Inazawa

Geography

Inazawa is located in the flatlands of far western Aichi Prefecture, bordering Gifu Prefecture on the west. Both the Kiso River and the Gojō River flow through the city.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Inazawa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1758 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Inazawa has been relatively steady over the past 30 years. | 1940 | 56,321 | 1950 | 71,370 | 1960 | 79,847 | 1970 | 110,629 | 1980 | 126,023 | 1990 | 132,483 | 2000 | 136,928 | 2010 | 136,415

Surrounding municipalities

;Aichi Prefecture

• Aisai
• Ama
• Ichinomiya
• Kiyosu ;Gifu Prefecture
• Hashima
• Kaizu

History

Ancient history

Inazawa is the location of the Nara period provincial capital and provincial temple of Owari Province.

The Owari Onkunitama Jinja, an important Shinto shrine located within the borders of the present city, also dates from this period.

Early modern period

During the Edo period, Inaba and Ozawa villages formed a post town on the Minoji, a kaidō connecting Miya-juku (Atsuta on the Tōkaidō to Tarui-juku (Mino Province) on the Nakasendō.

Late modern period

In the early Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Inazawa was created.

Contemporary history

The area of the town was expanded in 1907 and 1955 through the annexation of neighboring villages, and on November 1, 1958, the Inazawa was elevated to city status.

On April 1, 2005, the towns of Heiwa and Sobue (both from Nakashima District) were merged into Inazawa.

Government

Inazawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 26 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 9 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

• GRE Olympia, Greece, since August 22, 1987
• CHN Chifeng, China, since May 16, 1989.

Education

University

• Nagoya Bunri University

College

• Aichi Bunkyo Women's College

Schools

Inazawa has 23 public elementary schools and nine public junior high schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Economy

Primary sector of the economy

Agriculture

Inazawa is a regional commercial center and has traditionally been known for its production of vegetables and ginkgo nuts.

Secondary sector of the economy

Manufacturing

Sony and Toyoda Gosei have large production plants in the city.

Tertiary sector of the economy

Commerce

Due to its transportation connections with the Nagoya metropolis, Inazawa is increasingly becoming a commuter town.

Companies headquartered in Inazawa

• Aikoku Alpha Corporation, automotive components
• Fujikei Kyoi, sake brewing
• Toshin Housing Company, construction
• UNY, supermarket chain

Transportation

Railways

Conventional lines

;[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]] Central Japan Railway Company

• Tokaido Main Line: - – – ;[[File:Meitetsu logomark 2.svg|20px]] Meitetsu
• Nagoya Main Line: - – – – –
• Bisai Line:- – (Fuchidaka) – – – – –

Roads

Expressways

• [[Image:JP Expressway E1.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1]] Meishin Expressway

Japan National Route

File:Inazawa Station West Exit.JPG|Inazawa Station File:Konomiya Station from southeast 20150124.JPG|Kōnomiya Station File:MT-Morikami Station-Building.JPG|Morikami Station

Local attractions

;Castles

• Orizu Castle
• Shobata Castle ;Shrines and Temples
• Owari Kokubun-ji
• Owari Ōkunitama Jinja
• Yawase Kannon Temple ;Natural attractions
• Sobue Dune ;Cultural events
• Hadaka Matsuri on the 12th day of the new Chinese Year ;Buildings and structures
• Solae (tower) – Inazawa is the location of the Solae elevator testing tower, previously the highest such tower in the world, but now surpassed by the Kunshan Test Tower in China.

File:Shobata Castle Site.jpg|Shobata Castle File:下津城址.jpg|Orizu Castle File:Owari Kokubun temple.JPG|Owari Kokubun temple File:Yawase Kannon s2.JPG|Yawase Kannon Temple File:Konomiya Street in Inazawa, Aichi 20150124.JPG|Konomiya Street File:稲沢サンドフェスタ04.jpg|Sobue Dune

Notable people from Inazawa

• Junki Ito, professional baseball player
• Masaichi Kaneda, professional baseball player
• Seiko Niizuma, actress and singer
• Takanori Ogisu, artist
• Mineo Ōsumi, admiral, Imperial Japanese Navy
• Wataru Sakata, professional wrestler
• Nana Seino, actress and model

References

References

1. [http://www.city.inazawa.aichi.jp/shiseijoho/toke/jinko/index.html Inazawa City official statistics] {{in lang. ja
2. [https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/aichi/inazawa-4923/ Inazawa climate data]
3. [https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aichi.php Inazawa population statistics]
4. "姉妹都市：オリンピア市（ギリシャ）". 稲沢市.
5. "姉妹提携情報". 自治体国際化協会.
6. "International Exchange". Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).
7. (January 3, 2008). "Japan opens 'tallest lift tower'". [[BBC News]].
8. (April 17, 2018). "Putting elevators to test". [[KONE Corporation]].
9. "清野菜名". Modelpress.