Toyota, Aichi

Geography

Toyota is located in north-central Aichi Prefecture, and is the largest city in the prefecture in terms of area. The city area is mountainous to the north, with peaks averaging around 1000 feet (328 m) in height along its northern border with Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. Much of the mountainous northern portion of the city is within Aichi Kōgen Quasi-National Park.

Toyota is within a two hour drive of Nagoya.

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 Toyota is 15.3 C. The average annual rainfall is 1470.4 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.4 C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 C. |Jan record high C = 17.8 |Feb record high C = 22.2 |Mar record high C = 25.7 |Apr record high C = 30.5 |May record high C = 34.4 |Jun record high C = 39.3 |Jul record high C = 39.8 |Aug record high C = 39.6 |Sep record high C = 38.1 |Oct record high C = 34.1 |Nov record high C = 26.5 |Dec record high C = 22.6 |Jan record low C = -8.6 |Feb record low C = -8.8 |Mar record low C = -5.6 |Apr record low C = -2.6 |May record low C = 0.8 |Jun record low C = 8.2 |Jul record low C = 14.7 |Aug record low C = 14.1 |Sep record low C = 6.5 |Oct record low C = 1.1 |Nov record low C = -2.5 |Dec record low C = -7.6 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | access-date = April 13, 2022}}{{cite web |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = April 13, 2022}}}} |Jan record high C = 15.3 |Feb record high C = 18.2 |Mar record high C = 24.1 |Apr record high C = 27.4 |May record high C = 30.5 |Jun record high C = 34.7 |Jul record high C = 35.5 |Aug record high C = 35.1 |Sep record high C = 33.6 |Oct record high C = 29.4 |Nov record high C = 22.7 |Dec record high C = 19.7 |Jan record low C = -13.9 |Feb record low C = -16.1 |Mar record low C = -11.2 |Apr record low C = -5.7 |May record low C = -0.9 |Jun record low C = 4.3 |Jul record low C = 11.3 |Aug record low C = 9.6 |Sep record low C = 3.8 |Oct record low C = -1.8 |Nov record low C = -6.5 |Dec record low C = -12.0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | access-date = April 13, 2022}}{{cite web |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = April 13, 2022}}}}

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Toyota has been increasing over the past 50 years. | 1960 | 151632 | 1970 | 234078 | 1980 | 315871 | 1990 | 370858 | 2000 | 395224 | 2010 | 421552

Surrounding municipalities

;AichiAichi Prefecture

• Anjō
• Chiryu
• Kariya
• Miyoshi
• Nagakute
• Nisshin
• Okazaki
• Seto
• Shinshiro
• Shitara ;GifuGifu Prefecture
• Ena
• Mizunami
• Toki ;NaganoNagano Prefecture
• Neba

City scape

File:Toyota City Skyline001.jpg|Skyline of Toyota File:Koromo-jo Castle（Shichishū-jo Castle）.jpg|Koromo Castle File:Toyota-Pedestrian-Deck-1.jpg|Toyotashi Station Pedestrian Deck File:Pedestrian Deck, Wakamiya-cho Toyota 2018.jpg|Downtown of Toyota

History

Origins

The area of present-day Toyota City has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and archaeologists have found a continuous record of artifacts from the Japanese paleolithic period onwards. In early proto-historic times, the area was under the control of the Mononobe clan, who built numerous kofun burial mounds. The local place name "Koromo" is mentioned in the Kojiki and other early Japanese documents.

Edo period

During the Edo period, parts of the area of the current city were under the control of Koromo Domain, a feudal han under the Tokugawa shogunate; however, most of the area of the current city was tenryō territory controlled directly by the government in Edo and administered through hatamoto class appointed administrators. The village of "Matsudaira", from which Tokugawa Ieyasu took his clan name, was located within what is now the city of Toyota.

Meiji period

After the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into the towns of Asuke and Koromo and numerous villages under Higashikamo District and Nishikamo District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The area was a major producer of silk and prospered from the Meiji period through the Taishō periods. As the demand for raw silk declined in Japan and abroad, Koromo entered a period of gradual decline after 1930. The decline encouraged Kiichiro Toyoda, cousin of Eiji Toyoda, to look for alternatives to the family's automatic loom manufacturing business. The search led to the founding of what became the Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota built the first manufacturing facility, known as Toyota Honsha plant in November 1938, breaking ground in December 1935.

Modern history

On March 1, 1951, Koromo gained city status, and absorbed the village of Takahashi from Nishikamo District on September 30, 1956. Due to the fame and economic importance of its major employer, the city of Koromo changed its name to Toyota on January 1, 1959.

Toyota became a sister city with Detroit, Michigan, United States in 1960. It continued to expand by annexing the towns of Kamigo (Hekikai District) on March 1, 1964, and Takaoka (Hekikai District) on September 1, 1965, and Sanage (Nishikamo District) on April 1, 1967, as well as the village of Matsudaira (Higashikamo District) on April 1, 1970.

In 1979 the Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) opened the Toyota New Line (now Toyota Line), and in 1988, the Aichi Loop Line was opened, thus considerably improving access to the city via rail transport.

Toyota became a Core City in 1998, with increased local autonomy.

On March 25, 2005, Expo 2005 opened with its main site in Nagakute and additional activity in Seto and Toyota. The Expo continued until September 25, 2005.

On April 1, 2005, Toyota absorbed the town of Fujioka, and the village of Obara (both from Nishikamo District), the towns of Asuke, Asahi and Inabu, and the village of Shimoyama (all from Higashikamo District) to create the new and expanded city of Toyota.

Mitsuru Obe and Eric Pfanner of The Wall Street Journal stated that by 2015 Toyota was recovering from an economic depression "so deep that some were comparing it to Detroit." File:Sanage-jinja Torii.jpg|Sanage shinto shrine File:Chuma no Ohinasan 2012.jpg|Asuke area (Groups of Traditional Buildings) File:Toyota museum 101.JPG|Koromo Castle File:Toyota Sangokan exterior 2017-06 (1).jpg|City center of Toyota

Government

Mayor-council

Toyota has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 45 members.

Prefectural Assembly

The city contributes five members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly.

House of Representatives

In terms of national politics, the city is divided between Aichi District 11 and Aichi District 14 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Public

Police

• Aichi Prefectural Police
  • Asuke police station
  • Toyota police station

Firefighting

• Fire department
  • Asuke fire department
  • Toyota-Kita fire department
  • Toyota-Minami fire department
  • Toyota-naka fire department

Health care

• Hospital
  • Asuke Hospital
  • Toyota Kosei Hospital
  • TOYOTA Memorial Hospital

Post office

• Toyota Post office

Library

• Toyota City Library File:Toyota Police station 2018.jpg|Toyota Police Station File:Toyota City Fire Fighting Head Office, Chokoji Toyota 2019.jpg|Toyota Fire Department File:Toyota-Kosei-Hospital-1.jpg|Toyota Kosei Hospital File:Toyota Post Office, Totsuka-cho Toyota 2018.jpg|Toyota Post Office File:Toyota City Central Library exterior ac (2).jpg|Toyota City Library

Sister cities

Toyota is twinned with:

• USA Detroit, United States, since 1960
• ENG Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom, since 1998

Economy

Primary sector of the economy

;Agriculture

• Peach
• Pyrus pyrifolia (Atago) ;Forestry
• Cryptomeria
• Chamaecyparis obtusa

Secondary sector of the economy

The main headquarters of Toyota is located in a 14-story building in Toyota. As of 2006 the head office has the "Toyopet" Toyota logo and the words "Toyota Motor". The Toyota Technical Center, a 14-story building, and the original Honsha plant, Toyota's first plant engaging in mass production and formerly named the Koromo plant, are adjacent to one another in a location near the headquarters. Vinod Jacob from The Hindu described the main headquarters building as "modest".

Tertiary sector of the economy

;Shopping center

• Æon Takahashi (GREEN CITY)
• Æon Toyota
• KiTARA
• Lut's
• Meglia
• T-FACE File:Azakai-cho Toyota 2011.JPG|Azakai Town File:Inabucho, Toyota, Aichi Prefecture 441-2513, Japan - panoramio (1).jpg|Inabu Town File:JA Aichi Toyota, Nishi-machi Toyota 2018.jpg|JA Aichi Toyota File:Toyota 86 GT Red.jpg|Toyota 86 File:Aeon-Style-Toyota-1.jpg|Æon Toyota File:Toyota-KiTARA-1.jpg|KiTARA

Education

Colleges and universities

• Aichi Gakusen University
• Aichi Institute of Technology
• Aichi Mizuho College
• Chukyo University – Toyota campus
• Japanese Red Cross Toyota College of Nursing
• Junior College of Toyota (1990–1999)
• Ohkagakuen University – Toyota campus
• Toyota National College of Technology

Primary and secondary education

Toyota has 78 public elementary schools and 27 public middle schools operated by the city government and 12 public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private middle schools and eight private high schools. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the disabled.

International schools

• Escola Alegria de Saber – Brazilian school
• Escola NECTAR – Brazilian primary school
• Escola Pintando o Sete – Brazilian primary school

Transportation

Toyota, as the home city of Toyota is well-served by expressways and national highways. However, it was the largest city in Japan which was not served by the Japanese National Railways (JNR) during its existence. The closest Shinkansen station is Mikawa-Anjō Station in the city of Anjō, although the limited-stop Nozomi and Hikari services do not stop there.

Railways

Conventional lines

;[[File:Meitetsu logomark 2.svg|20px]] Meitetsu

• Toyota Line: – –
• Mikawa Line: – – – – – – – – – ;[[File:Aikan logomark.svg|20px]] Aichi Loop Railway
• Aichi Loop Line: – – – – – – – – – – – ;60px Linimo
• Aichi High-Speed Transit: –

Roads

Expressways

• [[Image:JP Expressway E1.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1]] Tōmei Expressway
• [[Image:JP Expressway E1A.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1A]] Shin-Tōmei Expressway
• [[Image:JP Expressway E1A.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1A]] Isewangan Expressway
• [[Image:JP Expressway C3.svg|24px|link=|alt=C3]] Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway

Japan National Route

File:Meitetsu Toyotashi Station ac.jpg|Toyotashi Station File:Aichi_Kanjo_Tetudo_Line_Shin_Toyota_Sta.jpg|Shin-Toyota Station File:TOYOTA_Interchange_on_TOMEI_EXPWY_and_SHIN-TOMEI_EXPWY.jpg|Toyota JCT File:Shin-Tomei20180826B.jpg|Toyota-Higashi JCT File:Route153 Umetsubo.JPG|National Route 153 File:豊田スタジアム TOYOTA Stadium - panoramio.jpg|Toyota big bridge File:TOYOTA_ARROWS_Bridge.jpg|Toyota Arrows Bridge

Local attractions

• Asuke area (Groups of Traditional Buildings)
• Kampachi Gorge
• Kōrankei Gorge
• Kuragaike park
• The ruins of Matsudaira
• Obara shikizakura
• Toyota Automobile Museum
• Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall
• Toyota Kuragaike Commemorative Hall
• Toyota Municipal Museum of Art

File:Manrin-kouji Alley in 2019 ac.jpg|Asuke area File:足助城高櫓.JPG|Asuke Castle File:Toyota museum 051.JPG|Toyota Municipal Museum of Art File:Toyota Kaikan3.jpg|Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall File:Kiichiro Toyoda's Residence 02, Ikeda-cho Toyota 2019.jpg|Toyota Kuragaike Commemorative Hall File:Kampachi Gorge, Toyota-city 2018.jpg|Kampachi Gorge File:Kōrankei.jpg|Kōrankei Gorge File:Korankei3.jpg|Sanshu Asuke Yashiki File:Korankei4.jpg|Kōjaku-ji File:Senmishikizakura1.jpg|Obara shikizakura File:Matsudairago1.jpg|The ruins of Matsudaira File:Kuragaike Park 03, Toyota 2019.jpg|Kuragaike park File:Koromo festival4.jpg|Koromo Festival

Culture

Sports

Sports Team

Sports Facilities

• Sky Hall Toyota
• Toyota Athletic Stadium
• Toyota Sports Center
• Toyota Stadium

Notable people from Toyota

• Miliyah Kato, singer
• Yoshio Markino, artist, author
• Masami Mitsuoka, singer
• Masato Naito, Olympic hurdler
• Etsuko Nishio, singer, actress
• Suzuki Shōsan, Edo period Zen prelate
• Tadashi Sugiura, professional baseball player
• Katsuaki Watanabe, former president of Toyota Motors

References

References

1. Jacob, Vinod. "[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/08/18/stories/2006081800020200.htm In Toyota land] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-07-21 ." ''[[The Hindu]] [[Business Line]]''. August 18, 2006. Retrieved on May 9, 2013.)
2. [https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aichi.php Toyota population statistics]
3. "Municipalities of Aichi (Japan)".
4. "Toyota Honsha Plant history".
5. 豊田市. "山村地域移住情報バンク｜豊田市".
6. "愛知県の市町村合併 - 愛知県".
7. Obe, Mitsuru and Eric Pfanner. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305124503/http://www.wsj.com/articles/abenomics-backing-tepid-even-in-toyota-town-1418280211 "Abe’s Backing Is Lukewarm, Even in Toyota’s Town"]. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. December 11, 2014. Retrieved on August 12, 2015.
8. "国際交流". Toyota.
9. In 2013 company head Akio Toyoda reported that it had difficulties retaining foreign employees at the headquarters due to the lack of amenities in Toyota.Greimel, Hans. "[http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130506/GLOBAL02/305069976/dreary-hq-city-is-a-handicap-in-global-glitz-plan#axzz2SrMwuTWn Dreary HQ city is a handicap in global glitz plan]." ([https://archive.today/20221008072028/http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130506/GLOBAL02/305069976/dreary-hq-city-is-a-handicap-in-global-glitz-plan Archive]) ''[[Automotive News]]''. May 6, 2013. Retrieved on May 9, 2013.
10. "[http://www.brasemb.or.jp/portugues/community/school.php Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20151018083340/http://www.brasemb.or.jp/portugues/community/school.php Archive]). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.