Handa, Aichi

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

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years.

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

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.

Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.[4] 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.[5]

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.

• – Nanto, Toyama, since April 28, 1997
• – Midland, Michigan, United States, since June 5, 1981.[6]
• – Port Macquarie, Australia,[7] since April 14, 1990
• – Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China,[7] friendship city since May 27, 1993

• Okkawamatsuri Festival
• Kamesaki Festival
• Handa Red Brick Building
• Mizkan Museum
• Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
• Yakachi River
• Jōraku-ji
• CLACITY HANDA

• 
  Kamesaki Festival
• 
  Mizkan Museum
• 
  Kunizakari Sake no Bunkakan Museum
• 
  Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
• 
  Nakanoke Museum
• 
  Yakachi River
• 
  CLACITY HANDA

• Satoru Akahori, author
• Nankichi Niimi, author
• Atsushi Harada, actor
• Eiji Mitsuoka, mixed martial artist
• Hiromi Makihara, professional baseball player
• Takaya Ishikawa, professional baseball player
• Keiko Lee, jazz singer
• Nobuhiro Yamashita, film director

Media related to Handa, Aichi at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)