Midori-ku, Saitama

Geography

A wide area of green farmland, Minuma Rice Paddies, forms the central part of the ward. The major river system includes the Shiba River, the Ayanose River, and the Minuma Irrigational Canal. In the southern section of the ward runs the Tōhoku Expressway.

Neighboring Municipalities

Saitama Prefecture

• Minuma-ku
• Minami-ku
• Urawa-ku
• Iwatsuki-ku
• Kawaguchi

History

The first people who stayed permanently in this area are considered to have arrived approximately twenty five thousand years ago. Paleolithic archaeological sites found in the area include Matsuki, Wadakita, Kitajukunishi, and Mamiya Miyaushiro. In the early modern period, the area witnessed large-scale civil engineering projects: the construction of the Minuma Reservoir, the demolition of the reservoir, and the creation of the Minuma Irrigational Canal. Daimon-shuku became one of the post stations of the Nikkō Onari Kaidō.

The villages of Tanida, Omagi, Mimuro, and Daimon were created within Kitaadachi District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1932, Tanida was annexed by Urawa Town, which was elevated to city status on February 11, 1934. Omagi, Mimuro and Daimon merged to form the village of Misono on April 1, 1956. Misono was subsequently divided between Urawa and Kawaguchi on May 1, 1962. On May 1, 2001, the cities of Urawa, Yono and Ōmiya merged to form the new city of Saitama. When Saitama was proclaimed a designated city in 2003, the much area of corresponding to former villages of Tanida, Omagi, Mimuro and Daimon became Midori Ward.

Education

• Urawa University
• Keio University School of Pharmacy
• Akenohoshi Women's Junior College
• Midori-ku has 10 elementary schools, six junior high schools, and three high schools, as well as two special education schools.

Municipal junior high schools:

• Harayama (原山中学校)
• Higashi Urawa (東浦和中学校)
• Mimuro (三室中学校)
• Misono (美園中学校)
• Misono Minami (美園南中学校)
• Omagi (尾間木中学校)

Municipal elementary schools:

• Daimon (大門小学校)
• Harayama (原山小学校)
• Mimuro (三室小学校)
• Misono (美園小学校)
• Misono Kita (美園北小学校)
• Nakao (中尾小学校)
• Noda (野田小学校)
• Omagi (尾間木小学校)
• Omaki (大牧小学校)
• Saido (道祖土小学校)
• Shibahara (芝原小学校)

Transportation

Railway

27px Saitama Rapid Railway Line

Highway

• – Urawa Interchange
• [[File:Shuto Urban Expwy Sign S2.svg|24px|link=|alt=S2]] Shuto Expressway Saitama Shintoshin Route

Local attractions

• Saitama Stadium 2002
• ÆON Urawa Misono shopping mall
• Saitama Prefectural Urawa Museum
• Saitama Municipal Urawa Museum

References

References

1. "Saitama city official statistics".
2. [http://www.city.saitama.jp/www/contents/1188986259852/index.html] Official City website, retrieved on September 4, 2008
3. "市立学校一覧 中学校（区別）". Saitama City Institute of Education (さいたま市立教育研究所).
4. "市立学校一覧 小学校（区別）". Saitama City Institute of Education (さいたま市立教育研究所).