Higashikagawa, Kagawa

Higashikagawa(東かがわ市,Higashikagawa-shi)is acitylocated inKagawa Prefecture,Japan. As of 30 September 2022, the city had an estimated population of 28,627 in 13689 households and apopulation densityof  and a population density of 970 persons per km.The total area of the city is 152.83 square kilometres (59.01 sq mi).
Higashikagawa is located in far eastern Kagawa Prefecture, on the island ofShikoku, facing theSeto Inland Seato the north. The south borders Tokushima Prefecture through theSanuki Mountains, which stretch from east to west. The city is located roughly halfway between Takamatsu City and Tokushima City.
Kagawa Prefecture
Tokushima Prefecture
Higashikagawa has ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen climate classificationCfa) with hot, humid summers, and cool winters. Some rain falls throughout the year, but the months from May to September have the heaviest rain. The average annual temperature in Higashikagawa is 15.9 °C (60.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,343.6 mm (52.90 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C (81.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 5.5 °C (41.9 °F).The highest temperature ever recorded in Higashikagawa was 37.0 °C (98.6 °F) on 13 August 1984; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −6.7 °C (19.9 °F) on 7 February 2018.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Higashikagawa in 2020 is 28,279 people.Higashikagawa has been conducting censuses since 1920.
The area of Higashikagawa was part of ancientSanuki Province. From theHeian periodthe Hiketa port prospered as a good natural harbor and a gateway to Shikoku from theKinai region. From theSengoku period,Hiketa Castlewas a stronghold of theIkoma clanand acastle towndeveloped around the fortifications. Even today, many of the intricate alleyways and old buildings from theEdoandMeiji periodsstill exist, preserving the atmosphere of a pre-modern fishing town. During theEdo Period, this area was part of the holdings ofTakamatsu Domain. Following theMeiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Ōchi District, Kagawa with the creation of the modern municipalities system on February 15, 1890. Hiketa was elevated to town status on October 1, 1909. The city of Higashikagawa was the result of a merger on April 1, 2003 between Hiketa and the towns of Ōchi and Shirotori, both fromŌkawa District(which was dissolved as a result of the merger).
Higashikagawa has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 18 members. Higashikagawa contributes two members to the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is within the Kagawa 2nd district of thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.
Higashikagawa has a mixed economy centered on light manufacturing,commercial fishingand agriculture.Traditionally, the city was noted for its production of gloves, claiming a 90% market share;however, due to labor costs, much of the market has been lost to China and southeast Asia. Another prominent industry is the manufacturing of bearings. JTEKT (formerly Koyo Seiko), one of the major companies of the Toyota Group, produces 25% of the global market share of tapered roller bearings. The former town of Hiketa is a center for producingwasanbon, a fine-grained sugar traditional to the region.In terms of fishing,Yellowtailwas first successfully farmed here.
Higashikagawa has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high schools operated by the Kagawa Prefectural Board of Education.
JR Shikoku-Kōtoku Line