Inazawa

Inazawa 稲沢市
City
Upper stage:Owari ōkunitama-jinja Lower stage:Inazawa Skyline
Flag Seal
Location of Inazawa in Aichi Prefecture
Inazawa
Coordinates: 35°15′53″N 136°47′48.9″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Aichi
Government
• Mayor	Toshiaki Ōno
Area
• Total	79.35 km2 (30.64 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2019)
• Total	135,580
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
– Tree	Pine
– Flower	Chrysanthemum
Phone number	0587-32-1111
Address	1 Inabuchō, Inazawa-shi, Aichi-ken 492-8269
Website	Official website

Inazawa (稲沢市, Inazawa-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the city had an estimated population of 135,580 in 54,999 households, and a population density of 1,709 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,430/sq mi). The total area of the city was 79.35 km² (30.64 sq mi).

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 (60.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,758 mm (69.2 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.9 °C (82.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C (39.9 °F).

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Inazawa has been relatively steady over the past 30 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	56,321	—
1950	71,370	+26.7%
1960	79,847	+11.9%
1970	110,629	+38.6%
1980	126,023	+13.9%
1990	132,483	+5.1%
2000	136,928	+3.4%
2010	136,415	−0.4%

Surrounding municipalities

Aichi Prefecture

• Ichinomiya
• Aisai
• Kiyosu
• Ama

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 City hall

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.

External relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

International

• Olympia（Elis, Western Greece, Greece）
  • since August 22, 1987.
• Chifeng（Inner Mongolia, China）
  • since May 16, 1989.

Education

Nagoya Bunri University

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 gingko 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

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

Transportation

Railways

Conventional lines

Central Japan Railway Company

• Tokaido Main Line：- Kiyosu – Inazawa –

Meitetsu

• Nagoya Main Line：- Ōsato – Okuda – Kōnomiya – Shima-Ujinaga –
• Bisai Line:- Rokuwa – (Fuchidaka) – Marubuchi – Kami-Marubuchi – Morikami – Yamazaki –

Roads

The Kilometre Zero of Inazawa

Expressways

• Meishin Expressway

Japan National Route

• National Route 155

• 
  Inazawa Station
• 
  Kōnomiya Station
• 
  Morikami Station

Local attractions

Solae (tower)

Castles

• Orizu Castle
• Shobata Castle

Shrines and Temples

• Owari Kokubun-ji
• Yawase Kannon Temple
• Owari Ōkunitama Jinja

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.

• 
  Shobata Castle
• 
  Orizu Castle
• 
  Owari Kokubun temple
• 
  Yawase Kannon Temple
• 
  Konomiya Street
• 
  Sobue Dune

Notable people from Inazawa

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

External links

• Inazawa City official website (in Japanese)