Seki, Gifu

Seki (関市, Seki-shi) is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of 1 January 2019, the city had an estimated population of 89,020 and a population density of 190 persons per km2 in 35,366 households.[3] The total area of the city was 472.33 square kilometres (182.37 sq mi).

Seki

関市
City
Seki City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Seki in Gifu Prefecture
Seki
 
Coordinates: 35°29′44.8″N 136°55′4.7″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu
PrefectureGifu
Government
 • MayorKenji Ozeki[1]
Area
 • Total472.33 km2 (182.37 sq mi)
Population
 (January 1, 2019)
 • Total89,020
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
- TreeJapanese cedar[2]
- FlowerChrysanthemum[2]
- BirdCommon kingfisher[2]
- FishSweetfish[2]
Phone number0575-22-3131
Address3-1 Wakakusa-dōri, Seki-shi, Gifu-ken 501-3894
WebsiteOfficial website
Gifu Cutlery Museum

Geography

Seki is located in central Gifu Prefecture at the northern tip of the Nōbi Plain, approximately 40 kilometers north of Nagoya. Due to various municipal mergers, the city has a "U" shape, almost enclosing the city of Mino. Also as a result of the merger, the population center of population in Japan now is located in Sekiuchi (former Mutsumi-cho area). Mount Takinami is the highest point in the city, with an elevation of 1,412 metres (4,633 ft). The Nagara River and Itadori River flow through the city.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Seki is 15.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2090 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C.[4]

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Seki has increased rapidly over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 69,201
1980 78,529
1990 87,117
2000 92,061
2010 91,418

History

The area around Seki was part of traditional Mino Province. In the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, Mugi District in Gifu prefecture was created, and the town of Seki was established on July 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Seki was elevated to city status on October 15, 1950. On February 7, 2005, the towns of Mugegawa and Mugi, and the villages of Horado, Itadori and Kaminoho (all from Mugi District) were merged into Seki.[6]).

Government

Seki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 23 members.

Economy

Seki is today considered the home of modern Japanese kitchen cutlery, where state-of-the-art manufacturing and technology has updated ancient forging skills to produce a world-class series of stainless and laminated steel kitchen knives famed throughout the world. The major cutlery making companies are based in Seki, and they produce the highest quality kitchen knives in the traditional Japanese style and the western style, like the gyuto and the santoku. Knives and swords are so much a part of the city that it is home of the Seki Cutlery Association, the Seki Swordsmith Museum, the Seki Outdoor Knife Show, the October Cutlery Festival, and the Cutlery Hall where tourists can purchase knives.[7]

Education

Universities and colleges

Primary and secondary education

Seki has 19 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education, and one by the city government.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Notable people from Seki
  • Kinju (金重) - a famous swordsmith. He is also known as Kaneshige using the Japanese pronunciation of his name. He and Kaneuji are founders of the Mino style. Considered to be one of the Juttetsu or "Ten Famous Students" or "10 Great Disciples of Masamune". Moving to Mino Province (today part of Gifu Prefecture) around the time of Ryakuo (1338–1342) creating the Seki tradition.
  • Enkū (円空) (1632–1695) was a Buddhist monk, poet and sculptor during the early Edo period. He was born in Mino, traveled extensively and died in Seki and is celebrated at the Enkū Museum.[9]

References
  1. 市長のページ＞市長プロフィール. Seki official web site (in Japanese). Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  2. 概要＞市の花・木・鳥・魚・色. Seki official web site (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  3. Seki city official statistics(in Japanese)
  4. Seki climate data
  5. Seki population statistics
  6. 概要＞関市の10大ニュース（平成17年）. Seki official website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  7. http://seki-hamono.jp/data/english_flyer.pdf
  8. "Gifu Prefecture's "Monet's Pond" is the perfect picturesque place to paint a picture【Photos】". SoraNews24. 2015-10-12. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  9. "円空館" [Enku Museum]. Seki City. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
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