was a
city
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
located in
Saitama Prefecture
is a Landlocked country, landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (January 1, 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 Square kilometre, km2 ( ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
On May 1, 2001, Ōmiya was merged with the cities of
Urawa and
Yono to create the city of
Saitama. This merger aimed to streamline administrative functions and promote regional development. In 2003, Saitama City became a designated city, leading to the establishment of wards, including Ōmiya Ward, which encompasses much of the former Ōmiya-shi area.
Since April 1, 2003, the area of former Ōmiya City has been divided into 4 wards:
Kita-ku,
Minuma-ku,
Nishi-ku and
Ōmiya-ku of Saitama City.
History
Origin and pre-modern history
Ōmiya's origins trace back to its role as a temple town for the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, a significant Shinto shrine with a history spanning over 2,400 years. Ōmiya is an indigenous
Japanese language
is the principal language of the Japonic languages, Japonic language family spoken by the Japanese people. It has around 123 million speakers, primarily in Japan, the only country where it is the national language, and within the Japanese dia ...
word which can be decomposed to ''Ō'' (大,
kun'yomi (Japanese reading) おお: large, great) and ''miya'' (宮, kun'yomi み-や: noble or holy - house; palace or
shrine
A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...
) after the
Hikawa Shrine.
The town was on the
Nakasendō, a main national road in the
feudal
Feudalism, also known as the feudal system, was a combination of legal, economic, military, cultural, and political customs that flourished in Middle Ages, medieval Europe from the 9th to 15th centuries. Broadly defined, it was a way of struc ...
Edo period
The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...
and the predecessor to a part of
National Highway Route 17, and the
Takasaki Line.
During the Edo period, Ōmiya flourished as a post town (shukuba) along the Nakasendō, one of the five major routes connecting Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto. Its strategic location contributed to its development as a hub for travelers and commerce.
Modern Ōmiya
* On April 1, 1899, the town of Ōmiya as a modern municipality was founded.
* After the
1923 Great Kantō earthquake, bonsai nurseries relocated from
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
and formed the
bonsai village.
* In 1940, Ōmiya became a city after several surrounding village annexations/mergers.
Saitama City era
* On May 1, 2001, Ōmiya was merged with the cities of Urawa and Yono to create the new capital city of
Saitama.
* On April 1, 2003, when Saitama became a
designated city, the former area of Ōmiya City has been divided into 4 wards: Kita-ku, Minuma-ku, Nishi-ku and Ōmiya-ku.
Historical and Cultural Significance
Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine
* Ōmiya's name, meaning "great shrine," is derived from this significant Shinto shrine, which boasts over 2,400 years of history. It's considered the spiritual heart of the region and has been revered by various ruling clans throughout Japanese history.
Ōmiya Bonsai Village
* Established in 1925 by bonsai artisans relocating after the Great Kantō Earthquake, this village has become a renowned center for bonsai culture. The Ōmiya Bonsai Art Museum showcases masterpieces, including the 500-year-old "Chiyo no Matsu."
Education
A
North Korean school, Saitama Korean Elementary and Middle School (
埼玉朝鮮初中級学校), was previously in the City of Ōmiya. Established in 1961, it serves the Korean community by providing education from kindergarten through middle school, focusing on Korean language, history, and culture. The school is affectionately known as "ウリハッキョ" (Uri Hakkyo), meaning "Our School" in Korean, reflecting its role as a cultural and educational hub for the local Korean community.
In 2011, the school lost its local government subsidy, leading to financial difficulties. Since then, it has relied on tuition fees, donations, and fundraising efforts to continue its operations. The community's resilience is evident in initiatives like the "Saitama Kimchi Diary", a short film highlighting mothers selling handmade kimchi to support the school.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Omiya, Saitama
Dissolved municipalities of Saitama Prefecture