Kasugai, Aichi

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Template:Nihongo is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the city had an estimated population of 306,764,<ref>Kasugai City official statistics Template:In lang</ref> and a population density of 3,306 persons per km². The total area of the city is Template:Convert. 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.<ref>Kasugai climate data</ref>

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,<ref>Kasugai population statistics</ref> the population of Kasugai has increased rapidly over the past 70 years with the 1960s being the fastest growing decade. Template:Historical populations

Surrounding municipalities

Template:Flagdeco Aichi Prefecture

Template:Flagdeco 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

City	Country	State	Since
Kelowna	Template:Flagicon Canada	British Columbia	February 5, 1981<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

National

Disaster alliance city

City	Prefecture	Region	Since
Ōgaki	Template:Flagicon Gifu Prefecture	Chūbu region	August 25, 2011
Kasuga	Template:Flagicon Fukuoka Prefecture	Kyūshū region	August 7, 2012
Aomori	Template:Flagicon Aomori Prefecture	Tōhoku region	October 10, 2012

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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.