Handa, Aichi

Handa (半田市, Handa-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the city had an estimated population of 118,259 in 51,846 households,[1] and a population density of 2,494 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 47.42 square kilometres (18.31 sq mi).

Handa
半田市
City

Upper stage:Handa Red Brick Warehouse
Lower stage:Skyline of Handa City
Flag of Handa
Flag
Official seal of Handa
Seal
Location of Handa in Aichi Prefecture
Location of Handa in Aichi Prefecture
Handa is located in Japan
Handa
Handa
 
Coordinates: 34°53′31″N 136°56′17″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureAichi
DistrictChita (formerly)
Government
 • MayorTakahiro Kuze
Area
 • Total47.42 km2 (18.31 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total118,259
 • Density2,500/km2 (6,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
– TreeJapanese Black Pine
– FlowerSatsuki azalea
Phone number0569-21-3111
Address2-1 Tōyō-chō, Handa-shi, Aichi-ken 475-8666
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography
Downtown of Handa City

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

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 Handa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1632 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.5 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 49,153—    
1950 62,860+27.9%
1960 71,370+13.5%
1970 80,663+13.0%
1980 89,328+10.7%
1990 99,550+11.4%
2000 110,837+11.3%
2010 118,829+7.2%

Neighboring municipalities
Aichi Prefecture

History

Early modern period

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

Late modern period

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.

Government
Handa city hall

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.

External relations

International
Sister cities
Friendship city

National
Sister cities

Economy
Mizkan

Brewing

Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.[6]

Manufacturing

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.[7]

Education
Nihon Fukushi University（Handa campus）

University

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.

Transportation
The Kilometre Zero of Handa

Conventional lines
Central Japan Railway Company
Meitetsu
Kinuura Rinkai Railway

Expressways

Japan National Routes

Local attractions
Handa canal
  • Handa Red Brick Building
  • Mizkan Museum
  • Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
  • Yakachi River
  • Jōraku-ji
  • CLACITY HANDA
  • Mizkan Museum
    Mizkan Museum
  • Kunizakari Sake no Bunkakan Museum
    Kunizakari Sake no Bunkakan Museum
  • Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
    Niimi Nankichi Memorial Museum
  • Nakanoke Museum
    Nakanoke Museum
  • Yakachi River
    Yakachi River
  • CLACITY HANDA
    CLACITY HANDA

Culture
Okkawa Festival

Festival
  • Okkawamatsuri Festival
  • Kamesaki Festival
  • Kamesaki Festival
    Kamesaki Festival

Notable people from Handa

References
  1. Handa City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Handa climate data
  3. Handa population statistics
  4. "Midland official home page". Archived from the original on December 4, 2008.
  5. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  6. "Mizkan official home page".
  7. "Sister City Relationship | Midland, MI – Official Website".

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