Handa, Aichi

Coordinates: 34°53′31″N 136°56′17″E / 34.89194°N 136.93806°E / 34.89194; 136.93806
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Handa
半田市

Upper stage:Handa Red Brick Warehouse
Lower stage:Skyline of Handa City
Flag of Handa
Official seal of Handa
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 / 34.89194°N 136.93806°E / 34.89194; 136.93806
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

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).

Geography[edit]

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[edit]

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 40.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around negative 4  °C.[2]

Demographics[edit]

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[edit]

Aichi Prefecture

History[edit]

Early modern period[edit]

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

Late modern period[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Twin towns – Sister cities[edit]

International[edit]

Sister cities
Friendship city

National[edit]

Sister cities

Economy[edit]

Mizkan

Secondary sector of the economy[edit]

Brewing[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Nihon Fukushi University(Handa campus)

University[edit]

Schools[edit]

  • 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[edit]

The Kilometre Zero of Handa

Railways[edit]

Conventional lines[edit]

Central Japan Railway Company
Meitetsu
Kinuura Rinkai Railway

Roads[edit]

Expressways[edit]

Japan National Routes[edit]

Local attractions[edit]

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

Culture[edit]

Okkawa Festival

Festival[edit]

  • Okkawamatsuri Festival
  • Kamesaki Festival

Notable people from Handa[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b "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".

External links[edit]

Media related to Handa, Aichi at Wikimedia Commons