Ayachi

Ayachi [空上欠; あやち] is a city located in south-east Kawara Prefecture. As of 2020, it had a population of around 109,000. 
Ayachi is known for its production of granite and steel, which is mined primarily from the southern foothills of the Kawara Hills. The Ichike River flows through its centre before forking in its northern ward. Another traditional industry is the brewing of gizan, or rice wine. Over the years, Ayachi has been conducting large-scale urban renewal, slowly widening roads, creating new businesses, and modernizing the city center. As part of an eco-friendly image, Ayachi has begun to invest in new industries beyond quarrying and mining, such as rice farming and the breeding of cattle. 5.8% of the city is now powered by wind turbines.
Ayachi holds a number of festivals each year, its two most famous being the Ayachi Summer Festival and the Ayachi Grand Harvest Festival. The former takes place in August and attracts visitors from all over the Zōku region; it focuses exclusively on traditional dancing and performing arts, and has been celebrated for over 500 years. The latter is held every September, and is known colloquially as the Ayachi Masumachi ['drinking festival']; it is primarily centred on the consumption of locally-brewed rice wine.