Tokoname
Geography. Tokoname is located on the western coast of the Chita Peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, facing Ise Bay. Climate. The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification "Cfa"). The average annual temperature in Tokoname is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1674 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.6 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Tokoname has been relatively steady over the  past 50 years. History. Ancient history. Tokoname has been associated with ceramics production since at least the Heian period, and "Tokoname-yaki" works from this period have been found in locations as far away as Aomori Prefecture in the north of Japan and Kagoshima prefecture in the south. Middle Ages. By the Kamakura period, over 3000 kilns were active. During the Sengoku period, the area came under the control of the Isshiki clan, and later came under the rule of Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Early modern period. During the Edo period, the area around present-day Tokoname was part  of Owari Domain. Late modern period. In the post Meiji Restoration cadastral reforms of 1889, the town of Tokoname was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Contemporary history. Tokoname was elevated to city status on April 1, 1954, by the merger of Tokoname town with the towns of Onizaki (鬼崎), Nishiura (西浦) and Ōno (大野), and the village of Miwa (三和村). Government. Tokoname has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes one member to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national  politics, the city is part of Aichi District 8 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Chubu Centrair International Airport, built on an artificial island off the coast of Tokoname, opened on February 17, 2005, providing a major boost to local development. Economy. Secondary sector of the economy. Ceramic engineering. Tokoname is a regional commercial center, and has been known since the Heian period for its production of ceramics, notably "Tokoname-yaki", and ceramics production remains the mainstay of the local economy. One of the main producing companies is INAX. About 60 climbing kilns formerly operated, most of  which were constructed starting in the Meiji era. The chimneys became a landmark of the town, but many were closed and taken down after the Second World War as production methods modernised and burning of ovens was regulated by the authorities to protect the air quality. The Tōei Kiln (陶栄窯) is a climbing kiln ("nobori-gama") that was constructed in 887 and used until 1974. It is the largest climbing kiln existing in Japan. It was designated as an Important Tangible Cultural Property by the government in 1982. It has eight firing chambers running a 17° incline and ten  chimneys of varying height. With its long coastline, commercial fishing also plays an important role in the local economy. Education. Tokoname has nine public elementary schools, four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education.