Ranzan, Saitama
Geography. Ranzan is located in central Saitama Prefecture. The Higashimatsuyama Plateau extends to the central and northern parts of the town/ Surrounding municipalities. Saitama Prefecture Climate. Ranzan has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ranzan is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1746 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population  of Ranzan increased in the 1970s and 1980s, but peaked at around the year 2000 and has started to decline. History. The villages of Sugaya and Nanasato were created within Hiki District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages merged on April 15, 1955 as Sugaya village, which was elevated to town status on April 15, 1967, taking the name of Ranzan. Government. Ranzan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Ranzan, together with the towns of Tokigawa , Ogawa and Namekawa, contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The economy of Ranzan is primarily agricultural; however, the town also have a large industrial park. Toppan Printing, Matsuya Foods and Myojo Foods are major employers. Education. Ranzan has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a public high school, however, there is one private middle school and one private high school. Transportation. Railway . Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line