Kasugai, Aichi

is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 306,764, and a population density of 3,306 persons per km². The total area of the city is . The city is sometimes called Owarikasugai to avoid confusion with other municipality of the same name, including Kasugai (now part of Fuefuki) in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Geography

Kasugai is located in northwest Aichi Prefecture, north of the Nagoya metropolis, in the northern Nōbi Plain.
The Shōnai River flows through the southern portion of 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 Kasugai is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1681 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.3 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kasugai has increased rapidly over the past 70 years with the 1960s being the fastest growing decade.

Surrounding municipalities

;Aichi Prefecture
* Inuyama
* Komaki
*Nagoya ( Kita-ku, Moriyama-ku)
* Seto
* Toyoyama
;Gifu Prefecture
* Tajimi

History

The area which is now Kasugai contains many Kofun period burial mounds. During the Edo period, the area was mostly part of the holdings of Owari Domain.

With the Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system, the area was organized into villages under Higashikasugai District, including the village of Kachigawa on October 1, 1889. Kachigawa was raised to town status on July 25, 1900. On June 1, 1943, Kachigawa was merged with neighboring villages of Toriimatsu and Shinogi to form the city of Kasugai, and in 1958, Kasugai annexed the neighboring towns of Sakashita and Kōzōji.

Kasugai gained special city status on April 1, 2001, with increased local autonomy.

Government

Mayor-council

Kasugai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 32 members.

Prefectural Assembly

The city contributes four members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly.

House of Representatives

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

International

;Sister cities

National

;Disaster alliance city

Economy

Due to its location, Kasugai is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for the greater Nagoya metropolis.

In terms of agricultural production, Kasugai is noted for horticulture and produces over 80% of the cactus sold as houseplants. Oji Paper Company, Panasonic and Fujitsu have large factories in Kasugai. There are also several shopping centers in Kasugai, including APiTA Kōzōji (SUN MARCHÉ), Æon Kasugai shopping center, Shimizuya, and The Mall Kasugai.

Companies headquartered in Kasugai include Aichi Electric, Amiyaki Tei, Daito ME, Chita Kogyo, Toyo Electric Corporation, KDK (Panasonic Ecology Systems), Panasonic Industrial Devices SUNX, Fine Sinter, and Mitsuchi Corporation.

Education

University

Colleges and universities:
* Chubu University
* Meijo University, Kasugai campus

Primary and secondary education

* Kasugai has 37 public elementary schools and 15 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and seven public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. Chubu University owns one private junior high school and one private high school on its campus. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

International schools

* – North Korean school

Transportation

Airways

Airports

* Nagoya Airfield

Railways

Conventional lines

; Central Japan Railway Company
* Chūō Main Line: – – – – –
; Meitetsu
* Komaki Line: - – – – –
; Tōkai Transport Service Company
* Jōhoku Line: – –
; Aichi Loop Railway
* Aichi Loop Line: –

Expressway

Highways

* Tōmei Expressway
* Chūō Expressway
* Nagoya Dai-Ni Kanjo Expressway (Meinikan)

Japan National Route

*
*
*

Local attractions

;Castle
* Jōjō Castle ruins
* Ōdome Castle
* Yoshida Castle
;Buddhist temple
* Enpuku-ji temple
* Kōzō-ji temple
* Mitsuzō-in temple
* Rinsyō-in temple
* Shintoku-ji temple
* Taigaku-ji temple

File:Enpuku-ji Temple 20161116.jpg, Enpukuji temple
File:Mitsuzōin (Kasugai) 18.JPG, Mitsuzōin temple
File:Rinshoin.JPG, Rinsyōin temple
File:Shintokuji (Kasugai) 03.JPG, Shintokuji temple
File:泰岳寺山門.JPG, Taigakuji temple

;Shinto shrines
* Itahato Jinja
* Hakusan Jinja
* Matsubara Jinja
* Sakashita Jinja
* Utsutsu Jinja

File:Big Stone lantern in Itahato-jinja.jpg, Itahato Jinja
File:Hakusan-jinja Kofun (Kasugai).jpg, Hakusan Jinja
File:Matsubara Shrine.JPG, Matsubara Jinja
File:Honndenn.jpg, Sakashita Jinja
File:Utsutsujinja6.JPG, Utsutsu Jinja

;Archaeological sites
* Ajiyoshi Futagoyama Kofun
;Library
* Kasugai city library
;Park
* Greenpia Kasugai
* Ochiai Park

Notable residents

* Kousei Amano, actor
* Naomichi Donoue, professional baseball player
* Takehiro Donoue, professional baseball player
* Gaku Hasegawa, politician
* Sho Ito, professional soccer player
* Asahiyutaka Katsuteru, sumo wrestler
* Jurina Matsui, actress
* Company Matsuo, pornographic movie actor/director
* Eiji Okuda, actor and director

References

External links

* (with some portions in English)

{{Authority control

Cities in Aichi Prefecture