Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken, Japanese pronunciation: [aitɕi̥ꜜkeɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.[1](pp11,126) Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 (as of 1 October 2019) and a geographic area of 5,172.92 square kilometres (1,997.28 sq mi) with a population density of 1,460 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,800/sq mi). Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east.

Aichi Prefecture

愛知県
Japanese transcription(s)
  Japanese愛知県
  RōmajiAichi-ken

Flag
Symbol
Coordinates: 35°10′43″N 136°54′50″E
Country Japan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
IslandHonshu
CapitalNagoya
SubdivisionsDistricts: 7, Municipalities: 54
Government
  GovernorHideaki Ōmura (since February 2011)
Area
  Total5,172.92 km2 (1,997.28 sq mi)
Area rank27th
Population
 (1 October 2019)
  Total7,552,873
  Rank4th
  Density1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeJP-23
Websitewww.pref.aichi.jp/global/en/index.html
Symbols
BirdOriental scops owl (Otus sunia japonicus)
FishKuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus)
FlowerKakitsubata (Iris laevigata)
TreeHananoki (Acer pycnanthum)

Nagoya is the capital and largest city of Aichi Prefecture, and the fourth-largest city in Japan, with other major cities including Toyota, Okazaki, and Ichinomiya. Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya form the core of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.[1](p685) Aichi Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast and forms part of the Tōkai region, a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region. Aichi Prefecture is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation, the world's largest automotive manufacturer, the largest listed company in Japan by market capitalization, and sixth-largest company in the world by revenue, with its headquarters in the city of Toyota. Aichi Prefecture features the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Chubu Centrair International Airport, and Legoland Japan Resort.

History

Originally, the region was divided into the three hundred provinces of Owari and Mikawa.[1](p780) After the Meiji Restoration, Owari and Mikawa were united into a single entity. In 1871, after the abolition of the han system, Owari, with the exception of the Chita Peninsula, was established as Nagoya Prefecture, while Mikawa combined with the Chita Peninsula and formed Nukata Prefecture. Nagoya Prefecture was renamed to Aichi Prefecture in April 1872, and was united with Nukata Prefecture on November 27 of the same year.

The government of Aichi Prefecture is located in the Aichi Prefectural Government Office in Nagoya, which is the old capital of Owari. The Aichi Prefectural Police and its predecessor organisations have been responsible for law enforcement in the prefecture since 1871.

The Expo 2005 World Exposition was held in Seto and Nagakute.

Etymology

In the third volume of the Man'yōshū there is a poem by Takechi Kurohito that reads: "The cry of the crane, calling to Sakurada; it sounds like the tide, draining from Ayuchi flats, hearing the crane cry". Ayuchi is the original form of the name Aichi, and the Fujimae tidal flat is all that remains of the earlier Ayuchi-gata. It is now a protected area.[2][3]

For a time, an Aichi Station existed on the Kansai Line (at the time the Kansai Railway) between Nagoya and Hatta stations, but its role was overtaken by Sasashima-raibu Station on the Aonami Line and Komeno Station on the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Geography

Map of Aichi Prefecture
     Government Ordinance Designated City      City      Town      Village
Satellite photo of Mikawa Bay

Located near the center of the Japanese main island of Honshu, Aichi Prefecture faces the Ise and Mikawa Bays to the south and borders Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Nagano Prefecture to the northeast, Gifu Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture to the west. It measures 106 km (66 mi) east to west and 94 km (58 mi) south to north and forms a major portion of the Nōbi Plain. With an area of 5,172.48 square kilometres (1,997.11 sq mi) it accounts for approximately 1.36% of the total surface area of Japan. The highest spot is Chausuyama at 1,415 m (4,642 ft) above sea level.

The western part of the prefecture is dominated by Nagoya, Japan's smallest city, and its suburbs, while the eastern part is less densely populated but still contains several major industrial centers. Due to its robust economy, for the period from October 2005 to October 2006, Aichi was the fastest growing prefecture in terms of population, beating Tokyo, at 7.4% and around with after Saitama Prefecture.

As of 1 April 2012, 23% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Aichi Kōgen, Hida-Kisogawa, Mikawa Wan, and Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Parks along with seven Prefectural Natural Parks.[4]

Cities

Thirty-eight cities are located in Aichi Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Mergers

Economy

Chūkyō Metropolitan Area

Companies headquartered in Aichi include the following.

Aisin SeikiKariya
Brother Industries, Ltd.Nagoya
Central Japan Railway CompanyNagoya
Denso CorporationKariya
Eisaku Noro CompanyIchinomiya
Makita CorporationAnjō
MatsuzakayaNagoya
Nagoya RailroadNagoya
Nippon SharyoNagoya
NoritakeNagoya
Sumitomo RikoKomaki[5]
Toyota Motor CorporationToyota

Companies such as Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Motors, Pfizer, Sony, Suzuki, Bodycote, and Volkswagen Group also operate plants or branch offices in Aichi.

International relations

Sister Autonomous Administrative division

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18901,473,099    
19031,752,042+1.34%
19132,073,224+1.70%
19202,089,762+0.11%
19252,319,494+2.11%
19302,567,413+2.05%
19352,862,701+2.20%
19403,166,592+2.04%
19452,857,851−2.03%
19503,390,585+3.48%
19553,769,209+2.14%
19604,206,313+2.22%
19654,798,653+2.67%
19705,386,163+2.34%
19755,923,569+1.92%
19806,221,638+0.99%
19856,455,172+0.74%
19906,690,603+0.72%
19956,868,336+0.53%
20007,043,300+0.50%
20057,254,704+0.59%
20107,410,719+0.43%
20157,484,094+0.20%
Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications[6]

As of 2001, Aichi Prefecture's population was 50.03% male and 49.97% female. 139,540 residents (nearly 2% of the population) are of foreign nationality.

Population by age (2001)

Age % population % male % female
0–9 10.2110.459.96
10–19 10.7511.0210.48
20–29 15.2315.7114.75
30–39 14.8115.3114.30
40–49 12.2112.4112.01
50–59 15.2215.3115.12
60–69 11.3111.2211.41
70–79 6.766.017.52
Over 80 3.122.014.23
Unknown 0.380.540.23

Transport

Rail

Nagoya Station and Nagoya Station building
Komaki Junction
Chubu Centrair International Airport, constructed on an artificial island
Port of Mikawa
JR Central
Tokaido Shinkansen
Tokaido Line
Chūō Main Line
Kansai Line
Taketoyo Line
Iida Line
Meitetsu
 NH Nagoya Line
 IY Inuyama Line
 KM Komaki Line
 TA Centrair Line
 TA Tokoname Line
 ST Seto Line
 TK Toyokawa Line
 GN Gamagori Line
 TT Toyota Line
 KC Chita Line
 MU  MY Mikawa Line
 TB Bisai Line
 CH Chikko Line
 TB Tsushima Line
Kintetsu
 E Nagoya Line
Aonami Line
Nagoya Municipal Subway
Higashiyama Line
Meijo Line
Tsurumai Line (connecting to Meitetsu Toyota and Inuyama Line)
Sakura-dori Line
Meiko Line
Kamiiida Line (connecting to Meitetsu Komaki Line)
Toyohashi Railroad
Aichi Loop Line

People movers and tramways

  • Nagoya Guideway Bus
  • Linimo
  • Toyohashi Railroad

Road

Expressways and toll roads

National highways

Airports

Ports

  • Nagoya Port – International Container hub and ferry route to Sendai and Tomakomai, Hokkaido
  • Mikawa Port – mainly automobile and car parts export and part of inport base
  • Kinuura Port – Handa and Hekinan

Education

Universities

National universities

Public universities

Private universities

Sports

Wing Arena Kariya
Kariya
Teva Ocean Arena
NagoyaMinato-ku

The sports teams listed below are based in Aichi.

Baseball

Central League

Soccer

J.League
JFL
Tokai Regional League
L.League

Basketball

B.League

Volleyball

V.League

Rugby

Top League

Futsal

F.League

Football

X-League
AFL

Tourism

Ōsu Kannon, Naka, Nagoya
Akabane Beach, Tahara
Twin Arch 138 Tower in Kiso River Park, Ichinomiya

Notable sites in Aichi include the Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum in Inuyama, which preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji and Taishō periods, including the reconstructed lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright's old Imperial Hotel (which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967).

Other popular sites in Aichi include the tour of the Toyota car factory in the city by the same name, the monkey park in Inuyama, and the castles in Nagoya, Okazaki, Toyohashi, and Inuyama.

Aichi Prefecture has many wonderful beaches. For example, Himakajima Beach, Shinojima Beach, Akabane Beach, Utsumi Beach.

Festival and events

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage[7]
Others

References

  1. Frédéric, Louis (31 May 2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Translated by Roth, Käthe. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674007703. OCLC 58053128. OL 7671330M.
  2. "Summary of Aichi Prefecture". Aichi Prefectural Government Official Site. Aichi Prefectural Government Office. n.d. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  3. Sadamichi, Kato (1 July 2000). "Rediscovering an Ancient Poem to Save a Tidal Flat". International Studies in Literature and Environment. Oxford University Press. 7 (2): 189–197. doi:10.1093/isle/7.2.189. eISSN 1759-1090. ISSN 1076-0962. OCLC 819414712.
  4. "General overview of area figured for Natural Parks by prefecture" (PDF). Government of Japan. Ministry of the Environment. 1 April 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. "Business Locations". Sumitomo Riko. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. "Statistics Bureau Home Page". Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Statistics Bureau. n.d. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  7. "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan". Website of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. UNESCO. Secretariat of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. n.d. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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