Handa, Aichi

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Template:Nihongo is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 118,259 in 51,846 households,<ref>Handa City official statistics Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref> and a population density of 2,494 persons per km². The total area of the city was Template:Convert.

Geography

Handa is located in northeastern Chita Peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, and is bordered by Mikawa Bay to the east.

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 Handa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1632 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 40.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around negative 4 °C.<ref>Handa climate data</ref>

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,<ref>Handa population statistics</ref> the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years. Template:Historical populations

Neighboring municipalities

Aichi Prefecture

History

Early modern period

During the Edo period, the area of Handa was part of Owari Domain.

Late modern period

In the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, the towns of Handa and Kamezaki were founded, as was the town of Narawa the following year. These three towns merged on October 1, 1937, to form the city of Handa.

Government

Handa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 8 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

Template:Flagicon Midland, Michigan, United States, since June 5, 1981.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, since April 14, 1990.<ref name=International>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flagicon Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China, friendship city since May 27, 1993<ref name=International/>
Template:Flagicon Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, since April 28, 1997

Economy

Secondary sector of the economy

Brewing

Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Manufacturing

During World War II, Nakajima Aircraft Company established an aircraft production plant in Handa. In the post-war period, this was redeveloped into a heavy industrial zone, including a production plant by Dow Chemical. Handa and Midland, Michigan became Sister Cities in 1981, a relationship that continues to this day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

University

Nihon Fukushi University – Handa campus

Schools

Handa has thirteen public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.