View source for Aioi, Hyōgo

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Aioi
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|相生市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Aioi city office.jpg
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = Aioi City Hall
| image_flag = Flag of Aioi, Hyogo.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Aioi, Hyogo.svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Aioi in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Aioi in Hyōgo Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|34|48|N|134|28|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date = 
| extinct_title = Now part of
| extinct_date = 
| founder = 
| named_for = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Yoshiki Taniguchi (since May 2000)
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 90.40
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 28,208
| population_as_of = May 31, 2022
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 1-1-3 Asahi, Aioi-shi, Hyōgo-ken 678-8585
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official website|1=http://www.city.aioi.lg.jp/}}
| footnotes = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Camellia]]
 | flower = [[Cosmos (plant)|Cosmos]]
 | bird = 
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}
[[File:Aioi City Japan 2004-08-01.jpg|thumb|300px|Aioi city]]
{{nihongo|'''Aioi'''|相生市|Aioi-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan.  {{As of|2022|05|31}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 28,208 in 13143 households and a [[population density]] of 310 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Aioi-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.aioi.lg.jp/soshiki/shimin/jinkousetai.html|title= Aioi city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|90.4|sqkm|sqmi}}.

== Geography ==
Aioi is located in southwestern Hyōgo Prefecture extending largely south to north. The city's northern region is mountainous, the southern region faces the [[Seto Inland Sea]].The area around the urban center, with Mt. Minosan in the north, Mt. Tengadai in the east, and Mt. Miya in the west, is a basin surrounded by small mountains.

=== Neighboring municipalities ===
Hyōgo Prefecture
* [[Akō, Hyōgo|Akō]]
* [[Tatsuno, Hyōgo|Tatsuno]]

===Climate===
Aioi has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.  The average annual temperature in Aioi is 15.0&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1519&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/hyogo-prefecture/aioi-5089/ Aioi climate data]</ref>

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-osaka.php Hyōgo population statistics]</ref> the population of Aioi has remained relatively constant over the past 70 years.

{{Historical populations
| 1950 | 35894
| 1960 | 36521
| 1970 | 40657
| 1980 | 41498
| 1990 | 36871
| 2000 | 34320
| 2010 | 31171
|align       = none
| footnote = 
}}

== History ==
The Aioi area was part of ancient [[Harima Province]] and was located on the [[San'yō]] highway linking western Japan with the [[Kinai region]]. The area was the location of a stronghold of the Ebina clan, originally from [[Sagami Province]], who were retainers of the powerful [[Akamatsu clan]]. In the [[Edo period]], the area became part of the holdings of [[Akō Domain]]. The village of {{nihongo|Ō|相生村|Ōmura}} was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on January 1, 1913, becoming {{nihongo|Ō|相生町|Ō-chō}}. The town merged with the neighboring town of Naba on April 1, 1939, and the reading of the ''[[kanji]]'' of its name was officially changed to "Aioi" on April 13, 1939.  It was raised to city status on October 1, 1942. Aioi merged with the villages of Wakasano and Yano on April 1, 1954.

==Government==
Aioi has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 14 members. Aioi contributes one member to the [[Hyogo Prefectural Assembly]]. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 12th district of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

==Economy==
Aioi has traditionally been famous for shipbuilding, which, despite many years of decline, still maintains a strong presence through [[Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries]] (IHI). The city is increasing becoming a [[commuter town|bedroom community]], with 25.0% of those commuting to work going to Tatsuno or Himeji. (2010 National Census).

==Education==
Aioi has seven public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one private high school.

== Transportation ==
=== Railway ===
[[File:Shinkansen jrw.svg|18 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Shinkansen]]
* {{STN|Aioi|x|Hyōgo}}
[[File:JR_logo_(west).svg|22 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Main Line]] / [[Akō Line]]
* {{STN|Aioi|x|Hyōgo}} -  {{STN|Nishi-Aioi|x}}

=== Highways ===
* [[File:JP Expressway E2.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[San'yō Expressway]]
* [[File:JP Expressway E29.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Harima Expressway]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|2}} 
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|250}}

==Local attractions==
[[file:Aioi Peron Matsuri July09 328.jpg|right|270px|thumb|Dragon Boat races in Aioi]]
*{{nihongo|Aioi Peron Festival|相生ペーロン祭}}, with [[dragon boat]] races, which takes place on the last weekend of May each year. In 1655, the dragon boat races were brought from [[China]] to [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]]. Later in 1922, some Nagasaki [[Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries|IHI]] workers were transferred to Aioi.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
*[[Kanjōsan Castle]] ruins, National Historic Site

===Daikon===
In November 2005, the city was mentioned in world news reports after a large ''[[daikon]]'' radish that grew though the pavement was found slashed.<ref name=BBCRadish>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4677262.stm|title=Japan tries to save giant radish|date=3 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1877039,00.html |title=Crying shame as streetwise giant radish is cut down in its prime - Times Online |access-date=2006-02-16 |archive-date=2008-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821223216/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1877039,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  According to a city spokesperson, the radish was seen as an inspiration due to "its tenacity and strong will to live."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124194959/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10078798 NBC News]</ref> Efforts were undertaken to propagate the radish from a [[cutting (plant)|cutting]], as well as to harvest the plant's DNA.<ref name=BBCRadish></ref> The tenacious daikon, nicknamed "Daichan," has since been celebrated in a children's book.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kosei.info/contents/b-ISBN907856-53-9.html |title=がんばれ 大ちゃん｜一般書籍案内｜恒星出版 |accessdate=2006-08-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20070218205943/http://www.kosei.info/contents/b-ISBN907856-53-9.html |archivedate=2007-02-18 }}</ref> In 2006, a special firework representing the daikon was set off at the annual firework display preceding the dragon boat races.<ref>27 May 2007: Date of the annual Aioi 'Peron' festival which includes boat racing for the whole of that day. Fireworks the previous night in Aioi.</ref>

==Noted people from Aioi==
*[[Ikuo Oyama]], politician
*[[Kirio Urayama]], film director
*[[Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi (politician)|Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi]], politician
*[[Yoshito Yasuhara]], voice actor

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.city.aioi.lg.jp/ Aioi City official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061006113741/http://www.city.aioi.hyogo.jp/sight_seeing/kankou/peron/history/index.html History of the dragon boat races] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Wikivoyage|Aioi}}
{{Hyogo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aioi, Hyogo}}
[[Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Aioi, Hyōgo]]