Asaka, Saitama

Asaka, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 143,195 and a population density of 7800 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Located in far southern Saitama Prefecture, Asaka in the center of the Musashino Terrace on the central reaches of the Arakawa River, which runs along the city border with Saitama in the northeastern part of the city,
Surrounding municipalities
Saitama Prefecture
Saitama
Shiki
Toda
Wako
Niiza
Tokyo Metropolis
Nerima-ku
Climate
Asaka has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ageo is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1427 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Asaka has grown roughly tenfold since the 1950s.
History
The area of modern Asaka developed as a series of four post stations on the Kawagoe Kaidō highway from the Muromachi period onwards. During the Edo Period, the area was noted as a center for copper crafts. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Hizaori was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1894 and became part of Kitaadachi District. It was raised to town status on May 1, 1921, and renamed Asaka after Prince Yasuhiko Asaka who was an honorary chairman of the Tokyo Golf Club, which relocated to the area at that time. On April 1, 1955, Asaka annexed the neighboring village of Uchimagi. At the 1964 Summer Olympics in neighboring Tokyo, the town hosted the riding part of the modern pentathlon event at Asaka Nezu Park. Asaka was elevated to city status on March 15, 1967. In 2005, a proposal to merge Asaka with Shiki, Wako, and Niiza to form a new city with a combined population sufficient to qualify for core city status was defeated in a referendum, largely due to opposition from Wako.
Government
Asaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Asaka contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Due to its location, Asaka is primarily a bedroom community with over 37% of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis for work. The area is also a distribution hub for northern Tokyo.
Education
Asaka has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. Toyo University also has a campus in Asaka.
Transportation
Railway
JR East – Musashino Line
Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line
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Highway
Military facilities
JGSDF Camp Asaka
Noted people from Asaka
Daieishō Hayato, sumo wrestler
Akira Nakamura, professional baseball player
Shohei Takashima, professional baseball player
Yuhi, professional wrestler
References
External links
Official Website
Cities in Saitama Prefecture
Venues of the 1964 Summer Olympics
Olympic modern pentathlon venues
Asaka, Saitama