Aichi Prefecture


Aichi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 and a geographic area of with a population density of. 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.

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. 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 centre 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 east to west and south to north and forms a major portion of the Nōbi Plain. With an area of it accounts for approximately 1.36% of the total surface area of Japan. The highest spot is Chausuyama at 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 centres. 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.
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.

Cities

Thirty-eight cities are located in Aichi Prefecture.
  • Aisai
  • Ama
  • Anjō
  • Chiryū
  • Chita
  • Gamagōri
  • Handa
  • Hekinan
  • Ichinomiya
  • Inazawa
  • Inuyama
  • Iwakura
  • Kariya
  • Kasugai
  • Kitanagoya
  • Kiyosu
  • Komaki
  • Kōnan
  • Miyoshi
  • Nagakute
  • Nagoya
  • Nishio
  • Nisshin
  • Okazaki
  • Ōbu
  • Owariasahi
  • Seto
  • Shinshiro
  • Tahara
  • Takahama
  • Tokoname
  • Tōkai
  • Toyoake
  • Toyohashi
  • Toyokawa
  • Toyota
  • Tsushima
  • Yatomi

    Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:
  • Aichi District
  • *Tōgō
  • Ama District
  • *Kanie
  • *Ōharu
  • *Tobishima
  • Chita District
  • *Agui
  • *Higashiura
  • *Mihama
  • *Minamichita
  • *Taketoyo
  • Kitashitara District
  • *Shitara
  • *Tōei
  • *Toyone
  • Nishikasugai District
  • *Toyoyama
  • Niwa District
  • *Fusō
  • *Ōguchi
  • Nukata District
  • *Kōta

    Demographics

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

Population by age (2001)

Mergers

History

Originally, the region was divided into two provinces of Owari and Mikawa. 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 27 November 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.
For a time, an Aichi Station existed on the Kansai Line 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

is the second largest in Japan, the shipment value of manufactured goods is the first in Japan, annual product sales is the third largest in Japan, and its agricultural output 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.
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

Rail

; JR Central
; Meitetsu
; Kintetsu
; Aonami Line
; Nagoya Municipal Subway
; 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
  • Isewangan 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
  • Route 22
  • Route 23
  • Route 41
  • Route 42
  • Route 151
  • Route 153
  • Route 154
  • Route 155
  • Route 247
  • Route 248
  • Route 257
  • Route 259
  • Route 301
  • Route 302
  • Route 362
  • Route 363
  • Route 366
  • Route 419
  • Route 420
  • Route 473
  • Route 474
  • Route 475

    Airports

  • Chubu Centrair International Airport
  • Nagoya Airfield

    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
  • Aichi Bunkyo University
  • Aichi Gakuin University
  • Aichi Gakusen University
  • Aichi Institute of Technology
  • Aichi Medical University
  • Aichi Mizuho College
  • Aichi Sangyo University
  • Aichi Shukutoku University
  • Aichi Toho University
  • Aichi University
  • Aichi University of Technology
  • Chubu University
  • Chukyo University
  • Daido University
  • Doho University
  • Fujita Health University
  • Globis University Graduate School of Management – Nagoya Campus
  • Japanese Red Cross Toyota College of Nursing
  • Kinjo Gakuin University
  • Meijo University
  • Nagoya Bunri University
  • Nagoya College of Music
  • Nagoya Gakuin University
  • Nagoya Keizai University
  • Nagoya Sangyo University
  • Nagoya University of Arts
  • Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences
  • Nagoya University of Commerce & Business
  • Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
  • Nagoya Women's University
  • Nagoya Zokei University
  • Nanzan University
  • Nihon Fukushi University
  • Ohkagakuen University
  • Okazaki Women's Junior College
  • Seijoh University
  • Seisa University – Nagoya Schooling Campus
  • Shigakkan University
  • Shubun University
  • Sugiyama Jogakuen University
  • Tokai Gakuen University
  • Tokyo University of Social Welfare – Nagoya Campus
  • Toyohashi Sozo College
  • Toyota Technological Institute
  • University of Human Environments

    Senior high schools

Sports

The sports teams listed below are based in Aichi.

Baseball

;Central League
  • Chunichi Dragons

    Soccer

;J.League
  • Nagoya Grampus
;JFL
  • FC Maruyasu Okazaki
;Tokai Regional League
;L.League
  • NGU Loveledge Nagoya

    Basketball

;B.League
  • Aisin AW Areions Anjo
  • Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
  • SAN-EN NeoPhoenix
  • SeaHorses Mikawa
  • Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya

    Volleyball

;V.League
  • Denso Airybees
  • JTEKT Stings
  • Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza
  • Toyota Auto Body Queenseis

    Rugby

;Japan Rugby League One
  • Shuttles Aichi
  • Toyota Verblitz

    Futsal

;F.League
  • Nagoya Oceans

    Football

;X-League
  • Aichi Golden Wings
  • Kirix Toyota Bull Fighters
  • Nagoya Cyclones
;AFL
  • Nagoya Redbacks Australian Football Club