Ama, Aichi
Geography. Ama is located in the far west of Aichi Prefecture in the middle of the Nōbi Plain. The city is at or below sea level. Ama is located 15 minutes from downtown Nagoya by car or train. 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 Ama is 15.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1699 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.0 °C, and lowest in January , at around 4.4 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Ama has been increasing rapidly over the past 50 years. History. Origins. Ama was part of the former Owari Province, and has been inhabited continuously since the Jomon period. Ancient history. The temple of Jimoku-ji was founded in the Asuka period by Empress Suiko. Middle Ages. From the Kamakura period, it was a "shukuba" on the Kamakura Kaidō. During the Sengoku period, it was the home of the "daimyō" Hachisuka Masakatsu, whose clan ruled from Hachitsuka Castle. It was also the birthplace of Fukushima Masanori, another  Sengoku-period warlord. Early modern period. During the Edo period, it formed part of the holdings of the Owari Tokugawa of Owari Domain. From the Edo period, the area was known as a center for Cloisonné production. Late modern period. During the early Meiji period, the area was organized into several villages under Ama District, Aichi Prefecture with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Contemporary history. Jimokuji, was elevated to town status in 1933, Miwa in 1958 and Shippō in 1966. The three towns, plus the town of Ōharu began merger discussions in 2008; however, an agreement could not  be made with Ōharu, which left the discussions later that year. The remaining three towns passed a referendum in 2009, and the new city of Ama was founded and created on March 22, 2010. Government. Ama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 9 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. Commerce. Due to its proximity to the Nagoya metropolis, Ama has  developed into a commuter town and its population has grown rapidly. Education. Ama has twelve public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education.