Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture

愛知県
Aichi Prefecture 愛知県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Japanese	愛知県
• Rōmaji	Aichi-ken
	Clockwise from top:; Nagoya Castle; Kōrankei; Inuyama Castle(Festival); Cape Irago; Atsuta Shrine;
	Flag Symbol
	Anthem: Warera ga Aichi
	Coordinates: 35°10′43″N 136°54′50″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Island	Honshu
Capital	Nagoya
Subdivisions	Districts: 7, Municipalities: 54
Government
• Governor	Hideaki Ōmura (since February 2011)
Area
• Total	5,172.92 km2 (1,997.28 sq mi)
• Rank	27th
Population (1 October 2019)
• Total	7,552,873
• Rank	4th
• Density	1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	JP¥ 40,911 billion; US$ 375.3 billion (2019)
ISO 3166 code	JP-23
Website	www.pref.aichi.jp/global/en/index.html
Symbols of Japan
Bird	Oriental scops owl (Otus sunia japonicus)
Fish	Kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus)
Flower	Kakitsubata (Iris laevigata)
Tree	Hananoki (Acer pycnanthum)

Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken, pronounced [aitɕi̥ ꜜkeɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū.^[2]^{: 11, 126} Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 (as of 1 October 2019^[update]) and a geographic area of 5,172.92 square kilometres (1,997.28 sq mi) with a population density of 1,460 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,800/sq mi). Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east. Nagoya is the capital and largest city of the prefecture.

Quick Facts 愛知県, Japanese transcription(s) ...

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Overview

Nagoya is the capital and largest city of Aichi Prefecture, and the fourth-largest city in Japan. Other major cities include Toyota, Okazaki, and Ichinomiya. Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya form the core of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.^[2]^: 685 Aichi Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast and forms part of the Tōkai region, a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region. Aichi Prefecture is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation. Aichi Prefecture had many locations with the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Chubu Centrair International Airport, and the Legoland Japan Resort.

Geography

Located near the center of the Japanese main island of Honshu, Aichi Prefecture faces the Ise and Mikawa Bays to the south and borders Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Nagano Prefecture to the northeast, Gifu Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture to the west. It measures 106 km (66 mi) east to west and 94 km (58 mi) south to north and forms a major portion of the Nōbi Plain. With an area of 5,172.48 square kilometres (1,997.11 sq mi) it accounts for approximately 1.36% of the total surface area of Japan. The highest spot is Chausuyama at 1,415 m (4,642 ft) above sea level.

The western part of the prefecture is dominated by Nagoya, Japan's third largest city, and its suburbs, while the eastern part is less densely populated but still contains several major industrial centers. Due to its robust economy, for the period from October 2005 to October 2006, Aichi was the fastest growing prefecture in terms of population, beating Tokyo, at 7.4% and around with after Saitama Prefecture.

As of 1 April 2012,^[update] 23% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Aichi Kōgen, Hida-Kisogawa, Mikawa Wan, and Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Parks along with seven Prefectural Natural Parks.^[3]

Cities

Thirty-eight cities are located in Aichi Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

Demographics

More information Year, Pop. ...

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1890	1,473,099	—
1903	1,752,042	+1.34%
1913	2,073,224	+1.70%
1920	2,089,762	+0.11%
1925	2,319,494	+2.11%
1930	2,567,413	+2.05%
1935	2,862,701	+2.20%
1940	3,166,592	+2.04%
1945	2,857,851	−2.03%
1950	3,390,585	+3.48%
1955	3,769,209	+2.14%
1960	4,206,313	+2.22%
1965	4,798,653	+2.67%
1970	5,386,163	+2.34%
1975	5,923,569	+1.92%
1980	6,221,638	+0.99%
1985	6,455,172	+0.74%
1990	6,690,603	+0.72%
1995	6,868,336	+0.53%
2000	7,043,300	+0.50%
2005	7,254,704	+0.59%
2010	7,410,719	+0.43%
2015	7,484,094	+0.20%
Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications^[4]

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As of 2001, Aichi Prefecture's population was 50.03% male and 49.97% female. 139,540 residents (nearly 2% of the population) are of foreign nationality.

Population by age (2001)

More information Age, % population ...

Age	% population	% male	% female
0–9	10.21	10.45	9.96
10–19	10.75	11.02	10.48
20–29	15.23	15.71	14.75
30–39	14.81	15.31	14.30
40–49	12.21	12.41	12.01
50–59	15.22	15.31	15.12
60–69	11.31	11.22	11.41
70–79	6.76	6.01	7.52
Over 80	3.12	2.01	4.23
Unknown	0.38	0.54	0.23

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Mergers

History

Originally, the region was divided into two provinces of Owari and Mikawa.^[2]^: 780 After the Meiji Restoration, Owari and Mikawa were united into a single entity. In 1871, after the abolition of the han system, Owari, with the exception of the Chita Peninsula, was established as Nagoya Prefecture, while Mikawa combined with the Chita Peninsula and formed Nukata Prefecture. Nagoya Prefecture was renamed to Aichi Prefecture in April 1872 and was united with Nukata Prefecture on November 27 of the same year.

The government of Aichi Prefecture is located in the Aichi Prefectural Government Office in Nagoya, which is the old capital of Owari. The Aichi Prefectural Police and its predecessor organisations have been responsible for law enforcement in the prefecture since 1871.

The Expo 2005 World Exposition was held in Seto and Nagakute.

Etymology

In the third volume of the Man'yōshū there is a poem by Takechi Kurohito that reads: "The cry of the crane, calling to Sakurada; it sounds like the tide, draining from Ayuchi flats, hearing the crane cry". Ayuchi is the original form of the name Aichi, and the Fujimae tidal flat is all that remains of the earlier Ayuchi-gata. It is now a protected area.^[5]^[6]

For a time, an Aichi Station existed on the Kansai Line (at the time the Kansai Railway) between Nagoya and Hatta stations, but its role was overtaken by Sasashima-raibu Station on the Aonami Line and Komeno Station on the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Economy

Gross domestic product (2018) is the second largest in Japan, the shipment value of manufactured goods (2018) is the first in Japan, annual product sales (2019) is the third largest in Japan, and its agricultural output (2018) is eighth in Japan. Aichi's agriculture industry and commerce are all ranked high in Japan, and the industrial structure is well-balanced.

Main industry

Companies headquartered in Aichi include the following.

Aichi Steel	Tōkai
Aisin Seiki	Kariya
Brother Industries, Ltd.	Nagoya
Central Japan Railway Company	Nagoya
Denso Corporation	Kariya
Eisaku Noro Company	Ichinomiya
Kanesue Corporation	Ichinomiya
Makita Corporation	Anjō
Matsuzakaya	Nagoya
Mizkan Corporation	Handa
Nagoya Railroad	Nagoya
Nippon Sharyo	Nagoya
Noritake	Nagoya
Okuma Corporation	Ōguchi
Sumitomo Riko	Komaki^[7]
Toyota Motor Corporation	Toyota

Companies such as Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Motors, Pfizer, Sony, Suzuki, Bodycote, and Volkswagen Group also operate plants or branch offices in Aichi.

International relations

Sister regions

Victoria, Australia – May 2, 1980 (1980-05-02)
Jiangsu, China – July 28, 1980 (1980-07-28)
Bangkok, Thailand – July 9, 2012 (2012-07-09)
Guangdong, China – November 25, 2013 (2013-11-25)
Gyeonggi Province, South Korea – November 10, 2015 (2015-11-10)
Texas, United States – April 22, 2016 (2016-04-22)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13)
Washington, United States – October 18, 2016 (2016-10-18)
Brussels, Flemish Region, Wallonia, Belgium – May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)
Indiana, United States – September 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)
Kentucky, United States – October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)
Occitanie, France – June 5, 2018 (2018-06-05)
São Paulo, Brazil – September 10, 2018 (2018-09-10)

Transport

Rail

JR Central: Tokaido Shinkansen; ■Tokaido Line; ■Chūō Main Line; ■Kansai Line; ■Taketoyo Line; ■Iida Line
Meitetsu: NH Nagoya Line; IY Inuyama Line; KM Komaki Line; TA Centrair Line; TA Tokoname Line; ST Seto Line; TK Toyokawa Line; GN Gamagori Line; TT Toyota Line; KC Chita Line; MU MY Mikawa Line; TB Bisai Line; CH Chikko Line; TB Tsushima Line
Kintetsu: E Nagoya Line
Aonami Line
Nagoya Municipal Subway: Higashiyama Line; Meijo Line; Tsurumai Line (connecting to Meitetsu Toyota and Inuyama Line); Sakura-dori Line; Meiko Line; Kamiiida Line (connecting to Meitetsu Komaki Line)
Toyohashi Railroad
Aichi Loop Line

People movers and tramways

Linimo
Nagoya Guideway Bus
Toyohashi Railroad

Road

Expressways and toll roads

Chita across Road
Chita Peninsula Road
Chubu International Airport Connecting Road
Chuo Expressway
Higashi-Meihan Expressway (East Meihan Expressway)
Isewangan Expressway (Ise Bayside Expressway)
Meishin Expressway
Mei-Nikan Expressway
Nagoya Expressway
Nagoya Seto Road
Shin-Meishin Expressway
Shin-Tōmei Expressway
South Chita Road
Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway
Tomei Expressway

National highways

Route 1
Route 19 (Nagoya-Kasugai-Tajimi-Nagiso-Matsumoto-Nagano)
Route 22 (Nagoya-Ichinomiya-Gifu)
Route 23 (Ise-Matsuzaka-Suzuka-Yokkaichi-Nagoya-Toyoake-Chiryu-Gamagori-Toyohashi)
Route 41 (Nagoya-Komaki-Inuyama-Gero-Takayama-Toyama)
Route 42
Route 151
Route 153
Route 154
Route 155 (Tokoname-Chita-Kariya-Toyota-Seto-Kasugai-Komaki-Ichinomiya-Tsushima-Yatomi)
Route 247
Route 248
Route 257 (Hamamatsu-Shinshiro-Toyota-Ena-Nakatsugawa-Gero-Takayama)
Route 259
Route 301
Route 302
Route 362
Route 363
Route 366
Route 419
Route 420
Route 473 (Gamagori-Okazaki-Toyota-Shitara-Hamamatsu)
Route 474
Route 475

Airports

Ports

Kinuura Port – Handa and Hekinan
Mikawa Port – mainly automobile and car parts export and part of inport base
Nagoya Port – International Container hub and ferry route to Sendai and Tomakomai, Hokkaido

Education

Universities

National universities

Public universities

Private universities

Senior high schools

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Aichi.

Baseball

Central League

Chunichi Dragons (Nagoya)

Soccer

J.League

Nagoya Grampus (Nagoya and Toyota)

JFL

FC Maruyasu Okazaki (Okazaki)

Tokai Regional League

FC Kariya (Kariya)

L.League

NGU Loveledge Nagoya (Nagoya)

Aichi Golden Wings (Nagoya and Toyota)
Kirix Toyota Bull Fighters (Toyota)
Nagoya Cyclones (Nagoya)

AFL

Nagoya Redbacks Australian Football Club (AFL Japan) (Nagoya)

Tourism

Notable sites in Aichi include the Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum in Inuyama, which preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji and Taishō periods, including the reconstructed lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright's old Imperial Hotel (which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967).

Other popular sites in Aichi include the tour of Toyota car factory in the city by the same name, the monkey park in Inuyama, and the castles in Nagoya, Okazaki, Toyohashi, and Inuyama.

Aichi Prefecture has many wonderful beaches. For example, Himakajima Beach, Shinojima Beach, Akabane Beach and Utsumi Beach.

Atsuta Shrine
Toyokawa Inari
Inuyama Castle
Kiyosu Castle and Kiyosu Castle Park in Kiyosu
Okazaki Castle
Tokugawa Art Museum
Meiji-mura
Toyota Automobile Museum
Flight of Dreams
Tokoname pottery footpath
Laguna Ten Bosch
Utsumi Beach(Chidorigahama)
Himakajima
Shinojima
Sakushima
Nishiura Onsen
Site of Expo 2005
Field Mustard, Tahara
Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Chiiwa Gorge
Mount Hōraiji
Obara shikizakura
Chausuyama Plateau
Katahara Onsen(Hydrangea Park)
The ruins of Matsudaira
Sakurabuchi Park
Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya
Kisogawazutsumi
Nomazaki Lighthouse
View of Cape Irago from Irago Ocean Resort
Legoland Japan

Notable people from Aichi

F Chopper Koga (Japanese: FチョッパーKOGA, romanized: Efu Choppā Koga), bass player and leader of the rock band Gacharic Spin^{[citation needed]}
Yūki Ishikawa (石川祐希), professional volleyball player, Japan National Team, Power Volley Milano Italy Super Lega
Takahiro Sakurai (born 1974), Japanese actor, narrator and radio personality
Syoh Yoshida (born 1984), Japanese artist
Yuki Yamada (actor) (born 1990), Japanese actor
Yoshiaki Katayama (born 1993), racing driver
Tatsuya Kataoka (born 1975), racing driver
Haruna Ono (musician), lead vocals and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Scandal
Mami Sasazaki (musician), lead guitar and vocalist for the rock band Scandal
Suzuki Ichiro, professional baseball player, member of Japan national baseball team and 2x time World Baseball Classic Champion
Koji Kondo (born 1961), composer and pianist born in Nagoya who works on video game soundtracks for Nintendo
Kazuchika Okada (born 1987), professional wrestler from Anjō
Akira Toriyama (1955–2024), manga artist and character designer from Kiyosu^[8]
Aoi Morikawa (born 1995), actress and model^[9]
Sato Keigo (born 1998), singer, member of JO1
Kimata Syoya (born 2000), singer, member of JO1
Kimura Masaya (born 1997), singer, dancer, member of INI (Japanese boy group)
Sakurai Miu (born 2002), singer, member of Me:I
Kato Cocoro (born 2000), singer, member of Me:I
Maria Makino, idol singer and member of Morning Musume