Sadama

Sadama [下満 さだま] is a city located in far western Kōfu Prefecture. As of 2022, it had a population of around 520,000, making it the second-most populous city in the prefecture. 
During the Nō period, most of the area which is now Sadama was inhabited by nomadic tribes; ancient peoples living in the region left evidence of their presence there including pottery, pit houses and shell middens. Many crypts and barrows were also unearthed in western Sadama, however, many have been destroyed by urban development. Sadama was the most populous city under the governance of the Sadawa clan during their reign of the surrounding province, although Minami remained the official clan seat. During the 1400s, the town developed as a large and busy koman on the Daishō-ryō highway, and became popular with merchants. Because of its proximity to the Taiyu-Genpei mountain range and the use of the Okunaki River as a transportation route, Sadama became the centre of metal casting, for which it has remained known even in the modern day.
Sadama has experienced many floods; the Okunaki River has inundated the city countless times and ruined agricultural areas, which resulted in famines. The 2011 Kanjō Disaster damaged buildings in Sadama and killed 87 people. Currently, the population of the city continues to increase, with many tall apartment complexes being built around the local train stations. 
== Geography ==
Sadama is located on the western edge of the Eiho Plain, and is bordered by Saka Prefecture to the west. The city area is mostly flat and mainly residential except for the extensive farmlands which occupy the northern and north-eastern areas. The Okunaki River runs through the centre of the city. The climate is cool and temperate, with very light snowfall in winter and often heavy rainfall in the spring months.
== Economy ==
Sadama is primarily a regional commercial center and a producer of agricultural products. Metal casting and the processing of metals, chemicals, and plastic is a large part of the local economy. 
== Education ==
=== Universities ===
* Sadama University
* Kōfu Prefectural College
* Sadama Art College
== Local attractions ==
* Sadama Botanical Gardens
* Sadama Temple
* Kanzadama Park
* Kōfu Prefectural Museum
* Onaka-Fuyumi Museum of Art