Aogano

Aogano [敢笹 あおがの] is a city located in western Mikei Prefecture on the Tomono border. As of 2022, it has a population of around 440,000, and it is the second-largest city in the prefecture.
The area of present-day Aogano was part of ancient Namema Province, and has been settled since at least the Nō period. During the late Heii period, gold was discovered in the area. By the 1200s, the area was ruled by the Sanzama, although was constantly contested by various clans such as the Omiya. By the time of the Yūjō period, modern-day Aogano was under the control of the Omiya but was still under high Sanzama governance. 
== Geography ==
Aogano is located on the western edges of the Hokuyama Valley, on the border with Tomono Prefecture. The Wa River flows along its eastern border. The Furuyami area in the centre of the city is a base for commercial and service industries in Mikei Prefecture, and the southern Kigai area is noted for hot spring tourism. Aogano is also located only an hour away from the capital city Omiya, making it somewhat of a bedroom community.
== Economy ==
The economy of Aogano is largely based on agriculture, primarily the cultivation of rice and soybeans. Industry includes electronics, precision machining and construction materials. 
== Local attractions ==
Aogano is known for hosting the Aogano Great Dance in June of each year, a traditional dance festival which is over 800 years old. It draws hundreds of thousands of participants annually, and celebrates the culture of Mikei Prefecture as a whole through song, dance, and theatre.
Other local attractions include:
* Aogano Central Park
* Niyazake Ruins - the site of a Chisō period fortification
* The Aogano Caves
* Aogano Temple
* Kanodatemachi - a district filled with traditional architecture, restaurants, and teahouses