is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. , the city had an estimated population of 166,208 in 76,639 households and a population density of 7300 persons per km². The total area of the city is .

Geography

Niiza is located at the southernmost tip of Saitama Prefecture, and is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo

conurbation A conurbation is a region comprising a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most ca ...

. The entire city is located on the Musashino Plateau, with the Yanase River running through the western part of the city, and the Kurome River running through the eastern part of the city. Niiza includes the southest point of

, which faces

Nishitōkyō () is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 206,047, and a population density of 13,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Nishitokyo is located at ...

of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

* Asaka * Shiki * Tokorozawa * Miyoshi Tokyo Metropolis * Nerima *

Kiyose is a city located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 74,972 in 36,376 households, and a population density of 7300 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . Geography Kiyose City is roughly in the sha ...

* Nishitokyo *

Higashikurume is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 117,020, and a population density of 9100 persons per km². The total area of the city was . Geography Higashikurume is in the no ...

Climate

Niiza has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Niiza is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1449 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.1 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Niiza has increased rapidly from the 1960s to the present day.

History

The area of modern Niiza has been settled since prehistoric times. The was part for Shinra County within

Musashi Province was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama. Musashi bordered on Kai, Kōzuke, Sagami, S ...

in the Nara period. Shinra County (新羅郡) was originally written with the same '' kanji'' as the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, and the area was settled by immigrants from Silla in 758 AD. The name was changed to Niikura County (新座郡) in the Heian period. The town of Owada was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Kitaasachi District. On March 1, 1955, Owada annexed the neighboring village of Katayama becoming Niiza Town, which was raised to city status on November 1, 1970.

Government

Niiza has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 26 members. Niiza contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 4th district of the

lower house A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

. In the 2021 Japanese general election, from Saitama 4th district, was elected.

Economy

Toppan printing has a large factory in Niiza, which is also home to a number of other light manufacturing, electronics and transportation/warehousing companies. However, due to its proximity to Tokyo, over a third of the workforce commutes daily, making Niiza largely a bedroom community.

Education

Colleges and universities: * Atomi University * Rikkyo University * Jumonji University Primary and secondary schools: *Niiza has 17 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there are two private combined junior/senior high schools.

Transportation

Railway

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...

– Musashino Line * Tōbu Tetsudō Logo

Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Tōjō Line *

Highway

* * *

Military Facilities

United States Air Force, Owada Communication Site Owada Communication Site is former communication site of Imperial Japanese Navy.

Sister city relations

Niiza is

twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...

with: * Jyväskylä, Finland (1997) *

Nasushiobara, Tochigi 270px, Shiobara Onsen is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 115,794 in 48,437 households, and a population density of 67 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Nasushioba ...

, Japan (2000) * Tōkamachi, Niigata, Japan (2002) * Jiyuan, China, (2002) * Neuruppin, Germany (2003)

Local attractions

* Heirin-ji, a large Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple. The temple is located in Nobidome, close to Niiza City Hall.

Notable people from Niiza

* Umika Kawashima, actress * Masaaki Taniai, politician * Yoko Mitsuya, gravure idol *

Yuto Otsuka (basketball, born 1990) is a Japanese professional basketball player who plays for the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka of the B.League The B.League is a professional men's basketball league that began in Japan in September 2016. The league is operated by the Japan Profession ...

Masaya Kikawada is a Japanese actor. His most prominent role has been as Takeshi Hongo in the film ''Kamen Rider The First'' and its sequel '' Kamen Rider The Next''. He was also in ''Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon'' as Sailor Jupiter's love interest Motoki Furuh ...

, actor

In popular culture

On April 7, 2003, Niiza gave the anime character Astro Boy an honorary citizenship to mark the date given as his birthdate in the original

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

. Later in 2004, the theme music from the TV series would eventually be used to signal the departure of a train at JR Niiza Station on the JR Musashino Line.

References

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control * Cities in Saitama Prefecture