Handa, Aichi

Handa

半田市
Handa 半田市
City
	; Upper stage:Handa Red Brick Warehouse; Lower stage:Skyline of Handa City
	Flag Seal
	Location of Handa in Aichi Prefecture
	Handa
	Coordinates: 34°53′31″N 136°56′17″E / 34.89194°N 136.93806°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Aichi
District	Chita (formerly)
Government
• Mayor	Takahiro Kuze
Area
• Total	47.42 km2 (18.31 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2019)
• Total	118,259
• Density	2,500/km2 (6,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
– Tree	Japanese Black Pine
– Flower	Satsuki azalea
Phone number	0569-21-3111
Address	2-1 Tōyō-chō, Handa-shi, Aichi-ken 475-8666
Website	Official website

Handa (半田市, Handa-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019^[update], the city had an estimated population of 118,259 in 51,846 households,^[1] and a population density of 2,494 persons per km². The total area of the city was 47.42 square kilometres (18.31 sq mi).

Geography

Handa is located in northeastern Chita Peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, and is bordered by Mikawa Bay to the east.

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 Handa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1632 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 40.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around negative 4 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1940	49,153	—
1950	62,860	+27.9%
1960	71,370	+13.5%
1970	80,663	+13.0%
1980	89,328	+10.7%
1990	99,550	+11.4%
2000	110,837	+11.3%
2010	118,829	+7.2%

Neighboring municipalities

Aichi Prefecture

History

Early modern period

During the Edo period, the area of Handa was part of Owari Domain.

Late modern period

In the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, the towns of Handa and Kamezaki were founded, as was the town of Narawa the following year. These three towns merged on October 1, 1937, to form the city of Handa.

Government

Handa 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 8 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

Midland, Michigan, United States, since June 5, 1981.^[4]
Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, since April 14, 1990.^[5]
Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China, friendship city since May 27, 1993^[5]
Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, since April 28, 1997

Economy

Secondary sector of the economy

Brewing

Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.^[6]

Manufacturing

During World War II, Nakajima Aircraft Company established an aircraft production plant in Handa. In the post-war period, this was redeveloped into a heavy industrial zone, including a production plant by Dow Chemical. Handa and Midland, Michigan became Sister Cities in 1981, a relationship that continues to this day.^[7]

Education

University

Nihon Fukushi University – Handa campus

Schools

Handa has thirteen public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.