Takase, Kagawa

[file:Takase district Mitoyo, Kagawa|Mitoyo city center area Aerial photograph.2015.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Aerial view of the Takase area of Mitoyo]
[file:Mitoyo city hall.jpg|thumb|right|270px|Mitoyo City Hall]
Takase is a former town located in Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2019, the area had an estimated population of 15,294 in 6,048 households and a population density of 271 persons per km². The total area is 56.36 km².
On January 1, 2006, Takase merged with the towns of Mino, Nio, Saita, Takuma, Toyonaka and Yamamoto to create the current city of Mitoyo and no longer exists as an independent municipality.

Geography

Takase is located in Mitoyo in western Kagawa Prefecture. It borders Mino to the north, Nio to the northwest, Toyonaka to the west, Yamamoto to the south, Chūnan and Kotohira to the southeast, and Zentsūji to the northeast.
The area contains several natural landforms, including Takase River, Kuniichi Pond, Iwase Pond, and the following mountains.

Mount Ōsa
Mount Kotohira
Mount Hiage
Mount Tōbu
Mount Katamuki
Mount Asahi
Mount Ki
Mount Tokami, one of the Sanuki Seven Fuji
Mount Onigausu
Mount Mayu
Mount Yamajō
Mount Torigoe
Mount Jin

Neighboring areas

Within Mitoyo

Outside Mitoyo

History

On March 31, 1955, the five villages located near Takase River - Kamitakase, Katsuma, Hijifuta, Ninomiya, and Asa - merged to become the town of Takase.
On January 1, 2006, the town of Takase, along with the neighboring towns of Nio, Saita, Toyonaka, Yamamoto, Takuma, and Mino, merged to form the city of Mitoyo.

The Great Shōwa Merger

The following three proposals were considered for the merger of 1955.

An eight village merger consisting of the villages of Kamitakase, Katsuma, Hijifuta, Ninomiya, Asa, Yoshizu, Ōmi, and Shimokatsuma
A five village merger consisting of the villages of Kamitakase, Katsuma, Hijifuta, Ninomiya, and Asa
A three village merger consisting of the villages of Kamitakase, Katsuma, and Hijifuta

The schools and such of the villages of Kamitakase, Katsuma, and Hijifuta were closely related, so their merger went relatively smoothly. The villages of Ninomiya, Asa, Yoshizu, Ōmi, and Shimotakase, however, had room to consider other frameworks, so the merger had to wait for their decision to be made. Ultimately, the villages of Yoshizu, Ōmi, and Shimotakase merged to form the town of Mino, and the villages of Ninomiya and Asa joined the framework for the town of Takase, creating the town of Takase from the merging of the five villages.

Economy

Takase is known for its agriculture, especially its green tea, onions, peaches, and grapes.

Education

Takase has five public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the Mitoyo city government. It also has one public high school operated by the Kagawa Prefectural Board of Education, as well as one private high school and one vocational school, both affiliated with Shikoku Gakuin University.

Elementary Schools

Katsuma Elementary School
Kamitakase Elementary School
Ninomiya Elementary School
Asa Elementary School
Hiji Elementary School

Middle Schools

Takase Junior High School

High Schools

Takase High School
Kagawa Nishi High School, Shikoku Gakuin University

Vocational Schools

Shikoku Gakuin University Vocational School

Public institutions

Takase has one major medical institution, the city-funded Mitoyo Nishikawa Hospital. It is also the location of Mitoyo City Hall and the Mitoyo Police Station.