters can be heard singing the chorus during the last few seconds of the song on the video.

During the Academy of Country Music awards show on May 15, 2007, McGraw performed a song titled "If You're Reading This", which he co-wrote with The Warren Brothers. Several radio stations began to play the live recording of the song; as a result, it entered the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at No. 35.

McGraw also produced the debut album of country music duo Halfway to Hazard. The duo's first single, "Daisy", peaked at No. 39 on the country charts in the summer of 2007.

In the summer of 2007, McGraw and Hill toured together once again in the Soul2Soul 2007 tour.

In the edition of January 18, 2008 of the USA Today newspaper, McGraw was stated to be featured on the Def Leppard album Songs from the Sparkle Lounge, having also co-written the first single, "Nine Lives", with Def Leppard band members Joe Elliott, Phil Collen, and Rick Savage. The unusual pairing goes back to 2006 when McGraw joined Def Leppard onstage for the song "Pour Some Sugar On Me", and then collaborated on the song "Nine Lives" afterward. The album was released on April 25, 2008.

At the 2007 50th Annual Grammy Awards, McGraw received 5 nominations including Best Country Album (for Let It Go), Best Country Song (both for "If You're Reading This" and "I Need You"), Best Country Collaboration with Vocals (with "I Need You"), and Best Male Country Vocal Performance (with "If You're Reading This").

In May 2008, he hit the road with the Live Your Voice tour. The mainly-outdoor arena concert tour was his first solo outing in nearly three years. Also in May 2008, he debuted a new song in his follow-up to Let It Go at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.

In July 2008, the album's sixth single and its title track, "Let It Go", was released to country radio. Following that, a seventh single, "Nothin' to Die For", entered the Country charts at No. 57 in late December. McGraw released his third greatest-hits package, Greatest Hits 3 on October 7, 2008. The album features 12 tracks. McGraw was set to debut a new song at the 2009 ACM Awards, but then canceled his performance; he was replaced by Blake Shelton, who sang "She Wouldn't Be Gone".

Southern Voice

McGraw's twelfth studio album, Southern Voice, was released October 20, 2009, and led by the single "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You", which was shipped to radio outlets in late June 2009. Southern Voice was argued to be McGraw's last album for Curb Records, following the dispute over releasing his third Greatest Hits collection back in October 2008 without his permission. McGraw did not approve of the release. On November 30, 2010, Curb Records released his fourth greatest hits compilation, Number One Hits.

Emotional Traffic and Curb Records lawsuit
On January 2, 2011, McGraw announced plans for his Emotional Traffic Tour featuring opening acts Luke Bryan and The Band Perry. Sirius XM announced on March 30, 2011, that they would be launching Tim McGraw radio, a commercial-free music channel devoted to McGraw's music, and featuring an in-depth interview with McGraw as well.

As of fall 2010, McGraw had finished work on the album Emotional Traffic, his last album with Curb Records. On May 13, 2011, Curb Records filed a breach-of-contract suit against McGraw. The label alleged that McGraw recorded tracks for his Emotional Traffic album too early prior to its delivery to the label. Several days later, McGraw filed a counter suit against the label seeking advance payment and recording-fund reimbursement, unspecified damages, and a jury trial. A trial was scheduled to begin in July 2012.

In November 2011, a judge granted McGraw permission to record music for another label, ending his relationship with Curb Records that began in 1990. A few hours after the ruling, Curb released "Better Than I Used to Be", the second single from Emotional Traffic. The album was released on January 24, 2012.

Two Lanes of Freedom
In December 2011, McGraw released his first Christmas single, "Christmas All Over the World", on his own label StyleSonic Records. On May 21, 2012, however, he signed with Big Machine Records. McGraw's debut album for Big Machine, entitled Two Lanes of Freedom, was released on February 5, 2013. It debuted at number 2 on the charts by selling 108,000 copies. The album includes the singles "Truck Yeah", "One of Those Nights", "Highway Don't Care" (a duet with Taylor Swift which also features Keith Urban on lead guitar), and "Southern Girl".

McGraw performed at the C2C: Country to Country festival in London on March 16, 2013.

Love Story and Sundown Heaven Town
McGraw released a single titled "Lookin' for That Girl" in January 2014 as the lead-off single to his second album for Big Machine. It was followed immediately by the announcement of the Sundown Heaven Town Tour. The album, titled Sundown Heaven Town, was released on September 16, 2014. Four months into its run, "Lookin' for That Girl" was withdrawn as a single and replaced with "Meanwhile, Back at Mama's", which features backing vocals from Hill. "Shotgun Rider" became the album's third single and a number 1 Country Airplay hit by the end of 2014. Following it was "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools", a duet with Catherine Dunn.

McGraw's eighth greatest hits album, Love Story, is a compilation of his twelve biggest love songs and two previously unreleased recordings. It was released exclusively through Walmart on February 4, 2014, by Curb Records.

Damn Country Music
On August 10, 2015, McGraw released a new single to digital retailers, titled "Top of the World", which was later released to radio on August 17, 2015, as the lead single to his third studio album for Big Machine Records. On September 17, McGraw announced that the album was titled Damn Country Music, with a release date scheduled for November 6. The album's second single, "Humble and Kind", released to country radio on February 1, 2016, and went on to reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country charts. McGraw was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of Take Me Home, Country Roads, On the Road Again and I Will Always Love You which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards. The album's third single, "How I'll Always Be" released to country radio on July 11, 2016. It reached number 3 on the Country Airplay in January 2017.

The Rest of Our Life
On October 4, 2016, during a show at the Ryman Auditorium, McGraw and Hill announced that they would be going back on the road together again on the Soul2Soul World Tour. The tour began on April 7, 2017, in New Orleans and will continue into 2018, incorporating the C2C: Country to Country festival held in the UK and Ireland throughout March 2018.

Before the commencement of the tour, it was reported that McGraw, alongside Hill, had signed a new deal with Sony Music Nashville. The signing also indicated the release of a duet album between the couple, and that multiple solo recordings would be produced. The new record label signing also preceded the release of "Speak to a Girl", the lead single from the duet album, The Rest of Our Life, which was released on November 17, 2017. The release of the album coincided with the opening of an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum titled Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man, which celebrates the careers of both McGraw and Hill.

McGraw released two major best-selling books in 2019, with the first co-written with "Pulitzer Prize" winner Jon Meacham which reached No. 2 on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation. New York: Random House. 2019. ISBN 978-0593132951. His second book, "Grit and Grace", also reached No. 2 on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

Here on Earth
In February 2020, McGraw rejoined Big Machine Records, which he was previously signed to from 2011 to 2017. He released a new album, Here on Earth, on August 21, 2020. The "Here on Earth Tour" was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2021, McGraw released the single "Undivided" with Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, which was included on a deluxe edition of Here on Earth released later that year.

On October 9, 2021, McGraw confronted a heckler at a performance at the Nugget Events Center in Sparks, Nevada, after he forgot the words to his song "Just to See You Smile." After removing the heckler, he explained that he had been filming a movie and had a lot on his mind, and asked for the audience's help in remembering the words.

Standing Room Only and Poet's Resumé
On August 25, 2023, McGraw released his sixteenth studio album, Standing Room Only. The title track was released as the album's lead single on March 10, 2023. It reached number 2 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart. Three months after releasing Standing Room Only, McGraw surprised released a six-track EP, Poet's Resumé on November 21, 2023.

Producer
McGraw has occasionally served as a record producer in collaboration with Byron Gallimore, who has co-produced all of his albums. The two co-produced Jo Dee Messina's self-titled debut, as well as her next two albums, I'm Alright and Burn. McGraw and Gallimore also produced the only album released by The Clark Family Experience in 2000, and Halfway to Hazard's 2007 self-titled debut album.

Acting career
McGraw's first acting appearance came in a 1997 episode of The Jeff Foxworthy Show, where he played Foxworthy's rival. In 2004, McGraw played a sheriff in Rick Schroder's independent release Black Cloud. Later in the same year, McGraw received critical acclaim as the overbearing father of a running back in the major studio Texas high school football drama Friday Night Lights. The Dallas Observer said the role was "played with unexpected ferocity by country singer Tim McGraw". The movie went on to gross over $60 million worldwide at the box office, and sold millions in the DVD market. Most recently, it was named one of the Top 50 High School Movies of All Time (No. 37) by Entertainment Weekly.

McGraw's first lead role was in the 2006 film Flicka, which was released in theaters October 20, 2006. In the remake of the classic book My Friend Flicka, McGraw played the father, Rob, costarring with Alison Lohman and Maria Bello. The family-friendly movie debuted in the top 10 list and has grossed over $25 million at the box office. McGraw again achieved critical acclaim for his acting. Shortly before Flicka opened, McGraw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard near stars honoring Julie Andrews, William Shatner, and the late Greta Garbo. One of his Flicka co-stars, Alison Lohman, attended the ceremony that included comments from Billy Bob Thornton, McGraw's co-star in the film Friday Night Lights. In addition to acting in Flicka, McGraw served as executive producer of the soundtrack album, which was released by his record label, StyleSonic Records, in association with Curb Records and Fox 2000 films. It featured the closing credit song "My Little Girl", one of the first two songs that McGraw recorded that he also co-wrote (the other being "I've Got Friends That Do", both of which were included on Greatest Hits Vol. 2). The song was nominated by the Broadcast Film Critics for "Best Song" in a film, and the movie was nominated in the category "Best Family Film (Live Action)". The movie proved to be another success in the DVD market, and has sold over a million copies, debuting at No. 3 on the DVD sales chart.

McGraw also had a small part in the Michael Mann–produced 2007 film The Kingdom, reuniting him with Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg. McGraw played a bitter, angered widower whose wife was killed in the terrorist attack that is the centerpiece of the movie. On November 22, 2008, McGraw made his first appearance on Saturday Night Live. He also played "Dallas McVie" in Four Christmases. McGraw appeared in the 2009 film The Blind Side as Sean Tuohy, husband of Sandra Bullock's character, Leigh Anne Tuohy. The Blind Side is based on the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in and adopted by the Tuohys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. He is among the stars of Dirty Girl, a film that premiered on September 12, 2010, at the Toronto Film Festival, along with Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy and Dwight Yoakam. Also in 2010, McGraw starred in Country Strong as James Canter, the husband and manager of the fictional country singer Kelly Canter (portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow). In addition to his appearance in the film, McGraw's song "Me and Tennessee", a duet with Paltrow, was played during the closing credits and appears on the film's soundtrack. In 2015, McGraw appeared in Brad Bird's Tomorrowland as Eddie Newton, a NASA engineer, and Casey Newton's (played by Britt Robertson) father.

1883, a spinoff prequel to Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone television series was released in late 2021 and stars McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott.

Charitable efforts
In 1994, when McGraw first reached fame, he established the annual Swampstock event. It began as a charity softball game to raise money for hometown little league programs; the event now includes a celebrity softball game and a multi-artist concert that attracts over 11,000 fans per year. The combined events have funded new Little League parks and equipment, and have established college scholarship funds for students in the northeast Louisiana area.

From 1996 to 1999, McGraw hosted an annual New Year's Eve concert in Nashville with special guests including Jeff Foxworthy, the Dixie Chicks, and Martina McBride. The 1997 show raised over $100,000 for the Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum. Beginning in 1999, McGraw would pick select cities on each tour, and the night before he was scheduled to perform, would choose a local club and host a quickly-organized show. This tour-within-a-tour became known as "The Bread and Water Tour", and all proceeds from the show would go to a charity from that community.

McGraw designed a charity T-shirt sold through Angelwear to benefit MusiCares. MusiCares supports musicians in times of need. His charity focuses particularly on health issues. The Tim McGraw Foundation raises funds to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with brain tumors. He supports the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, the David Foster Foundation, which helps families of children in need of organ transplants, and Musicians on Call, which brings music to hospital patients' bedsides. He also performs during dinners and auctions to benefit children with disabilities. Hill and McGraw gave the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society $375,000 (the entire gate receipts from one of their concerts) to assist the families of 17 sailors following the terrorist attack on USS Cole (DDG-67), the guided-missile destroyer that suffered significant damage in the Gulf of Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000.

In the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina, McGraw who was raised in Mississippi, joined groups taking supplies to Gulfport, Mississippi. The two also hosted several charity concerts to benefit those who were displaced by the storm. Later in the year, the couple established the Neighbor's Keeper Foundation, which provides funding for community charities to assist with basic humanitarian services, in the event of a natural disaster, or for desperate personal circumstances.

McGraw is also a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet, to which various celebrities donate their time, skills, and fame, to help the Red Cross highlight important initiatives and response efforts.

McGraw has helped out with charity events held by Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation has featured McGraw performing concerts during dinners and auctions that benefit children with disabilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi. One instance is recorded on Favre's official website.

On July 12, 2007, it was made public that McGraw while in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a performance, donated $5,000 to Kailey Kozminski, the 3-year-old daughter of Officer Robert Kozminski, a Grand Rapids police officer who was killed on July 8, 2007, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

In April 2023, McGraw surprised rising country star Brandon Davis, whom he previously brought on tour with him in 2022, with a new guitar after all of his gear was stolen earlier in the month.

Politics
In a 2006 interview with Esquire magazine, McGraw stated he would like to run for public office as a Democratic Party candidate, possibly for United States Senate or Governor of Tennessee—his home state. In the same interview, he praised Bill Clinton.

In a 2008 interview with People magazine, McGraw referred to himself as a "Blue Dog Democrat" and stated that he and his family support Barack Obama.

In January 2021, McGraw performed on the Celebrating America inaugural special, a primetime virtual concert celebrating the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Personal life
McGraw married fellow country singer Faith Hill in 1996, and they have three daughters. He and Hill own Goat Cay, which they unofficially named L'île d'Anges, a private island in the Bahamas.

In 2000, Kenny Chesney and McGraw became involved in a scuffle with police officers in Buffalo, New York, after Chesney was riding a State Police horse and refused to get off the horse. McGraw came to Chesney's aid after police officers nearby believed the horse was being stolen. The two were arrested and charged, Chesney for disorderly conduct and McGraw for assault, but were acquitted in 2001.

McGraw holds a private pilot license and owns a single-engine Cirrus SR22.

In 2015, Forbes estimated McGraw's annual income at $38 million.

McGraw is the godfather to the son of Garrett Hedlund and Emma Roberts. He and Hedlund became friends after co-starring in Friday Night Lights and Country Strong.

In acknowledgment of his grandfather's Italian heritage, McGraw was honored by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in 2004, receiving the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Music during the Foundation's 29th Anniversary Gala.

McGraw's Bracco Italiano named Lepshi won Best of Breed at the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The McGraw-Hill family also has two other Bracco Italianos, Caesar and Stromboli.

Studio albums

 * Tim McGraw (1993)
 * Not a Moment Too Soon (1994)
 * All I Want (1995)
 * Everywhere (1997)
 * A Place in the Sun (1999)
 * Set This Circus Down (2001)
 * Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors (2002)
 * Live Like You Were Dying (2004)
 * Let It Go (2007)
 * Southern Voice (2009)
 * Emotional Traffic (2012)
 * Two Lanes of Freedom (2013)
 * Sundown Heaven Town (2014)
 * Damn Country Music (2015)
 * The Rest of Our Life (with Faith Hill) (2017)
 * Here on Earth (2020)
 * Standing Room Only (2023)

Tours
Headlining
 * The Spontaneous Combustion Tour (1996)
 * Everywhere Tour (1997)
 * The Bread and Water Tour (1999)
 * Set This Circus Down Tour (2001)
 * Live Like You Were Dying Tour (2004)
 * Live Your Voice Tour (2008)
 * Southern Voice Tour (2010)
 * Emotional Traffic Tour (2011)
 * Two Lanes of Freedom Tour (2013)
 * Sundown Heaven Town Tour (2014)
 * Shotgun Rider Tour (2015)
 * McGraw Live Tour (2022)
 * Standing Room Only Tour (2024)

Co-headlining
 * Soul2Soul Tour (2000) (with Faith Hill)
 * Soul2Soul II Tour (2006–2007) (with Faith Hill)
 * Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Australia 2012 Tour (2012)
 * Brothers of the Sun Tour (2012) (with Kenny Chesney)
 * Soul2Soul: The World Tour (2017–2018) (with Faith Hill)

title: Tim McGraw


text: Talk:Hidalgo (film)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Talk:Hidalgo (film)


text:
Inkometer

An inkometer is a specialized measuring instrument used by the printing industry to measure the "tack" (adhesiveness) of an ink with the roller system on an offset press. The importance of tack is that it is not so excessive that it doesn't allow effective transfer from the rollers to the plate and then to the blanket and onto the substrate being printed. Inks can also be tack "graded" in descending sequence to allow for better trapping of one color over another. Inks with too much tack can cause the surface of the paper to pick off and interfere with transfer on subsequent printing units and copies.

The amount of tack can be controlled by changing the amount of solvent or other diluent used in the ink. The inkometer is made up of three rollers. The center roller is a temperature controlled brass roller, the bottom roller is an oscillating rubber distribution roller. The top roller is attached to a load cell which measures the tack at a given press speed (i.e. 800 feet per minute for a web press or 15000 sheets per hour for an offset press)

title: Inkometer


text:
All-America City Award

The All-America City Award is a community recognition program in the United States given by the National Civic League. The award recognizes the work of communities in using inclusive civic engagement to address critical issues and create stronger connections among residents, businesses and nonprofit and government leaders. Once called by the organization the "Nobel Prize for Constructive Citizenship," it has been awarded to more than 500 communities across the country. The award is open to all American communities ranging from major cities and regions to towns, villages, counties, neighborhoods and tribes.

Since the program's inception in 1949, more than 500 communities have been named "All-America Cities". Each year, interested communities submit a comprehensive package based on published criteria that are evaluated in the award selection process. Deserving communities are named as finalists, and the year's ten award winners are named from that pool of applicants. Representatives from the finalist communities then travel to Denver to present the story of their work and their community to a jury of national experts. The awards conference includes workshops on promising practices.

title: All-America City Award


text:
User talk:Lukwam

Hi there. Welcome to Wikipedia! Hope you like it here and stick around. You can drop us a note at New user log to introduce yourself.

If you need editing help, visit How does one edit a page. For format questions, visit our manual of style. You can use the Show preview button before you save, to make sure your edits do what you intended.

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If you have any other questions about the project then check out Help or add a question to the Village pump. You can also drop me a question on my talk page.

Happy editing, Isomorphic 04:39, 14 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Hello Lukwam, just wanted to thank you for writing a note at the New user log. Your interests are eclectic (one tends to see a lot of that around here :-), so I hope you enjoy adding content here as well as learning new things in the process. BTW you made a good edit to Akamai—it's perhaps needless for me to note that "Wikipedia" is itself partly derived from the Hawaiian "wiki wiki", meaning "fast". Chris Roy 09:33, 15 Mar 2004 (UTC)

-- I was wondering why you got rid of the David Cross disambiguation page? I thought it made sense since there are two people named David Cross that are referenced in the Wikipedia. All such references were pointing to David_Cross, so I made the disambiguation page and fixed all the references to point to one or the other.

Did you think it wasn't appropriate to disambiguate them because of the fact that David Cross the actor is more famous?

Lukwam 16:57, May 4, 2004 (UTC)

The musician page didn't exist, and ever extant link to the disambiguation page referred to the actor. Since everyone would be basically clicking through to the actor, the page seemed only to serve as a waste of time.

--AaronSw 22:42, 4 May 2004 (UTC)

Fox Lane High School
Would you mind expanding on what you hope to be added to Fox Lane High School, since you created its stub? I'm asking because its currently on VfD, and I'm trying to decide what I think about school page deletion, so I wanted to know what you hoped will come of this article. Thanks! JesseW 02:32, 5 Dec 2004 (UTC)

oberwiki
Hi there, you mentioned you're interested in Oberlin. I don't know if you've come across this but a little while ago I started a wiki site for Oberlin. The next time you're bored, visit http://oberwiki.net/ -- any contributions you feel like making would be greatly appreciated. —alxndr  (t) 02:04, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

Unreferenced BLPs
Hello Lukwam! Thank you for your contributions. I am a bot alerting you that 1 of the articles that you created  is tagged as an Unreferenced Biography of a Living Person. The biographies of living persons policy requires that all personal or potentially controversial information be sourced. In addition, to ensure verifiability, all biographies should be based on reliable sources. If you were to bring this article up to standards, it would greatly help us with the current Category:All_unreferenced_BLPs article backlog. Once the article is adequately referenced, please remove the unreferencedBLP tag. Here is the article:

Thanks!--DASHBot (talk) 00:32, 16 January 2010 (UTC)
 * 1) Andy Merrill -

Notification: changes to "Mark my edits as minor by default" preference
Hello there. This is an automated message to tell you about the gradual phasing out of the preference entitled "Mark all edits minor by default", which you currently have (or very recently had) enabled.

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Speedy deletion nomination of Akamai (disambiguation)

A tag has been placed on Akamai (disambiguation) requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section G14 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because it is a disambiguation page which either
 * disambiguates only one extant Wikipedia page and whose title ends in "(disambiguation)" (i.e., there is a primary topic);
 * disambiguates zero extant Wikipedia pages, regardless of its title; or
 * is an orphaned redirect with a title ending in "(disambiguation)" that does not target a disambiguation page or page that has a disambiguation-like function.

Under the criteria for speedy deletion, such pages may be deleted at any time. Please see the disambiguation page guidelines for more information.

If you think this page should not be deleted for this reason, you may contest the nomination by visiting the page and clicking the button labelled "Contest this speedy deletion". This will give you the opportunity to explain why you believe the page should not be deleted. However, be aware that once a page is tagged for speedy deletion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag from the page yourself, but do not hesitate to add information in line with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. If the page is deleted, and you wish to retrieve the deleted material for future reference or improvement, then please contact the. Shhhnotsoloud (talk) 11:52, 2 December 2023 (UTC)

title: User talk:Lukwam


text:
Five Ks

In Sikhism, the Five Ks (ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ,, ) are five items that Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699, commanded Khalsa Sikhs to wear at all times. They are: kesh (ਕੇਸ਼,, (unshorn hair and beard since the Sikh decided to keep it)), kangha (ਕੰਘਾ, (a comb for the kesh, usually wooden)), kara (ਕੜਾ,  (a bracelet, usually made of iron or steel)), kachhera (ਕਛੈਰਾ,  (an undergarment)), and kirpan (ਕਿਰਪਾਨ,  (a small curved sword or knife made of iron or steel)).

The Five Ks are not just symbols, but articles of faith that collectively form the external identity and the Khalsa devotee's commitment to the Sikh rehni, 'Sikh way of life'. A Sikh who has taken Amrit and keeps all five Ks is known as Khalsa ('pure') or Amritdhari Sikh ('Amrit Sanskar participant'), while a Sikh who has not taken Amrit but follows the teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is called a Sahajdhari Sikh.

Kesh
The kesh, also known as kesa, or uncut, long hair, is considered by Sikhs as an indispensable part of the human body. It also emulates the appearance of Guru Gobind Singh and is one of the primary signs by which a Sikh can be clearly and quickly identified. A Sikh never cuts or trims any hair as a symbol of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The uncut long hair and the beard, in the case of men, form the main for Sikhs.

The turban is a spiritual crown, which is a constant reminder to the Sikh that they are sitting on the throne of consciousness and are committed to living according to Sikh principles. Guru Gobind Singh told his Sikhs: "'Khalsa mero roop hai khaas. Khalsa mai ho karo nivaas... The Khalsa is my image. Within the Khalsa I reside.' Wearing a turban declares sovereignty, dedication, self-respect, courage and piety."

A noted figure in Sikh history is Bhai Taru Singh, who was martyred when he refused to get his kesh cut.

Kangha

A kangha is a medium sized wooden comb that Sikhs use twice a day. It is supposed to be worn only in the hair and at all times. Combs help to clean and remove tangles from the hair, and is a symbol of cleanliness. Combing their hair reminds Sikhs that their lives should be tidy and organized.

The comb keeps the hair tidy, a symbol of not just accepting what God has given, but also an injunction to maintain it with grace. The Guru Granth Sahib said hair should be allowed to grow naturally; this precludes any shaving for both men and women. In the Guru's time, some holy men let their hair become tangled and dirty. The Guru said that this was not right; that hair should be allowed to grow but it should be kept clean and combed at least twice a day.

Kara

The Sikhs were commanded by Guru Gobind Singh at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanchar in 1699 to wear an iron bracelet called a Kara at all times. The kara is a constant reminder that whatever a person does with their hands has to be in keeping with the advice given by the Guru. The kara is an iron/steel circle to symbolise God as never-ending. It is a symbol of permanent bonding to the community, of being a link in the chain of Khalsa Sikhs (the word for link is Kari). The kara should be of a cheap metal, such as iron or steel, to show equality and so that nobody can be shown as more important than anybody else with the material of their kara.

Kachhera

The Kachhera is a shalwar-underwear with a tie-knot worn by Baptised Sikhs. Originally, the Kachhera was made part of the five Ks as a symbol of a Sikh soldier's willingness to be ready at a moment's notice for battle or for defence. The confirmed Sikh (one who has taken the Amrit) wears a Kachhera every day. Some of them go to the extent of wearing a Kachhera while bathing, to be ready at a moment's notice, changing into the new one a single leg at a time, so as to have no moment where they are unprepared. Further, this garment allowed the Sikh soldier to operate in combat freely and without any hindrance or restriction, because it was easy to fabricate, maintain, wash and carry compared to other traditional undergarments of that era, like the dhoti. The Kachhera symbolizes self-respect, and always reminds the wearer of mental control over lust, one of the Five Evils in Sikh philosophy.

Kachhera follow a generally practical and roomy design. It features an embedded string that circles the waist which can be tightened or loosened as desired, and then knotted securely. The Kachhera can be classed between underwear and an outer garment, as in appearance it does not reveal private anatomy, and looks and wears like shorts. As with all of the Five Ks, there is equality between men and women, and so women are also expected to wear it. Considering the hot climate in India, the Kachhera is often worn by men as an outer garment, keeping the wearer cool and being practical in manual work such as farming, but it is generally not considered respectful for women to wear the Kacchera as an outer garment (on its own) as it is considered too revealing.

Kirpan

The kirpan is a dagger which symbolises a Sikh's duty to come to the defence of those in peril. All Sikhs should wear the kirpan on their body at all times as a defensive side-arm, just as a police officer is expected to wear a side-arm when on duty. Its use is only allowed in the act of self-defense and the protection of others. It stands for bravery and protecting the weak and innocent.

The kirpan is kept sharp and is actually used to defend others, such as those who are oppressed by harsh rulers, or a person who is being robbed, raped, or beaten. The true Sikh cannot turn a blind eye to such evils, thinking that they are "someone else's concern." It is the duty of the true Sikh to help those who suffer unjustly, by whatever means available, whether that means alerting the police, summoning help, or defending those who cannot defend themselves, even if that means putting oneself in harm's way.

Panj Kapde
The Five Ks are the bare minimum and are not the full extent of Khalsa uniform; the Panj Kapde is also part of Khalsa uniform. It is part of the tradition of panj kapare (five garments), comprising dastaar (turban), hazooria (long white scarf worn around the neck), long chola (dress), kamar-kasaa (material tied around the waist like a belt) and kacchera (under-garment). Reference to this has been made by Varan Bhai Gurdas as well. The dastaar and kachera are mandatory for Sikhs although more spiritual Sikhs also have the other kapde.

Dastaar
A dastār (Punjabi: ਦਸਤਾਰ, from Persian: دستار) which derives from dast-e-yār or 'the hand of God', is an item of headwear associated with Sikhism, and is an important part of Sikh culture. The word is loaned from Persian through Punjabi. In Persian, the word dastār can refer to any kind of turban and replaced the original word for turban, dolband (دلبند), from which the English word is derived.

Among the Sikhs, the dastār is an article of faith that represents equality, honour, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The Khalsa Sikh men and women, who keep the Five Ks, wear the turban to cover their long, uncut hair (kesh). The Sikhs regard the dastār as an important part of the unique Sikh identity. After the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, was sentenced to death by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru created the Khalsa and gave five articles of faith, one of which is unshorn hair, which the dastār covers.

Sikh chola
Sikh chola is traditional dress worn by Sikhs. It is a martial attire which gives freedom of movement to a Sikh warrior. Sikh chola is also unisex attire, and may also be decorated with heavy embroidery all over it. It is meant to be either yellow, white or electric blue with many pockets to hold matchlocks and other weapons.

Kamar kasa
Kamar kasa is a sash bound around the waist to hold weapons an essential part of Nihang (Sikh warrior) dress. It is also called cumberband, belt, waist sash, or waistband. The Kamar kasa is meant to be yellow if wearing a blue chola or blue if wearing a white chola.

Hazooria
A hazooria (scarf) is a sign of humility which is grasped during the Ardās. It is a constant reminder of surrendering one's mind to the Guru, along with the five K's. A hazooria is practical: it helps one keep suchamta (cleanliness) during seva (service) or reading Gurbani (hymns). It can help keep the hands clean when touching the face or picking up objects. The hazooria was also worn by servants and symbolises the Sikh surrendering to Waheguruji as their master.

title: Five Ks


text:
Labrador Party

The Labrador Party (or New Labrador Party) was the name of two political parties in Newfoundland advocating the interests of the region of Labrador, Canada.

New Labrador Party (1969–1975)
The party was founded in 1969 by Tom Burgess, a disaffected former Liberal MHA who crossed the floor to become an independent when he was passed over for a cabinet seat. He was re-elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from Labrador West in the 1971 provincial election under the New Labrador Party banner. The election returned a hung parliament. Burgess initially indicated that he would support the opposition Progressive Conservative Party's bid to form a government and unseat Premier Joey Smallwood's Liberals but, days after Conservative leader Frank Moores was sworn in as Premier, Burgess was enticed to rejoin the Liberals under the false promise that he would succeed Joey Smallwood as Liberal leader and Premier. Burgess joined the Liberals on January 31, 1972 but was defeated in the party's leadership convention. His defection and that of a Progressive Conservative MHA was enough to bring down the Moores government and force an election; however, Burgess lost his seat and Moores formed a majority Conservative government.

Mike Martin won a seat for the party in a 1972 by-election in Labrador South, but the MHA retired prior to the 1975 election, and the party was dissolved.

Second Labrador Party
Feelings among Labradorians that the region has been neglected by the Newfoundland and Labrador government led to the party's refounding in 2003 with Ern Condon as leader. The party nominated candidates in each of Labrador's four ridings in that year's election, with the hope of holding the balance of power in the House of Assembly and being able to trade political support for more services and attention to Labrador.

The party failed to win any seats, though Brandon Pardy came in second in Lake Melville with 32% of the vote. The party received 12% of the vote in Labrador West, 8% in Cartwright-L'Anse au Clair, and 5% in Torngat Mountains.

The party chose Ron Barron, the Deputy Mayor of Wabush, as the party leader in preparation for the next provincial election. In a by-election for the riding of Labrador West held on March 13, 2007, Labrador Party candidate Ron Barron came in third, winning 670 of a total of just over 4000 votes cast.

In the fall election in 2007, the Labrador Party decided not to run candidates in three of Labrador's four ridings so the vote between parties opposed to the Progressive Conservatives would not get split. Jimmy Tuttauk, he party's only candidate, earned almost 8% of the vote in the district of Torngat Mountains.

Leaders

 * Tom Burgess (1969–1972)
 * Ern Condon (2003–2004)
 * Ron Barron (2004–2007)

title: Labrador Party


text:
Takebe, Okayama

Takebe (建部町) is a hilly and mountainous area located at the north end of Kita-ku in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of September 30, 2010, the area had an estimated population of 6,382 and a density of 71.28 persons per km2. The total area was 89.53 km2.

Takebe-chō was a town located in Mitsu District, Okayama Prefecture. But on January 22, 2007, Takebe, along with town of Seto (from Akaiwa District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama.

Attraction

 * Asahigawa Dam
 * Birthplace of Takenouchi-ryū
 * Buraku-ji Temple
 * Great Okayama Golf Club
 * Joju-ji Temple
 * Shichisha Hachimangū Shrine
 * Shiro Jinja Shrine
 * |Takebe Forest Golf Club (Takebenomori Golf Club)
 * Takebe no Mori Park
 * Yahata Hotsprings (Onsen)

Train stations

 * JR-West
 * Tsuyama Line: Fukuwatari
 * Tsuyama Line: Takebe

Major roads

 * Route 53
 * Route 484

title: Takebe, Okayama


text:
Kamogawa, Okayama

Kamogawa (加茂川町) was a town located in Mitsu District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 6,037 and a density of 42.77 persons per km2. The total area was 141.15 km2.

On October 1, 2004, Kamogawa, along with the town of Kayō (from Jōbō District), was merged to create the town of Kibichūō (in the newly created Kaga District).

title: Kamogawa, Okayama


text:
Talk:Five Ks/Archive 1

Five K's? Shouldn't it be Five Ks?
I can't move this. Can someone move this to the Five Ks? Montysol (talk)

It's a plural not a possessive. It's the Five Ks.

Montysol (talk) 00:39, 30 November 2009 (UTC)

 * I agree. Salopian (talk) 18:01, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

Should 5K redirect here?
I am not familiar with your sometimes elaborate rules of order but I think when people search 5K they are probably looking for the run. I am not switching it because I don't feel qualified or informed to. 24.181.29.106

Shorts eh? What about the Kris? Wetman 04:46, 14 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Sikh sex
"at all times" they must wear these?

What if they're having sex? Do they wear all the Ks then? And I've always wondered with the sword - surely that'll have to a) get sharpened sometime so they'll have to take it off; or b) when they go through those metal detectors-what then? Surely they cant take them through? Or maybe Sikhs dont travel? I dunno. Explanations would be awesome --Thewayforward 16:20, 1 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Is a kesh just the long hair, or is it a turban????

 * I think this question highlights a problem with this article and its subsidiary articles. Obviously, these rules are kept with varying degrees of strictness within the Sikh community. Not all Sikh men have an uncut beard. Sometimes it's cut for reasons of practicality or culture. But these articles give the impression that any Sikh who cuts his hair is immediately ostracized. Someone needs to figure out how strictly these rules are obeyed in the community at large. --K e rowyn 08:39, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

 * Although I have no firm statistics, I would say that the majority of Sikhs no longer keep their hair uncut (either in India or outside of India). And no, a Sikh with long hair who purposefully cuts his hair may be looked down upon by fully adhering Sikhs, but not ostracised. Sukh | ਸੁਖ | Talk 20:33, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

Spelling of Kaccha/Kachha
This has been spelt two different ways on the page. I don't know the right spelling and so cannot fix it myself.

Elsewhere on wikipedia it is also speld Kacha, and the subject heading to that section is Kachera. The first thirteen I could see being equally correct due to transliteration, but Kachera seems like an odd one out if it's pronounced as it's spelled. A little explaination would be helpful in that section. Cat Parade 17:27, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

 * It's the result of DIY transliteration from Gurmukhi to Latin script. This problem is evident across all the Sikhism pages and needs to be fixed - which I'm working on atm :D  Sukh | ਸੁਖ | Talk 19:12, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

Kesh
What is kesh (the kesh)? Long hair? A comb?

 * Ah, I found the answer in Sikhism. (It's long hair.)   Rangek 03:39, 2005 Apr 14 (UTC)

Also, the last paragraph makes the following extraordinary statement with no information to back it up:

"Recent scientific research into hair has revealed that it has greater functions that previously thought. It appears that the length of hair is linked to the intelligence of an individual, health, spirtuality and many other things."

I have not heard of this "recent scientific research" before and I don't believe it. I will take the liberty of removing this paragraph unless some one can point me to a credible source. --Rangek 19:00, 2005 Apr 13 (UTC)

 * I remember someone telling me that sikhs will cut their hair if and when all the muslims in the world (or is it india?) die.. I know this sounds silly and outrageous but if someone will clarify if this is just an old wives tale or based partly on truth. Tx and I don't mean to offen any religion, just a bit curious to know the truth. Idleguy 03:29, August 13, 2005 (UTC)

POV?
I believe the statement "It is important to remember that a Sikh would never use the Kirpan in anger or for a malicious attack." is untrue and POV. I know of at least [3 cases] in western Canada where kirpans were used in exactly that matter. I have no particular issue with Sikism, and only ask that this sentence be removed.

I realize the contentiousness of this statement, in fact the local media was heavily criticized merely for reporting the Surrey attack. However, false POV statements like that quoted only discredit Sikhism. Corvus 04:45, 1 May 2005 (UTC)

Page move
I've moved this form 'Sikhs Five Ks' to simply 'Five Ks' because "Sikhs" in this context is both unnecessary and ungrammatical.--Pharos 19:00, 5 May 2005 (UTC)

Split
Each of the Five Ks is worth a separate article. On the Sikhism page there is a separate link for each term all leading back here. I think it might be a good idea to keep this as a disambiguation page, but have Main Articles for each K. freestylefrappe 20:05, September 8, 2005 (UTC)

 * I agree in principle that each of the Five Ks does certainly deserve a separate article, but I don't think the information here is developed enough to warrant a split as yet. This isn't really an issue of disambiguation, but of an overlying concept with a number of set elements, so it is quite useful to have them discussed together.  When we get some more dedicated editors knowledgable about Sikhism and the individual sections develop beyond a few paragraphs each, then it will be appropriate to split off the info and keep only summaries of the elements at this page.--Pharos 01:06, 9 September 2005 (UTC)

clarification...
FTA: "Like breeches, Kaccha can be worn on their own without causing embarrassment. Thus it is quite useful in hot weather, swimming and sports activities." -- I am unclear... does this mean that they are worn like underwear!? Could someone please reword this to make it more clear if they know the answer to my question ... -- Abscissa 03:25, 3 March 2006 (UTC)

Etymology of Kirpan
The article says "Kirpan comes from the word 'KIRPA' and 'AAN'. Kirpa means an act of kindness or a favour; 'aan' means honour, respect, and self-respect."

I'd like to see a linguistic reference for this. I think "kirpan" is Sanskrit or proto-Sanskrit for an object that cuts. Compare to Lithuanian "kirpti", meaning to cut, or "kirpėja" meaning hairdresser (she who cuts). So, I find it more likely that "kirpan" comes from words about cutting than it comes from words for kindness and honour. Another reason for this is that the "-an" at the end of "kirpan" is a grammatical nominative ending. Compare to "shuoan", Sanskrit for dog, and Lithuanian "shuo", a dog. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Special:Contributions/ (talk)

Incorrect 'Kachera' picture
I would request someone to change the picture of the Kachera. The one shown currently is NOT the traditional Kachera worn by Sikhs. Eharpinder (talk) 15:58, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

 * Yeah, I second the above opinion, the pic should be changed. The ideal item would be a homemade garment traditional Sikhs normally wear. This seems to be an industry made thing.  Jon Ascton    (talk)  19:22, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Rewrite
This article is in need of significant revision - not so much in content, but certainly in style. Phrases like "...if you see a Sikh around today..." and "...so it is not a tricky job when they tie their hair..." are hardly encyclopedic quality. I will attempt to rewrite and ask others to do so too. Zengakuren (talk) 00:54, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

I had the _exact_ surprise reading "...if you see a Sikf around today..." When "today" is used, does it mean the epoch or literally today as November 18? Even though I know nothing about Sikhsm, I was sure it was just a bad sentence. Should be modified. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.165.135.208 (talk) 04:16, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

Brass knuckles and 3 m daggers
Are we sure about this: "Kara - iron bracelet ... used as brass knuckles, ... circular edged weapon that can be thrown" and "Kirpan - strapped curved sword ... up to one to three meters in length" (emphasis added)? Keeping a weapon under the turban sounds like an urban myth, and a 3 m long dagger would be highly impractical to carry. In fact, this sounded so much like vandalism added by a single user, that I have reverted it. Astronaut (talk) 14:03, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

Quotations
Can someone who reads Punjabi take a look at the quotations. "ਨ, ਕੰਘਾ, ਕੇਸਕੀ, ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ ਰਹਿਤ ਧਰੇ ਸਿਖ ਸੋਇ ॥" seems incomplete (barely long enough for the translation), the translation of "ਕੰਘਾ ਦੋਨਉਂ ਵਕਤ ਕਰ, ਪਾਗ ਚੁਨਹਿ ਕਰ ਬਾਂਧਈ ॥" stops in mid-sentance, and for "ਸ਼ਸਤਰ ਹੀਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਨਹਿ ਹੋਈ, ਰਿਹਤਵੰਤ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਸੋਈ ॥" the trnslation makes little sense ending with "...Khalsa with excellent rehats" (what is a rehat?).

I also think it would be a good idea to add an appropriate quotation to the Kara section. Astronaut (talk) 16:26, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

Turban
I strongly hold the belief that the turban is only meant for male Sikhs, it's clearly a highly masculine item and looks awfully ridiculous on women, for ideal Sikh lady keeping a chunni, (on uncut hair of course) is more than good. I would even recommend SGPC from forbidding women to wear a turban. Kindly give reply on my talk page. Thanks  Jon Ascton    (talk)  19:28, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

title: Talk:Five Ks/Archive 1


text:
Mitsu District, Okayama

Mitsu District (御津郡) was a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 22,923. The total area was 345.10 km2.

On April 1, 1900, the district was founded after the mergers of Mino and Tsudaka Districts.

Towns and villages once part of the district
Due to the mergers, the following towns have been dissolved since the 1970s.
 * Ichinomiya - Merged into the city of Okayama on January 8, 1971
 * Tsudaka - Merged into the city of Okayama on January 8, 1971
 * Kamogawa
 * Mitsu
 * Takebe

Mergers

 * On October 10, 2004 - the town of Kamogawa, along with the town of Kayō (from Jōbō District), was merged to create the town of Kibichūō. The new town belongs to the newly created Kaga District, founded upon this merger.

 * On March 22, 2005 - the town of Mitsu, along with the town of Nadasaki (from Kojima District) was merged into the expanded city of Okayama.

 * On January 22, 2007 - the town of Takebe, along with the town of Seto (from Akaiwa District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama. Mitsu District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

title: Mitsu District, Okayama


text:
Seto, Okayama

Seto (瀬戸町) was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 14,794 and a density of 354.09 persons per km2. The total area was 41.78 km2.

On January 22, 2007, Seto, along with town of Takebe (from Mitsu District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama.

title: Seto, Okayama


text:
San'yō, Okayama

San'yō (山陽町) was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 24,939 and a density of 719.95 persons per km2. The total area was 34.64 km2.

On March 7, 2005, San'yō, along with the towns of Akasaka, Kumayama and Yoshii (all from Akaiwa District), were merged to create the city of Akaiwa.

title: San'yō, Okayama


text:
Akasaka, Okayama

Akasaka (赤坂町) was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,136 and a density of 119.47 persons per km2. The total area was 42.99 km2.

On March 7, 2005, Akasaka, along with the towns of Kumayama, San'yō and Yoshii (all from Akaiwa District), were merged to create the city of Akaiwa.

Akasaka was home to many restaurants and small shops. It is also home to the local shinto Hie (Sanno) Shrine.

title: Akasaka, Okayama


text:
Kumayama, Okayama

Kumayama (熊山町) was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 8,854 and a density of 193.61 persons per km2. The total area was 45.73 km2.

On March 7, 2005, Kumayama, along with the towns of Akasaka, San'yō and Yoshii (all from Akaiwa District), were merged to create the city of Akaiwa.

title: Kumayama, Okayama


text:
Yoshii, Okayama (Akaiwa)

Yoshii (吉井町) was a town located in Akaiwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2006, the town had an estimated population of 5,386 and a density of 62.58 persons per km2 and 1,963 families. The total area was 86.07 km2.

On March 7, 2005, Yoshii, along with the towns of Akasaka, Kumayama and San'yō (all from Akaiwa District), were merged to create the city of Akaiwa.

Yoshii's main farm products were rice, cucumbers, grapes and garlic chives. Yoshii's total agricultural production was valued 690 million yen in 2001.

There is a junior high school and two elementary schools in Yoshii.
 * Yoshii Junior High
 * Jōnan Elementary
 * Jimbi Elementary

The Osuwa festival is held every August in Yoshii. Many people come to this festival from different places to enjoy traditional Japanese dancing.

title: Yoshii, Okayama (Akaiwa)


text:
Akaiwa District, Okayama

Akaiwa (赤磐郡) was a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The district seat (under district government) was village of Monori (central Seto Town in the city of Okayama).

As of 2004, the district had an estimated population of 14,945. The total area was 41.78 km2.

The district had only one town:
 * Seto

History

 * April 1, 1900 - Founded by the merger of Akasaka and Iwanashi Districts. (26 towns)
 * March 7, 2005 - The towns of Akasaka, Kumayama, San'yō and Yoshii were merged to create the city of Akaiwa. (1 town)
 * January 22, 2007 - The town of Seto, along with town of Takebe (from Mitsu District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama. Akaiwa District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

title: Akaiwa District, Okayama


text:
West Orchard

West Orchard is a small village and civil parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It is situated in the Blackmore Vale in the North Dorset administrative district, approximately halfway between the towns of Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton. It is separated from the adjacent settlement of East Orchard by a stream. In 2013 the civil parish had an estimated population of 50. For local government purposes the parish is grouped with the parishes of East Orchard and Margaret Marsh, to form a Group Parish Council.

St Luke's Church was rebuilt in 1876–77 to the designs of Thomas Henry Wyatt, but the chancel is 15th-century.

title: West Orchard


text:
Hinase, Okayama

Hinase (日生町) was a town located in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

On March 22, 2005, Hinase, along with the towns of Yoshinaga (also from Wake District), was merged into the expanded city of Bizen.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 8,347 and a density of 232.44 persons per km2. The total area was 35.91 km2.

Hinase is best accessed via train, along the Ako line from Okayama station, on the train terminating at Banshu-Ako. Upon arrival at Hinase station, visitors are greeted by the sight of a bay with a huge hill on the other side. Upon the side of the hill is pruned the word Hinase in Hiragana text (ひなせ). At night, this large sign is lit up with light in a beautiful display.

Hinase's main industry is Oyster (kaki) farming. The waters in the area contain many oyster-rafts and are quite picturesque at sunset when viewed from local hilltops. Oyster season is in winter (December to February) and many people come from other towns just to buy oysters from the local fish-market. In mid-February, Hinase hosts its annual Oyster Festival (Kaki-Matsuri. On this day oysters can be purchased fresh and cooked in public BBQ areas for consumption. Local delicacies, such as Kaki-Oko (Oyster Okonomiyaki), a pancake-type dish with cabbage, vegetables, oysters and a piquant sauce) are proudly served up to visitors and locals alike. Also famous in the area are Kaki-Fry (fried oysters) which can be served with a sauce, or in a soft-serve ice-cream covered in soya sauce.

Every summer, on August 13, the town hosts its annual summer fireworks festival (Minato Matsuri). From mid-afternoon, food stalls start selling their fare and amusement stalls offer entertainment for the children. In the evening, the highlight of the festival starts - a display of fireworks over the bay. On a stage nearby, locals perform dances (traditional Japanese-style and modern hip-hop), Taiko (drums) displays and even showcase local bands.

title: Hinase, Okayama


text:
Yoshinaga, Okayama

Yoshinaga (吉永町) was a town located in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,254 and a density of 59.27 persons per km2. The total area was 88.65 km2.

On March 22, 2005, Yoshinaga, along with the town of Hinase (also from Wake District), was merged into the expanded city of Bizen.

title: Yoshinaga, Okayama


text:
Saeki, Okayama

Saeki (佐伯町) was a town located in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 4,024 and a density of 66.69 persons per km2 (172.73 persons per square mile). The total area was 60.34 km2.

On March 1, 2006, Saeki was merged into the expanded town of Wake.

title: Saeki, Okayama


text:
Wake, Okayama

Wake (和気町) is a town located in Wake District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 13,833 in 6353 households and a population density of 96 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 144.21 sqkm. The town is famous in the region for the 'Wamojiyaki' festival that takes place every year on August 15 during the Obon period, and the town is also home to the largest Wisteria park in Japan.

Geography
Wake is located in southeastern Okayama Prefecture. The Yoshii River and the Kongo River flow through the town, which is largely covered by hills and forests.The center of the town forms a small basin at the point where the Yoshii River and the Kongo River meet.

Adjoining municipalities
Okayama Prefecture
 * Akaiwa
 * Mimasaka
 * Bizen
 * Misaki

Climate
Wake has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Wake is 14.2 C. The average annual rainfall is 1208.1 mm with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Wake was 37.9 C on 8 August 2016; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -10.6 C on 9 January 2021.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Wake in 2020 is 13,623 people. Wake has been conducting censuses since 1920.

History
The Wake area is part of ancient Bizen Province. The important Nara period official Wake no Kiyomaro is from this area. During the Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of Okayama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Wake was established within Wake District, Okayama with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on February 6, 1901. On March 1, 2006 Wake was officially merged with the neighboring town of Saeki, also from Wake District. The newly merged town retains the name 'Wake'.

Government
Wake has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 12 members. Wake, collectively with the city of Bizen, contributes two members to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Okayama 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
The economy of Wake is based agriculture and food processing, and the cultivation of fruit trees such as grapes, apples, plums, and cherries.

Education
Wake has three public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Okayama prefectural Board of Education.

Railway
JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line
 * Wake

Highways

 * JP Expressway E2.svg San'yō Expressway

Sister city relations

 * 🇨🇳 - Jiading District, Shanghai, China, since July 31, 1989
 * 🇨🇦 - Hanna, Alberta, Canada., since March 31, 1993

title: Wake, Okayama


text:
Wake District, Okayama

Wake (和気郡) is a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 30,110 and a population density of 112.02 persons per km2. The total area is 268.79 km2.

Towns and villages

 * Wake

History

 * On September 1, 1963, the town of Hinase ceded the former village of Fukukawa to Akō, Hyogo Prefecture.
 * On March 22, 2005, the towns of Hinase and Yoshinaga merged into the city of Bizen.
 * On March 1, 2006, the towns of Wake and Saeki merged to form the new town of Wake.

title: Wake District, Okayama


text:
Ushimado, Okayama

Ushimado (牛窓町) was a town located in Oku District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Overview
It faces Okayama City to the west, Ōku town to the north, and the Seto Inland Sea to the east and south. In particular, it is focused on tourism, and is called the "Aegean Sea of Japan". It is also one of Okayama Prefecture's leading mushroom producers and one of Japan's two largest olive producing areas, as well as Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture.

History
As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,545 and a density of 274.36 persons per km2. The total area was 27.50 km2.

On November 1, 2004, Ushimado, along with the towns of Oku and Osafune (all from Oku District), was merged to create the city of Setouchi.

title: Ushimado, Okayama


text:
Oku, Okayama

Oku (邑久町) was a town located in Oku District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 19,389 and a density of 282.19 persons per km2. The total area was 68.71 km2.

On November 1, 2004, Oku, along with the towns of Osafune and Ushimado (all from Oku District), was merged to create the city of Setouchi.

title: Oku, Okayama


text:
Osafune, Okayama

Osafune (長船町) was a town located in Oku District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,431 and a density of 424.27 persons per km2. The total area was 29.30 km2.

On November 1, 2004, Osafune, along with the towns of Oku and Ushimado (all from Oku District), was merged to create the city of Setouchi.

title: Osafune, Okayama


text:
East Orchard

East Orchard is a small village and parish in the county of Dorset in southern England. It lies in the Blackmore Vale within the North Dorset administrative district. It is situated roughly midway between the hilltop town of Shaftesbury and the riverside town of Sturminster Newton. It is separated from the neighbouring village of West Orchard by a small stream. In 2013 the estimated population of the civil parish was 100. For local government purposes the parish is grouped with the parishes of West Orchard and Margaret Marsh, to form a Group Parish Council.

The Orchard ("Horcerd") listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, is more likely to refer to "Orchard" near Church Knowle on Purbeck, rather than East and West Orchard.

title: East Orchard


text:
Nadasaki, Okayama

Nadasaki (灘崎町) was a town located in Kojima District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 15,872 and a density of 514.32 persons per km2. The total area was 30.86 km2.

On March 22, 2005, Nadasaki, along with the town of Mitsu (from Mitsu District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama.

title: Nadasaki, Okayama


text:
Kojima District, Okayama

Kojima (児島郡) was a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 15,872 and a density of 514.32 persons per km2. The total area was 30.86 km2.

Towns and villages

 * Nadasaki

Merger

 * On March 22, 2005 - the town of Nadasaki, along with the town of Mitsu (from Mitsu District), was merged into the expanded city of Okayama.

title: Kojima District, Okayama


text:
User:Manytreez

Ok, this is my user page I guess! Now what? I don't know...

title: User:Manytreez


text:
Hayashima

Hayashima (早島町) is a town located in Tsukubo District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 12,772 in 5261 households and a population density of 1700 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 7.62 sqkm, making it the smallest municipality in Okayama in terms of area, but also the most densely populated.

Geography
Hayashima is located in south-central Okayama Prefecture, and belongs to the Okayama metropolitan employment zone. Surrounded by Okayama city, the prefectural capital, and Kurashiki city, the second largest city in the prefecture, it is a commuter town for both. As the town name suggests, it used to be an island before the Muromachi period, but due to land reclamation, it was connected to land. The southern part is reclaimed land that forms part of the Okayama Plain, and in the center there are hills that were once islands.

Neighboring municipalities
Okayama Prefecture
 * Kita-ku, Okayama
 * Minami-ku, Okayama
 * Kurashiki

Climate
Hayashima has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with moderate snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hayashima is 16.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1355 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 27.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.4 °C.

Demography
Per Japanese census data, the population of Hayashuna has been as follows. The population has been steadily increasing since the 1970s

History
Hayashima is part of ancient Bitchū Province. During the Edo Period it was a 3000 koku hatamoto holding controlled by a cadet branch of the Togawa clan. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Hayashima was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on June 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on February 26, 1896.

Government
Hayashima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council ten members. Hayashima, collectively with the city of Kurashiki, contributes 14 members to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Okayama 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
Hayashima is largely a commuter town and logistics distribution center, with some residual rice production. The town was traditionally noted for its production of tatami mats, but this industry has declined.

Education
Hayashima has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school. The Okayama Prefectural Board of Education also operates one special education school for the disabled.

Railway
JR West (JR West) - Uno Line
 * Hayashima - Kuguhara

Highways

 * JP Expressway E2.svg San'yō Expressway (Hayashima branch)
 * JP Expressway E30.svg Seto-Chūō Expressway

title: Hayashima


text:
Yamate, Okayama

Yamate (山手村) was a village located in Tsukubo District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,064 and a density of 396.88 persons per km2. The total area was 10.24 km2.

On March 22, 2005, Yamate, along with the village of Kiyone (also from Tsukubo District), was merged into the expanded city of Sōja.

title: Yamate, Okayama


text:
Kiyone, Okayama

Kiyone (清音村) was a village located in Tsukubo District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 5,563 and a density of 585.58 persons per km2. The total area was 9.50 km2.

On March 22, 2005, Kiyone, along with the village of Yamate (also from Tsukubo District), was merged into the expanded city of Sōja.

title: Kiyone, Okayama


text:
Tsukubo District, Okayama

Tsukubo (都窪郡) is a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 21,601 and a population density of 789.80 persons per km2. The total area is 27.35 km2.

Towns and villages

 * Hayashima

Merger

 * On March 22, 2005, the villages of Yamate and Kiyone merged into the city of Sōja.

title: Tsukubo District, Okayama


text:
Funao, Okayama

Funao (船穂町) was a town located in Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, Funao had an estimated population of 7,393 and a density of 682.01 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 10.84 km2.

On August 1, 2005, Funao, along with the town of Mabi (from Kibi District), was merged into the expanded city of Kurashiki.

title: Funao, Okayama


text:
Konkō, Okayama

Konkō (金光町) was a town located in Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,382 and a density of 589.34 persons per km2. The total area was 21.01 km2.

On March 21, 2006, Konkō, along with the towns of Kamogata and Yorishima (all from Asakuchi District), was merged to create the city of Asakuchi.

title: Konkō, Okayama


text:
Kamogata, Okayama

Kamogata (鴨方町) was a town located in Asakuchi District in the south-west of Okayama Prefecture, Japan. On March 21, 2006, Kamogata, along with the towns of Konkō and Yorishima (all from Asakuchi District), was merged to create the city of Asakuchi.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 18,446 and a density of 506.20 persons per km2. The total area was 36.44 km2.

Geography
Sandwiched between mountainous forests to the north and south, the central part of Kamogata remains relatively flat.

 * Land area: 36.44 km2
 * Population: 19,206 (As of 31 December 2004)
 * Number of households: 6,42世帯 (As of 31 December 2004)

Topography

 * Mountains: Mt Youshou, Mt Chikurinji, Mt Abe, Mt Ryuuou
 * Rivers: Kamogata River, Satomi River

Public Services

 * Kamogata Post Office
 * Kamogata Townhouse Post Office (Renamed from Kamogata Honcho Post Office on 16 March 2004)
 * Kanpo no Yado Mt Youshou
 * Kasaoka District Association for Firefighting, Kamogata Fire Station
 * Kamogata Water Treatment Plant
 * Kamogata Purification Centre
 * Kamogata Town Library

Elementary schools

 * Kamogata-nishi Elementary School
 * Kamogata-higashi Elementary School
 * Rokujoin Elementary School

Junior high schools

 * Kamogata Junior High School

High schools

 * Kamogata High School
 * Okayama Sanyo School (No.1 Harada Gakuen Group)

Technical Colleges

 * Okayama Automobile Engineering College (No.1 Harada Gakuen Group)

Local Specialties

 * Kamogata Somen
 * Kamogata Udon
 * Bitchu Hiyamugi Noodles
 * Japanese Sake
 * Peaches
 * Bouchan Pumpkin

title: Kamogata, Okayama


text:
Yorishima, Okayama

Yorishima (寄島町) was a town located in Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 6,529 and a density of 724.64 persons per km2. The total area was 9.01 km2.

On March 21, 2006, Yorishima, along with the towns of Kamogata and Konkō (all from Asakuchi District), was merged to create the city of Asakuchi.

title: Yorishima, Okayama


text:
Satoshō

Satoshō (里庄町) is a town located in Asakuchi District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 11,026 in 4636 households and a population density of 900 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 12.23 sqkm.

Geography
Satoshō is located in the southwestern Okayama Prefecture. The central and northwest part of the town is relatively flat, but the rest is forested.

Neighbouring municipalities
Okayama Prefecture
 * Asakuchi
 * Kasaoka

Climate
Satoshō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Satoshō is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1289 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 27.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.9 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Satoshō has been increasing for the past 60 years.

History
The Satoshō area is part of ancient Bitchū Province. Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Satomi (里見村) and Shinjō (新庄村) were established within Asakuchi District, Okayama with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages merged on April 1, 1905 to form the village of Satoshō, which was elevated to town status on June 1, 1950. In 2005, it declined to amalgamate with the neighboring towns of Kamogata and Yorishima to form the city of Asakuchi.

Government
Satoshō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of ten members. Satoshō, collectively with the city of Asakuchi, contributes one member to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Okayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
The main economic activity of Satoshō is agriculture and food processing. Pharmaceuticals and electronics are also important. Due to its proximity to Kurashiki and Fukuyama, the town is increasingly becoming a commuter town.

Education
Satoshō has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Railway
JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line
 * Satoshō

Highways

 * JP Expressway E2.svg San'yō Expressway (there is no interchange within the town borders)

Notable people from Satoshō

 * Fujii Kaze, singer-songwriter
 * Yoshio Nishina, physicist
 * Gōtarō Ogawa, former economist, educator, politician and cabinet minister

title: Satoshō


text:
Asakuchi District, Okayama

Asakuchi (浅口郡) is a district located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 55,658 and a density of 621.67 persons per km2. The total area is 89.53 km2.

Towns and villages

 * Satoshō

Merger

 * On August 1, 2005 the town of Funao became part of the city of Kurashiki.
 * On March 21, 2006 the towns of Kamogata, Konkō and Yorishima merged to form the city of Asakuchi.

Therefore, this leaves Satoshō the only member of a "rump" Asakuchi-Gun.

title: Asakuchi District, Okayama