Anjō (安城市, Anjō-shi) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 188,693 in 76,087 households,[1] and a population density of 2,193 persons per km². The total area of the city was 86.05 square kilometres (33.22 sq mi).
Anjō
安城市 | |
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![]() ![]() Upper stage: Den Park Lower stage: Skyline of Mikawaanjō | |
![]() Location of Anjō within Aichi Prefecture | |
Coordinates: 34°57′31.4″N 137°4′49.2″E / 34.958722°N 137.080333°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Chūbu (Tōkai) |
Prefecture | Aichi |
Government | |
• Mayor | Gaku Kamiya |
Area | |
• Total | 86.05 km2 (33.22 sq mi) |
Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
Population (October 1, 2019) | |
• Total | 188,693 |
• Density | 2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
– Tree | Japanese Black Pine |
– Flower | Scarlet Sage |
Phone number | 0566-76-1111 |
Address | 18–23 Sakuramachi, Anjō-shi, Aichi-ken 446-8501 |
Website | Official website |
Geography
editAnjō is situated in southern Aichi Prefecture, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) from central Nagoya, in the center of the Okazaki Plain, on the west bank of the Yahagi River. National Route 1 and National Route 23 provide the main east-west access through the city, with Aichi Prefectural Route 48 running between the two.
Climate
editThe city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Anjō is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1576 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Anjō has grown rapidly over the past 70 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1940 | 46,737 | — |
1950 | 61,037 | +30.6% |
1960 | 66,793 | +9.4% |
1970 | 94,307 | +41.2% |
1980 | 123,843 | +31.3% |
1990 | 142,251 | +14.9% |
2000 | 158,824 | +11.7% |
2010 | 178,738 | +12.5% |
Neighboring municipalities
editHistory
editOrigins
editThe area of present-day Anjō has been continuously occupied since preshistoric times. Archaeologists have found numerous remains from the Japanese Paleolithic period and burial mounds from the Kofun period.
Ancient history
editDuring the Nara period, the area was assigned to ancient Hekikai County, and was divided into several shōen during the Heian period, largely under the control of the Fujiwara clan or the Taira clan.
Middle Ages
editHowever, in the Kamakura period, parts of the territory came under the control of the Jōdo Shinshū sect, who challenged the secular authority of the various samurai clans, most notably the Matsudaira clan.
During the Sengoku period, numerous fortifications were erected in the area.
Early modern period
editTokugawa Ieyasu unified the region and destroyed the power of the Jōdo Shinshū sect in the Battle of Azukizaka (1564). During the Edo period, half of present-day Anjō was controlled by Okazaki Domain and the other half by Kariya Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate with some scattered portions of tenryō territory ruled directly by the shogunate. During this period, the area was noted for its production of cotton and textiles.
Late modern period
editAt the start of the Meiji period, on October 1, 1889, Anjō was one of a collection of villages organized within Hekikai District, Aichi Prefecture by the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on May 1, 1906. The opening of the Meiji Irrigation Canal transformed the area in the 1920s and 1930s into one of the most agriculturally productive regions of the period, sparking the comparison with Denmark, then regarded the most highly advanced agricultural nation in the world.[4] This led to Anjō's moniker of "Japan's Denmark" (日本デンマーク), which remains in the form of Den Park, a Danish theme park, as well as Den Beer, a microbrew available in the park.
Contemporary history
editAnjō was elevated to city status on May 3, 1952. On April 1, 1967, it annexed the neighboring town of Sakurai.
Government
editAnjō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 28 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 13 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
editAnjō is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy of manufacturing and agriculture.
Primary sector of the economy
editAgriculture
editIn addition to rice, wheat, and soybeans, notable agricultural products include figs, Japanese pears, and cucumbers.
Secondary sector of the economy
editManufacturing
editDue to its proximity to the various factories of Toyota in neighboring Toyota City, Anjō is host to many factories supplying components into the automobile industry.
Companies headquartered in Anjō
edit- Makita, power tools, founded in Anjō, 1915.
- Aisin AW, automotive components
- Anden, automotive components
- Central Motor Wheel, automotive components
- Hekikai Shinkin Bank
- Sugi Holdings, pharmaceuticals
- Tosho Holdings, real estate
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The headquarters of AISIN AW
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Makita lawn mowers
-
Sugi Pharmacy headquarters
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Tosho Building
-
Anforet main building
-
Anforet outdoor plaza
Education
editSchools
editPrimary and secondary education
- Anjō has 21 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. In addition the prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.
International schools
edit- Escola São Paulo – Brazilian school (Ensinos Fundamental e Médio)[5]
Professional development school
edit- Denso Technical Skills Academy
Transportation
editRailways
editThe Tōkaidō Shinkansen stops at Mikawa-Anjō Station, but Anjō Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line and Shin Anjō Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and Nishio Line serve the commercial center of the city.
High-speed rail
editConventional lines
edit- Nagoya Main Line: - Shin Anjō
- Nishio Line: - Shin Anjō – Kita Anjō – Minami Anjō – Hekikai Furui – Horiuchi Kōen – Sakurai – Minami Sakurai
Roads
editExpressways
editJapan National Route
edit-
Cycling Road from Anjō to Toyota
External relations
editTwin towns – Sister cities
editInternational
edit- Huntington Beach (California, United States of America)
- since July 4, 1992
- Hobsons Bay (Victoria, Australia)
- since October 15, 1994[6]
- Kolding (Southern Denmark, Denmark)
- since January 21, 2009[6]
Local attractions
editTourist attraction
edit- National Historic Sites
- Honshōji – Buddhist temple that was the site of the Battle of Azukizaka (1564)
- Futago Kofun
- Himeogawa Kofun
- Other historical sites
- Anjō Castle – Site of Anjo Castle, built in 1480, destroyed in 1562
- Anjō shrine
- Meijigawa Shrine
-
Anjō Castle
-
Honshōji temple
-
Anjō shrine
-
Meijigawa Shrine
-
Futago Kofun
- Parks
- Den Park
- Horiuchi Park
-
Den Park
-
Horiuchi Park
Culture
editFestival
edit- Anjo Tanabata Festival
Sports
editSex | Name | competition | League | Home | Sponsor | Since |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Men | Aisin Areions | Basketball | B.League (B3) | Aisin AW Gymnasium・Anjō City Gymnasium | Aisin | 1978 |
Women | Denso Bright Pegasus | Softball | Japan Softball League (JSL) | Anjo Sports Park Softball Field | Denso | 1960 |
Women | Aisin Wings | Basketball | W.League | Aisin AW Gymnasium・Anjō City Gymnasium | Aisin | 1979 |
-
Anjo Sports Park Softball Field
Notable people
edit- Tohru Fukuyama, organic chemist
- Tam Nakano (Real Name: Yuria Tauchi, Nihongo: 田内 友里愛, Tauchi Yuria), professional wrestler
- Kazuchika Okada, professional wrestler
- Ayumi Tanimoto, Olympic gold-medalist judo wrestler
- Ryōka Yuzuki, voice actress
- Goiti Yamauchi, Japanese Brazilian Mixed martial artist
- Tsuneko Gauntlett, suffrage, and peace activist
- Toshiya Kakiuchi, businessman
References
edit- ^ Anjō City official statistics (in Japanese)
- ^ Anjō climate data
- ^ Anjō population statistics
- ^ ""Aichi Voice – The Denmark of Japan?"". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
- ^ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015. "Endereço: 1-3-4 Sasame-cho, Anjo-shi, Aichi-ken 446-0073"
- ^ a b "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)