Kakamigahara, Gifu

Kakamigahara
各務原市
City

Flag

Location of Kakamigahara in Gifu Prefecture
Kakamigahara

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 35°24′N 136°51′E / 35.400°N 136.850°E / 35.400; 136.850Coordinates: 35°24′N 136°51′E / 35.400°N 136.850°E / 35.400; 136.850
Country Japan
Region Chūbu
Prefecture Gifu Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Kenji Asano (since May 2013)
Area
 • Total 87.77 km2 (33.89 sq mi)
Population (August 1, 2016)
 • Total 148,490
 • Density 1,691.80/km2 (4,381.7/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Pine
 • Flower Azalea
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 1–69 Nakasakura-machi, Kakamigahara-shi, Gifu-ken
504-8555
Website www.city.kakamigahara.lg.jp/international/english/

Kakamigahara (各務原市 Kakamigahara-shi) is a city located in southern Gifu Prefecture.

Situated in the northern part of the Noubi Plain, what is now Kakamigahara originally thrived as a stop on the Nakasendo Road, being called "Unamujuku" at the time. In more recent history, the city developed thanks to the SDF Gifu base. In addition, Kakamigahara grew as an industrial city and a commuter suburb of Gifu City and Nagoya.

The city of Kakamigahara has many large parks, the most notable among them being "Kakamigahara Ko-en", which was originally made from a vacant lot owned by Gifu University. A city planning policy of making Kakamigahara into a "park city" has been undertaken by the municipality, and in 2005, the city received the "Green City Prize" from the Prime Minister.

Although the city was officially named Kakamigahara, it is also called Kakamihara, Kagamihara, or Kagamigahara by tradition.

Geography

Mountainous terrain runs from the northern to the eastern part of the city. The Kiso River flows through the southern part, forming the municipal and prefectural (Aichi-Gifu) border. A large portion of the city is situated on the Kakamigahara Plateau. Because the soil is very well drained, it wasn’t traditionally suited to rice cultivation. Therefore, with the exception of rest stops such as Unuma-juku or other roadside settlements, the area was largely wilderness until the Meiji Period. The names of the Meitetsu train stations, Rokken, Nijukken, and the Ogase Reservoir are from that era. Beginning from the Meiji period, in order to take advantage of the large amount of wilderness and well-drained soil, military bases and training grounds were established. In addition, Gifu University’s agricultural and engineering departments were established in the area, leading the growth of machine and textile factories. These industries, in addition to carrot production which utilized the dry soil, became the main industries of the town.

Rivers

Kiso, Sakai, Shi-Sakai, Daianji

Lakes

Ogase Reservoir

Mountains

Gongen, Igi, Mii, Kakami, Kakamigahara Alps

Adjacent cities and districts

North: Seki

East: Kamo District (Sakahogi-cho)

West: Gifu City, Hashima District (Kasamatsu-cho, Ginan-cho)

South: Ichinomiya, Konan, Inuyama, Niwa District ( Fusou-cho)

Aerial photograph from 1987 of Kakamigahara City Center. The JASDF Gifu Airbase is located on the south side of the city center. "Made based on National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism".
The banks of the Shin-Sakai River in spring.
Ogase Reservoir

History

1 April 1963: Kakamigahara City was founded by amalgamating Naka, Sohara, Unuma and Inaba

1968: "Line Bridge" completed. Together with the Inuyama bridge, completed in 1925, these two bridges span the Kiso river and connect Kakamigahara City with Aichi prefecture.

1969: "Aigi" bridge completed. This was the third bridge to span the Kiso river and connect the city to Aichi Prefecture. It was the first bridge to connect Kakamigahara to Konan City.

5 March 1986: The section of the Tokai-Hokoriku Expressway between Kakamigahara Junction and Mino Junction was opened. Furthermore, on 13 December 1998, the Tokai-Hokoriku Expressway was connected to the Meishin Expressway (Ichinomiya Junction).

28 March 2000: The twinning of the Inuyama Bridge was completed. Previously, Meitetsu trains had shared the bridge with automobiles, crossing the bridge in a manner similar to streetcars. After the twinning, the trains began to use the old Inuyama Bridge. This separation of trains and automobiles improved transportation across the river.

1 November 2004: Kawashima-cho (Hashima District), was incorporated in Kakamigahara City.

5 November 2006: "Shin-mei Ko-ami Bridge", connecting to Konan, is completed.

24 March 2013: Kakamigahara Bridge is completed. It connects the city hall area with Kawashima-chiku (formerly Kawashima-cho) of Konan City. With the completion of this bridge, there are now four routes from Kakamigahara City into Aichi Prefecture.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1970 76,595—    
1975 91,991+3.73%
1980 114,036+4.39%
1985 123,446+1.60%
1990 129,852+1.02%
1995 133,933+0.62%
2000 135,044+0.17%
2005 148,315+1.89%
2010 149,704+0.19%
2016 148,490−0.14%
Source: city's official website

As of December 2013, about 3,000 residents of foreign nationality were registered in Kakamigahara City. The largest numbers are, in descending order, from Brazil, China, and the Philippines.[1]

Politics

Current Mayor: Kenji Asano (inaugurated 20 May 2013, first term)

Previous Mayors:

Kaichi Mutou: 1963-1968. Resigned during second term due to illness

Keikichi Matsubara 1968-1973. Resigned during second term due to corruption scandal.

Kihachirou Hirano: 1973-1997. Served six terms.

Shin Mori: May 1997-May 2013. Served four terms.

Economy

Kakamigahara City is number two in Gifu Prefecture in terms of industrial production. The city has an aircraft factory operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company, located next to the Gifu Air SDF Base. There is aircraft parts production related to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, auto-related factories such as parts makers, and metalworking industries. In Sue-cho in the north of Kakamigahara City, there is an industrial park called "Techno Plaza". Techno Plaza was established by the Gifu Prefectural government as a focal point for the research and development of robotics and virtual reality. With Waseda University’s WABOT-HOUSE laboratory and Gifu University’s Science and Technology Promotion Center as a nucleus, Techno Plaza is structured as an industrial and R&D center. Many ventures have moved into the park, including some companies which have made IPOs, such as Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.

Major Employers

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Aerospace Company

Calbee (Kakamigahara factory). This factory produces Kakamigahara kimchi flavored potato chips, which are exclusive to this region.

Nippon Ichi Software, Inc

Gifu Auto Body Co., Ltd.

Nakanihon Diecast Co., Ltd.

Tenryu Industries Co., Ltd.

Eisai Co., Ltd.

Taikou Seikou Co., Ltd.

Zero Sports (Zero Max)

Educational institutions

Universities and colleges

High schools

International schools

Transportation

Railways

Highways

Bridges

Other

Japan Self-Defense Force Gifu Air Base

Gifu Air Field was established as an army airfield in 1917 and is currently used by the JSDF for aircraft and flight testing. From 1945 to 1958 it was occupied by the U.S. military and known as "Camp Gifu".

Kakamigahara Aerospace Science Museum

A museum featuring a number of indoor and outdoor exhibits including real aircraft and displays covering the history of aircraft development and Gifu prefecture's role in it.

ÆON Kakamigahara Shopping Center

Opened in July 2007, ÆON Kakamigahara Shopping Center houses 186 specialty shops and a JUSCO department store. The center includes a 10-screen multiplex cinema and a parking lot for approximately 4,000 cars.

Sister/friendship cities

Domestic
International

References

  1. ↑ https://www.city.kakamigahara.lg.jp/shisei/toukei/003317.html
  2. ↑ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on 13 October 2015.
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