~2025-30884-77: /* Japan National Route */

2025-11-05T02:50:54Z

Japan National Route

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{{Infobox settlement

| name = Okazaki
| native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|岡崎市}}}}
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]]

| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 280
| perrow = 2/2/1
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Okazakijo-1.jpg
| caption1 = [[Okazaki Castle]]
| image2 = Okazaki-Takisanji-4.jpg
| caption2 = Takisan-ji Temple
| image3 = Hatcho-Miso-Kakukyu-1.jpg
| caption3 = Hatcho [[Miso]]
| image4 = Okazaki-Hanabitaikai-2015-4.jpg
| caption4 = Okazaki Ieyasu Fireworks
| image5 = View from the Top of Observation Deck in Mount Murazumi-yama (1), Okuyamada-cho Okazaki City 2023.jpg
| caption5 = Okazaki [[skyline]]
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Okazaki, Aichi.svg
| flag_alt = Flag of Okazaki, Aichi
| image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Okazaki, Aichi.svg
| blank_emblem_alt = Emblem of Okazaki, Aichi
| blank_emblem_type = Emblem
| nickname =
| motto =

| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#333333|zoom=9}}
| map_caption = Interactive map outlining Okazaki
| image_map1 = Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture Ja.svg
| mapsize1 = 300
| map_alt =
| map_caption1 = {{color box|#f25796}} Location of Okazaki in Aichi Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|34|57|15.6|N|137|10|27.7|E|region:JP-23|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 

| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] ([[Tōkai region|Tōkai]])
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =

| established_title = First official recorded
| established_date = 315 AD
| established_title2 = City Settled
| established_date2 = June 1, 1916
| founder =
| named_for =

| seat_type = 
| seat =

| government_footnotes = 
| leader_party =
| leader_title =
| leader_name = Kōichi Shibata
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = Yasuhiro Uchida
| total_type = 
| unit_pref = 

| area_magnitude = 
| area_footnotes = 
| area_total_km2 = 387.20
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =

| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m =

| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 386999
| population_as_of = October 1, 2019
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
| population_demonym = 
| population_note =

| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1 = +9

| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = 
| area_code =

| blank_name_sec1 = Phone number
| blank_info_sec1 =0564-23-6495
| blank1_name_sec1 = Address
| blank1_info_sec1 = 2–9 Jūō-chō, Okazaki-shi, Aichi-ken 444-8601

| blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]

| website = {{official website|http://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/index.htm}}
| footnotes =
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| tree = [[Pinus thunbergii|Japanese black pine]]
| flower = [[Wisteria]]
| bird = [[Wagtail|Japanese white wagtail]]
| flowering_tree =
| butterfly =
| fish =
| other_symbols =
}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''Okazaki'''|岡崎市|Okazaki-shi|{{IPA|ja|o.kaꜜ.(d)za.kʲi, -ka.(d)za.kʲi̥ꜜ.ɕi, -(d)zaꜜ.kʲi̥.ɕi}}, {{IPA|ja|o.ka.(d)za.kʲi|local}}<ref name=NHK>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref><ref name=meikai>{{cite book|script-title=ja:新明解日本語アクセント辞典|edition=2nd|editor-last=Kindaichi|editor-first=Haruhiko|editor-link=Haruhiko Kindaichi|editor-last2=Akinaga|editor-first2=Kazue|publisher=[[Sanseidō]]|date=10 March 2025|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Aichi Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2019|10|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 386,999 in 164,087 households,<ref>[http://webhp.city.okazaki.lg.jp/tokei-portal/toukei_search.asp?kensaku=1&jouken=%90l%8C%FB Okazaki City official statistics] {{in lang|ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 999 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city was {{convert|387.20|km2|2|abbr=on}}.

==Geography==
Okazaki is in the coastal plains of southeastern Aichi Prefecture. The ground rises to undulating hills in the former Nukata area to the northeast. About 60 percent of the city area is forested and remains sparsely populated.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Okazaki is about {{convert|250|mi|km}} from Tokyo, to the southwest.<ref>"[http://www.enquirer.com/comair3272/crash10.html Keita Takenami Kentucky new home for Toyota official]" ([https://archive.today/20140814195817/http://www.enquirer.com/comair3272/crash10.html Archive]). ''[[Cincinnati Enquirer]]''. Sunday January 12, 1997. Retrieved on August 15, 2014.</ref>

===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 Okazaki is {{cvt|15.5|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1507.6|mm}} with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|27.4|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|4.1|C}}.<ref name=normals/>
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Okazaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
|Jan record high C = 17.2
|Feb record high C = 21.6
|Mar record high C = 24.6
|Apr record high C = 29.5
|May record high C = 32.8
|Jun record high C = 36.1
|Jul record high C = 39.3
|Aug record high C = 39.0
|Sep record high C = 37.8
|Oct record high C = 31.9
|Nov record high C = 26.1
|Dec record high C = 23.1
|Jan record low C = -7.6
|Feb record low C = -7.6
|Mar record low C = -4.7
|Apr record low C = -1.9
|May record low C = 3.1
|Jun record low C = 8.9
|Jul record low C = 15.1
|Aug record low C = 14.8
|Sep record low C = 7.8
|Oct record low C = 2.3
|Nov record low C = -1.7
|Dec record low C = -6.5
|Jan high C = 9.1
|Feb high C = 10.2
|Mar high C = 14.1
|Apr high C = 19.6
|May high C = 24.2
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 31.0
|Aug high C = 32.7
|Sep high C = 29.0
|Oct high C = 23.3
|Nov high C = 17.4
|Dec high C = 11.6
|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 5.0
|Mar mean C = 8.6
|Apr mean C = 13.8
|May mean C = 18.6
|Jun mean C = 22.3
|Jul mean C = 26.2
|Aug mean C = 27.4
|Sep mean C = 23.9
|Oct mean C = 17.9
|Nov mean C = 11.8
|Dec mean C = 6.4
|Jan low C = -0.7
|Feb low C = 0.0
|Mar low C = 3.1
|Apr low C = 8.1
|May low C = 13.3
|Jun low C = 18.2
|Jul low C = 22.5
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 19.7
|Oct low C = 13.2
|Nov low C = 6.5
|Dec low C = 1.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 53.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 60.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 115.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 123.6
|May precipitation mm = 139.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 177.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 184.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 117.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 223.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 177.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 80.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 57.2
|year precipitation mm = 1507.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.4
|Feb precipitation days = 6.3
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 9.4
|May precipitation days = 9.7
|Jun precipitation days = 12.0
|Jul precipitation days = 11.0
|Aug precipitation days = 7.7
|Sep precipitation days = 10.6
|Oct precipitation days = 9.9
|Nov precipitation days = 6.6
|Dec precipitation days = 6.1
|Jan sun = 172.0
|Feb sun = 165.5
|Mar sun = 191.5
|Apr sun = 193.5
|May sun = 194.2
|Jun sun = 136.7
|Jul sun = 164.8
|Aug sun = 210.8
|Sep sun = 159.6
|Oct sun = 162.2
|Nov sun = 162.8
|Dec sun = 167.4
|year sun = 2081.0
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=51&block_no=0467&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=51&block_no=0467&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 13, 2022}}</ref>}}

===Demographics===
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aichi.php Okazaki population statistics]</ref> the population of Okazaki has grown steadily over the past 60 years. This fast population growth reflects the low unemployment rate, as well as affordable housing close to Nagoya. Of the total population, in November 2019 there were 12,581 are foreign nationals (2.92% of the total, compared with the nationwide average of 1.55%). There are 6,148 foreign males and 6,433 foreign females with a total of 6990 households. Including those registered as stateless, the foreign population comes from 71 nationalities, though more than half are from [[Brazilians in Japan|Brazil]]. Other significant foreign communities include Koreans, Chinese and Filipinos.
{{Historical populations
| 1960 | 186,559
| 1970 | 219,092
| 1980 | 271,243
| 1990 | 316,334
| 2000 | 345,997
| 2010 | 373,472
|align = none
| footnote =
}}

===Surrounding municipalities===
;[[Aichi Prefecture]]
*[[Toyokawa, Aichi|Toyokawa]]
*[[Shinshiro, Aichi|Shinshiro]]
*[[Toyota, Aichi|Toyota]]
*[[Nishio, Aichi|Nishio]]
*[[Kōta, Aichi|Kōta]]
*[[Anjō, Aichi|Anjō]]
*[[Gamagōri, Aichi|Gamagōri]]

===Cityscape===
<gallery>
File:Otogawa-Sakuranoshirobashi-4.jpg|[[Skyline]] of Okazaki City and Oto River
File:Okazakijo2.JPG|[[Okazaki Castle]]
File:Hatcho-Miso-Kakukyu-3.jpg|Hatchō town
File:Okazaki-Minami-Park-6.jpg|OkazakiMinami Park
File:Higashi-Park-Elephant-2.jpg|OkazakiHigashi Park Zoo
</gallery>

==History==
===Origins===
The area around present-day Okazaki has been inhabited for many thousands of years. Archaeologists have found remains from the [[Japanese Paleolithic]] period.
Numerous remains from the [[Jōmon period]], and especially from the [[Yayoi period|Yayoi]] and [[Kofun period]]s, have been found, including many ''[[kofun]]'' burial mounds.

===Sengoku period===
During the [[Sengoku period]], the area was controlled by the [[Matsudaira clan]], a branch of which later rose to prominence as the [[Tokugawa clan]], who ruled Japan during the [[Edo period]].

===Edo period===
During this time, [[Okazaki Domain]], a feudal [[han (administrative division)|''han'']] was established to rule the immediate area around Okazaki and was entrusted to a ''[[fudai daimyō]]''.
Several smaller domains were in the present-day city limits, including Fukozu (later Mikawa-Nakajima), [[Okudono Domain]] and [[Nishi-Ohira Domain]]. The town prospered as a [[hatago|post station]] on the [[Tōkaidō (road)|Tōkaidō]] connecting [[Edo]] with [[Kyoto]].

===Meiji period===
Following the [[Meiji Restoration]], the modern town of Okazaki was established on October 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system in [[Nukata District, Aichi|Nukata District]] of [[Aichi Prefecture]]. On October 1, 1914, Okazaki annexed neighboring Hirohata Town. Okazaki was proclaimed a city on July 1, 1916.

The city suffered damage in both the [[1944 Tōnankai earthquake]] (which killed 9 people) and the [[1945 Mikawa earthquake]] (which killed 29 people). During [[World War II]], the July 19, 1945 [[Bombing of Okazaki in World War II|Bombing of Okazaki]] killed over 200 people and destroyed most of the city center. Although Okazaki was the location of an [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] airfield, military installations were not damaged in the attack.

===Modern Okazaki===
In 1955, through a series of mergers and consolidations, the area of Okazaki expanded considerably. The former towns of Iwazu, Fukuoka, and Yahagi, and the villages of Motojuku, Yamanaka, Kawai, Fujikawa, and Ryugai were all merged into Okazaki. The 1959 [[Typhoon Vera|Isewan Typhoon]] caused considerable damage, and killed 27 residents. On October 15, 1962, Okazaki annexed the neighboring town of Mutsumi.

Okazaki was proclaimed a [[Core cities of Japan|core city]] on April 1, 2003, with increased autonomy from the prefectural government. On January 1, 2006, the town of [[Nukata, Aichi|Nukata]] (from [[Nukata District, Aichi|Nukata District]]) was merged into Okazaki.

==Government==
[[File:Okazaki City Hall (2013.04.28) 02.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Okazaki City Hall]]

===Mayor-council===
Okazaki has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature of 37 members.

===Prefectural Assembly===
The city contributes five members to the [[Aichi Prefectural Assembly]].

===House of Representatives===
In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 12 of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

==Public==
===Police===
*[[Aichi Prefectural Police]]
**Okazaki police station

===Firefighting===
*Okazaki Fire department
**Okazaki-Naka fire department
**Okazaki-Higashi fire department
**Okazaki-Nishi fire department

===Health care===
*Hospital
**Aichi Prefectural Hospital
**Okazaki City Hospital

===Post office===
*Okazaki Post office

===Library===
*Okazaki City Library
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" heights="110" perrow="3">
File:Okazaki-Police-Station-2.jpg|Okazaki Police Station
File:Okazaki City Naka Fire Station 1.jpg|Okazaki Fire Department
File:Okazaki-City-Hospital-4.jpg|Okazaki City Hospital
File:Okazaki-Post-Office-1.jpg|Okazaki Post Office
File:Libra Okazaki ac (10).jpg|Okazaki City Library and Community Plaza
</gallery>

==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Newport Beach]], [[California]], [[United States]], since November 1984<ref>{{Cite web |title=姉妹都市ニューポートビーチ市 {{!}} 岡崎市ホームページ |url=https://www.city.okazaki.lg.jp/1300/1301/1315/p001960.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.city.okazaki.lg.jp |language=ja}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Uddevalla]], [[Sweden]], since September 1968<ref name=International>{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=23&n=Aichi%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|access-date=21 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124732/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=23&n=Aichi%20Prefecture|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=姉妹都市ウッデバラ市 {{!}} 岡崎市ホームページ |url=https://www.city.okazaki.lg.jp/1300/1301/1315/p001959.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.city.okazaki.lg.jp |language=ja}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Hohhot]], [[Inner Mongolia]], [[China]] since August 1987<ref name=International/>

==Economy==
[[File:Okazaki-Nishikoseidori-1.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Downtown]] of Okazaki City]]
[[File:Otogawa-Tonobashi-3.jpg|thumb|200px|Okazaki [[Central business district|CBD]]]]
Okazaki was noted in the Meiji period as a centre for textiles and commerce and the production of ''[[miso]]''; modern Okazaki is a hub for the chemical and machinery industries.

===Primary sector of the economy===
====Agriculture====
*[[Konjac]]
*[[Miso]]
*[[Tea]]
;[[Japan Agricultural Cooperatives]]
*[[Japan Agricultural Cooperatives|JA Aichi Mikawa]]

====Forestry====
*[[Cryptomeria]]
*[[Chamaecyparis obtusa]]
;Forest Association
*Okazaki Forest Association

===Secondary sector of the economy===
The area has historically been one of the main centres of the production of stone ''[[tōrō]]'' (Japanese lanterns). The traditional [[stonemasonry]] there was registered by the government as a [[Japanese craft]] in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/okazakisekkohin/|title = Kogei Japan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pref.aichi.jp/global/en/industries/traditional/o_stonemasonry.html|title=Okazaki Stonemasonry | Aichi Prefectural Government Official Site}}</ref>
*[[Mitsubishi Motors]] [[Mitsubishi Motors#Locations|Okazaki Factory]]

===Tertiary sector of the economy===
;Shopping center
*[[UNY|APiTA Okazaki-Kita]]
*[[Æon Group|Æon Mall Okazaki]]
*[[Æon Group|Æon Town Okazaki-Miai]]
*Com Town
*EruEru Town
*Luvit Park
*Okazaki CIBICO
*Oto Riverside Terrace
*Resupa
*Wing Town
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="" heights="110px" perrow="3">
File:Okazaki-Iwanakacho-1.jpg|[[Paddy field]] in Iwanaka Town
File:Mitsubishi ECLIPSE CROSS G Plus Package (DBA-GK1W-XTPX) front.jpg|[[Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross]]
File:Higashiokazakiekimae-Dori-6.jpg|Shopping Street
File:Okazaki-Kamimyodaijicho-16.jpg|Oto Riverside Terrace
</gallery>

==Education==
[[File:Aichi Sangyo University - migusu.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Aichi Sangyo University]]]]

===Universities and colleges===
* [[National Institutes of Natural Sciences]]
* [[National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan|National Institute for Physiological Sciences]]
* [[National Institute for Basic Biology, Japan|National Institute for Basic Biology]]
* [[Aichi Gakusen University]]
* [[Aichi Gakusen College]]
* [[Aichi Sangyo University]]
* [[Aichi Sangyo University Junior College]]
* [[University of Human Environments]]
* [[Okazaki Women's Junior College]]
* [[Yamasa Institute]]

===Primary and secondary schools===
Okazaki has 48 public elementary schools and 21 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one private middle school. The city has seven public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education and four private high schools, including the [[Hikarigaoka Girls' High School]]. The prefecture also operates four special education schools for the handicapped, and the national government operates one special education school as well.

The city formerly housed the Escola São Paulo, a Brazilian international school.<ref>"
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080207160806/http://www.brasemb.or.jp/portugues/community/school.php Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão]" ([http://web.archive.org/web/20080207160806/http://www.brasemb.or.jp/portugues/community/school.php Archive]). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. February 7, 2008. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.</ref>

== Transportation ==
===Railway===
====Highspeed rail====
The [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]] passes through Okazaki city limits but does not stop. The nearest Shinkansen stations are {{STN|Toyohashi|x}}, {{STN|Mikawa-Anjō|x}} and {{STN|Nagoya|x}}.

====Conventional lines====
;[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]][[Central Japan Railway Company]]
*[[Tōkaidō Main Line]]: {{STN|Okazaki|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Nishi-Okazaki|x}}
;[[File:Meitetsu logomark 2.svg|20px]][[Meitetsu]]
*[[Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line|Nagoya Line]]: {{STN|Motojuku|x|Aichi}}{{•}} {{STN|Meiden-Yamanaka|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Fujikawa|x|Aichi}} {{•}} {{STN|Miai|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Otogawa|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Higashi-Okazaki|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Okazakikōen-mae|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Yahagibashi|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Utō|x}}
;[[File:Aikan logomark.svg|20px]][[Aichi Loop Line|Aichi Loop Line Co Ltd]]
*[[Aichi Loop Line]]: {{STN|Okazaki|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Mutsuna|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Naka-Okazaki|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Kita-Okazaki|x}} {{•}} {{STN|Daimon|x|Aichi}} {{•}} {{STN|Kitano-Masuzuka|x}}

===Roads===
====Highways====
*[[Image:JP Expressway E1.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1]] [[Tōmei Expressway]] (Asian Highway Network [[AH1]])
*[[Image:JP Expressway E1A.svg|24px|link=|alt=E1A]][[Shin-Tōmei Expressway]]

====Japan National Route====
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|1}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|248}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|301}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|473}}
<gallery>
File:Higashi-Okazaki-Station-1.jpg|Higashi-Okazaki Station
File:Okazaki-Station-1.jpg|Okazaki Station
File:Okazaki IC.jpg|Okazaki IC
File:Okazakisa.JPG|Okazaki SA
File:Okazaki Route1.jpg|Okazaki [[Japan National Route 1]]
</gallery>
====Air transport====
Okazaki is served by [[Chūbu Centrair International Airport]], located {{convert|67|km|0|abbr=on}} south west of the city.

== Local attractions ==
=== Okazaki Castle ===
[[Okazaki Castle]] was originally built in 1455. Captured by the [[Matsudaira clan]] in 1524 (and probably relocated from the other side of the river), the castle remains associated with [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]], even though the latter transferred to [[Edo]] in 1590. During the [[Edo period]] it served as the seat of the [[Okazaki Domain]] and dominated the city until the [[Meiji Restoration]].

=== Fireworks ===
Okazaki is famous for its [[fireworks]]. The Tokugawa shogunate restricted production of [[gunpowder]] outside of the immediate region of Okazaki (with few exceptions). Even today, more than 70% of Japan's fireworks are designed and manufactured here. A large fireworks festival, which people from all over Japan come to see, is held annually on the first Saturday in August in the area surrounding Okazaki Castle.

=== ''Hatchō miso'' ===
[[File:Hatcho-Miso-Kakukyu-9.jpg|thumb|''Hatchō [[miso]]'' fermenting in barrels in Okazaki]]
''Hatchō miso'' (八丁味噌) is a dark ''[[miso]]'' paste made using a process of steaming soybeans (instead of boiling) followed by maturation in cedar barrels under the weight of 3 tons of carefully stacked river stones for at least 2 years. Located 8 ''chō'' (''hatchō'', or approximately 900m) west of Okazaki Castle near the Yahagi river, there are two 8-cho miso companies — Maruya from 1337<ref>http://www.8miso.co.jp/english.html Maruya</ref> and Kakukyu.<ref>http://www.kakukyu.jp/global/english.asp Kakukyu</ref>

The old tiled buildings are heritage-listed and Kaku has been a family business for 18 generations. It is one of the most famous ''miso'' producers in Japan, supplying the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] by appointment, and popular as a health food. A 2006 [[Asadora|NHK morning drama serial]], ''Junjo Kirari'' (Sparkling Innocence), was largely filmed in and around the Hatchō miso grounds. Tours are available every 30 minutes and free samples are provided. Hatchō miso's health properties are considered so great that it was donated to [[Chernobyl]]'s citizens following the disaster, to help prevent and treat [[radiation sickness]].

=== Takisan ===
The Buddhist temple of Takisan-ji (7th century) includes several [[Important Cultural Properties of Japan]]. The main hall is from the [[Kamakura period]] and is the location of a fire festival held each February on the closest Saturday to the lunar calendar New Year. The distinctive ''[[Sanmon]]'' gate and the main image are designated as important cultural properties. Adjoining the temple is [[Takisan Tōshō-gū]], a [[Shinto Shrine]] built in 1646 by [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Okazakijo2.JPG|[[Okazaki Castle]]
File:Hatcho-Miso-Kakukyu-1.jpg|Hatcho miso kakukyu
File:Onimatsuri1.JPG|Oni Matsuri (Takisan-ji)
File:Daijuji sanmon.jpg|[[Daiju-ji]]
File:Igahachimangu.jpg|Iga-Hachimangū
File: Takisan-ji Hondo 150505.JPG|Takisan-ji
File:Rokusho1.jpg|Rokusho-jinja
File:Zuinen1.jpg|Zuinen-ji
File:Tenon1.jpg|Ten'on-ji
File:Shinpuku1.jpg|Shinpuku-ji
</gallery>

==Culture==
=== Language ===
While the local [[Mikawa dialect]] is considered to be generally indistinguishable from what is considered modern standard [[Dialects of Japanese language|Japanese]], there are subtle and distinctive differences. Mikawa dialect has, on the other hand, substantial differences when compared to the dialect of [[Nagoya]] and western areas of Aichi, where the [[Nagoya dialect]] (also known as ''Owari-ben'', Owari being the traditional name for the Nagoya region) is the traditional dialect. Cognitively Mikawa-ben and modern contemporary Japanese are extremely close, in part due to the influence of the Tokugawa shogunate and accidents of history. In recent decades a large number of people moving into Okazaki and the surrounding cities (particularly to work in the motor vehicle industry) and mass media have influenced the local dialect, with the result that in day-to-day life more people are using only standard Japanese.

==Notable people from Okazaki==
*[[Takako Okamura]], singer-songwriter
*[[Yuki Fukaya]], professional men’s soccer player
*[[Naoko Fukazu]], professional women's table tennis player
*[[Sei Hiraizumi]], actor
*[[Kotaro Honda]], scientist, metallurgist
*[[Yuko Kawai]], pianist
*[[Motoo Kimura]], biologist
*[[Takashi Kondō]], voice actor
*[[Takeshi Nagata]], geophysicist
*[[Immi]], musician
*[[Kotomitsuki Keiji]], sumo wrestler
*[[Ryo Miyaichi]], professional men’s soccer player
*[[Daisuke Nakajima]], race car driver
*[[Satoru Nakajima]], race car driver
*[[Kazuki Nakajima]], race car driver
*[[Masamitsu Naito]], politician
*[[Hitoshi Ogawa]], race car driver
*[[Takahiro Sakurai]], voice actor
*[[Yasuo Segawa]], illustrator
*[[Shiga Shigetaka]], geographer
*[[Seiken Sugiura]], politician
*[[Nozomi Takeuchi]], gravure idol
*[[Yumiko Tsuzuki]], professional women's volleyball player
*[[Hiromasa Yamamoto]], professional men’s soccer player
*[[Yūki Ishikawa]], professional men's volleyball player
*[[Yasunobu Okada]], professor, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{commons category|Okazaki, Aichi}}
* {{official website|http://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}} (with link to English pages)
* [http://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/oia/index_e.htm Okazaki International Association website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503195619/http://www.city.okazaki.aichi.jp/oia/index_e.htm |date=2009-05-03 }}

{{Aichi}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}
{{Most populous cities in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Okazaki, Aichi| ]]
[[Category:Brazilian communities]]
[[Category:Cities in Aichi Prefecture]]

Okazaki, Aichi - Revision history

~2025-30884-77: /* Japan National Route */