Toyokawa, Aichi
Encyclopedia
is a medium-sized city
of about 180,000 people located in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture
, Japan
. The city, founded on June 1, 1943, originally comprised the three formerly independent Hoi-gun (district
) towns
of Toyokawa (豊川町), Ko (国府町), Ushikubo (牛久保町), and the village
of Yawata (八幡村). Toyokawa is blessed with a good balance of industry, commerce, agriculture and forestry spread over its 160 km2 boundary, and is situated in an area rich in history, traditions, and culture.
on the Pacific Ocean
to the southwest.
, the kokubunji
of Mikawa Province
was established in 741. The temple of Toyokawa Inari
, a popular pilgrimage destination, dates from 1441. A number of daimyō
clans under the Tokugawa shogunate
originate in what are now parts of Toyokawa, most notably the Makino clan
. The area prospered during the Edo period
with two post town
s along the Tōkaidō
, Goyu-shuku
and Akasaka
.
After the Meiji Restoration
, on October 1, 1889 the area was organized into several villages within Hoi District
, Aichi Prefecture
, including Toyokawa Village. On March 13, 1893, Toyokawa was promoted to town status. In 1939 the massive Toyokawa Naval Arsenal
was established, one of the largest producers of machine guns, aviation ordinance and ammunition in the Empire of Japan
. It was also had sections that produced military-issue katana
, bayonet
s, and glass lenses for use in cameras, binoculars, and similar equipment. During World War II
, many thousands of civilians were conscripted or volunteered to work at the Arsenal, and towards the end of the war, included hundreds of middle school students and high school girls.
Toyokawa City was founded on June 1, 1943 by the merger of Toyokawa town with neighboring Ushikubo Town and Yawata Village.
On August 7, 1945 the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was targetted by a flight of B-29 bombers. About 2,500 people were killed during the Toyokawa Air Raid. Toyokawa was one of the last places to be targeted using conventional explosive and incendiary bombs in the closing days of World War II, occurring the day after Hiroshima
was destroyed by an atomic bomb.
Following the war, on April 12, 1955 Toyokawa annexed Mikami village from Yana District. This was followed by the neighboring town of Goyu from Hoi District on April 1, 1959. Toyokawa further expanded on February 1, 2006 by annexing Ichinomiya, On January 15, 2008 the towns of Otowa
and Mito
became part of Toyokawa, and finally on February 1, 2010 the town of Kozakai
likewise was merged
into Toyokawa city.
, California
in the United States
, but the city is currently investigating the possibility of sister city or friendship city status with others, including cities such as Santa Rosa City
in the Province of Laguna, and Tagbilaran City
in the Province of Bohol, both in the Philippines
, and the Wuxi New District
in the Jiangsu
Province of China. Cupertino and Toyokawa have been sister cities for over 30 years and have an ongoing student exchange program. Toyokawa has sent a delegation of students every year from the beginning of the program thirty years ago, while Cupertino first sent a delegation of students beginning in 1984. Although the number of students visiting has in the past varied, for each year since 2004 sixteen students from Toyokawa and from the following year twelve students from Cupertino have been chosen to represent their respective cities and countries in the exchange.
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Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
of about 180,000 people located in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The city, founded on June 1, 1943, originally comprised the three formerly independent Hoi-gun (district
Districts of Japan
The was most recently used as an administrative unit in Japan between 1878 and 1921 and is roughly equivalent to the county of the United States, ranking at the level below prefecture and above city, town or village. As of 2008, cities belong directly to prefectures and are independent from...
) towns
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
of Toyokawa (豊川町), Ko (国府町), Ushikubo (牛久保町), and the village
Villages of Japan
A is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
of Yawata (八幡村). Toyokawa is blessed with a good balance of industry, commerce, agriculture and forestry spread over its 160 km2 boundary, and is situated in an area rich in history, traditions, and culture.
Geography
Toyohashi is located in an area of rolling hills in southeastern Aichi Prefecture. It has a short coastline with Mikawa BayMikawa Bay
thumb|right|Mikawa Bay Mikawa Bay is a bay to the south of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by Chita Peninsula to the west and Atsumi Peninsula to the east and south. Its area is approximately 604 km2...
on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to the southwest.
Surrounding municipalities
- ToyohashiToyohashi, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,...
- OkazakiOkazaki, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
- ShinshiroShinshiro, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 49,731 and the population density of 99.7 persons per km². The total area was 499.00 km².-Geography:...
- GamagōriGamagōri, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 81,767 and the population density of 1,400 persons per km². The total area was 56.81 km².-Geography:...
History
The area of modern Toyokawa was settled in prehistoric times. During the Nara periodNara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
, the kokubunji
Kokubunji
can refer to:* Kokubunji, Tokyo* Kokubunji, Kagawa* Kokubunji, Tochigi* Kokubunji Station, a station in Kokubunji, Tokyo operated by Seibu Railway and JR East* Kokubunji Line, a railway operated by Seibu Railway.* Kokubun-ji, Provincial temples in Japan...
of Mikawa Province
Mikawa Province
is an old province in the area that today forms the eastern half of Aichi Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mikawa bordered on Owari, Mino, Shinano, and Tōtōmi Provinces....
was established in 741. The temple of Toyokawa Inari
Toyokawa Inari
is the popular name for a Buddhist temple of the Sōtō sect located in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The temple’s true name is , or full name is...
, a popular pilgrimage destination, dates from 1441. A number of daimyō
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
clans under the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
originate in what are now parts of Toyokawa, most notably the Makino clan
Makino clan
The are a daimyō branch of the samurai Minamoto clan in Edo period Japan.In the Edo period, the Makino were identified as one of the fudai or insider daimyō clans which were hereditary vassals or allies of the Tokugawa clan, in contrast with the tozama or outsider clans.-Makino clan branches:The...
. The area prospered during the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
with two post town
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
s along the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
, Goyu-shuku
Goyu-shuku
was the thirty-fifth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in Goyu-chō in the city of Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. A pine tree colonnade, one of the few remnants from the Edo period post town, is a well-known tourist spot...
and Akasaka
Akasaka-juku (Tokaido)
was the thirty-sixth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in present-day Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was only from Goyu-juku, the preceding post station.-History:...
.
After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, on October 1, 1889 the area was organized into several villages within Hoi District
Hoi District, Aichi
is a former rural district located in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008 , the district had an estimated population of 21,766 and a population density of 2194 persons per km². Its total area was 9.92 km².-History:...
, Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, including Toyokawa Village. On March 13, 1893, Toyokawa was promoted to town status. In 1939 the massive Toyokawa Naval Arsenal
Toyokawa Naval Arsenal
The was a major production facility for aviation ordinance, light arms, and ammunitions for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was located in what is now part of the city of Toyokawa), Aichi Prefecture, Japan...
was established, one of the largest producers of machine guns, aviation ordinance and ammunition in the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. It was also had sections that produced military-issue katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
, bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
s, and glass lenses for use in cameras, binoculars, and similar equipment. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many thousands of civilians were conscripted or volunteered to work at the Arsenal, and towards the end of the war, included hundreds of middle school students and high school girls.
Toyokawa City was founded on June 1, 1943 by the merger of Toyokawa town with neighboring Ushikubo Town and Yawata Village.
On August 7, 1945 the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was targetted by a flight of B-29 bombers. About 2,500 people were killed during the Toyokawa Air Raid. Toyokawa was one of the last places to be targeted using conventional explosive and incendiary bombs in the closing days of World War II, occurring the day after Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
was destroyed by an atomic bomb.
Following the war, on April 12, 1955 Toyokawa annexed Mikami village from Yana District. This was followed by the neighboring town of Goyu from Hoi District on April 1, 1959. Toyokawa further expanded on February 1, 2006 by annexing Ichinomiya, On January 15, 2008 the towns of Otowa
Otowa, Aichi
was formerly a town located in Hoi District, Aichi, Japan. On January 15, 2008 Otowa was merged with the city of Toyokawa.As of November 1, 2007 , the town had an estimated population of 8,870 and a population density of 299.15 persons per km². The total area was 29.65 km².-Geography:*Principal...
and Mito
Mito, Aichi
was a former town located in Hoi District, Aichi, Japan.On January 15, 2008 Mito was merged with the city of Toyokawa.As of 2007 , the town had an estimated population of 13,536 and a population density of 722.69 persons per km²...
became part of Toyokawa, and finally on February 1, 2010 the town of Kozakai
Kozakai, Aichi
was a formerly a town located in Hoi District, Aichi, Japan.As of November 1, 2007, the town had an estimated population of 22,708 and a population density of 2,188.31 persons per km². The total area was 9.92 km²....
likewise was merged
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
into Toyokawa city.
Sister City Relations
Toyokawa is at present officially sister cities with only CupertinoCupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but the city is currently investigating the possibility of sister city or friendship city status with others, including cities such as Santa Rosa City
Santa Rosa City
The City of Santa Rosa is a first class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is also known as "The Lion City of the South" since 1994...
in the Province of Laguna, and Tagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City is a 2nd class component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines and serves as its capital. Tagbilaran lies on the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area of 32.7 km², with about 13 km of coastline...
in the Province of Bohol, both in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and the Wuxi New District
Wuxi New District
Wuxi New District is a district of Wuxi in Jiangsu Province. The district has an area of 220 km² and a population of around 275,000.In the 1992 the district was founded as an industrial zone in order to attract large foreign companies...
in the Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
Province of China. Cupertino and Toyokawa have been sister cities for over 30 years and have an ongoing student exchange program. Toyokawa has sent a delegation of students every year from the beginning of the program thirty years ago, while Cupertino first sent a delegation of students beginning in 1984. Although the number of students visiting has in the past varied, for each year since 2004 sixteen students from Toyokawa and from the following year twelve students from Cupertino have been chosen to represent their respective cities and countries in the exchange.
Rail
- JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
– Tokaido Line
}
- JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
– Iida LineIida LineThe is a Japanese railway line between Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture and Tatsuno Station in Tatsuno, Nagano Prefecture, operated by Central Japan Railway Company . The line links eastern Aichi Prefecture and southern Nagano Prefecture through northwestern Shizuoka Prefecture. It...
}
- Meitetsu – Toyokawa LineMeitetsu Toyokawa LineThe Toyokawa Line is a railway line of the Nagoya Railroad company, and is located in Toyokawa City.Toyokawa Line connects Kō Station and Toyokawa-Inari Station .-Data:...
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- Meitetsu – Nagoya Main Line
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Highway
- Japan National Route 1
- Japan National Route 23Japan National Route 23National Route 23 is a national highway connecting Toyohashi, Aichi and Ise, Mie in Japan.-Route Data:*Length: 175.3 km *Origin: Toyohashi *Terminus: Ise...
- Japan National Route 151
- Japan National Route 247
- Japan National Route 362
Noted people from Toyokawa
- Yuka KatoYuka Katois a Japanese butterfly swimmer.- Major achievements :2007 World Championships* 50m butterfly 10th 2008 Beijing Olympics* 100m butterfly 23rd * 4×100m medley relay 6th - Personal Bests :In long course...
– Olympic swimmer - Gakuto Kondo – professional soccer player
- Sion SonoSion Sonois a controversial Japanese filmmaker and poet. He was born in Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan, and is best known for his films as well as avant-garde poetry performances.-Early career:...
– movie director - Torii Suneemon – Sengoku-period samurai
- Yusuke YamamotoYusuke Yamamotois a Japanese actor. He was born in Aichi, Japan. His debut role was as Tsurugi Kamishiro, a.k.a. Kamen Rider Sasword, in Kamen Rider Kabuto.-Television:-Movies:...
– actor
External links
- Toyokawa official website in English (with link to pages in Japanese)