Kumagaya, Saitama
Encyclopedia
is a city
in Saitama Prefecture
, Japan
.
As of 2010, the city has an estimated population
of 203,089 (9th in Saitama). The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight national Highway
s and three railway lines serve the city. While many people commute towards south Tokyo, its daytime population is larger than the night population thanks to commuters from surrounding towns.
of "Kuma"(熊) means "Bear", and "Gaya"(谷) means "Valley". During the Edo Period
, the city was a post town on the feudal-time national highway Nakasendō
and silk market. It was designated as a city on April 1, 1933.
Kumagaya bears the dubious distinction of being the very last target of US aerial firebombing
in Japan, thus representing the very final episode of World War II
, on August 15, 1945, coinciding with Emperor Hirohito's announcement of the country's surrender.
Kumagaya absorbed the towns of Ōsato
and Menuma
, both from Ōsato District
, to form the new city of Kumagaya on October 1, 2005. The old city of Kumagaya was dissolved. Also on February 13, 2007, the city added the town of Kōnan
, also from Ōsato District
, and become the first city ever to have a population of more than 200,000 in Northern Saitama Prefecture. With these mergers, the city has fulfilled the requirements to become a special city, and the city is scheduled to file to become a special city.
On August 16, 2007, the city recorded air temperature of 40.9˚C, breaking the 74 year old record for the highest temperature recorded in Japan (the city of Tajimi
in Gifu Prefecture
also had the same record). The rest is described below.
Kumagaya and Gyoda are connected by National Highway Route 125, its by-pass and Chichubu Railway.
Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass and Takasaki Line.
Neither railroad nor National Highway route connects the two cities.
Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass, Takasaki Line and Chichubu Railway.
Gunma Prefecture
Kumagaya and Ōta are connected by National Highway Route 407.
basin in the west of the prefecture. In Central Tokyo, the summer monsoon
enhanced by sea breeze
is heated by Urban heat island
. Also, from the Chichibu Mountains, the Fohn blows. The two winds converge above the city at about 2 pm.
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...
in Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- 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...
.
As of 2010, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 203,089 (9th in Saitama). The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight national Highway
National highways of Japan
Japan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
s and three railway lines serve the city. While many people commute towards south Tokyo, its daytime population is larger than the night population thanks to commuters from surrounding towns.
Historical Outline
The city was named for the 12th-century warrior Kumagai Naozane. The KanjiKanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
of "Kuma"(熊) means "Bear", and "Gaya"(谷) means "Valley". 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....
, the city was a post town on the feudal-time national highway Nakasendō
Nakasendo
The , also called the , was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces...
and silk market. It was designated as a city on April 1, 1933.
Kumagaya bears the dubious distinction of being the very last target of US aerial firebombing
Firebombing
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs....
in Japan, thus representing the very final episode of 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...
, on August 15, 1945, coinciding with Emperor Hirohito's announcement of the country's surrender.
Kumagaya absorbed the towns of Ōsato
Osato, Saitama
was a town located in Ōsato District, Saitama, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Ōsato, along with the town of Menuma, also from Ōsato District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumagaya and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and Menuma
Menuma, Saitama
Menuma was a town located in Ōsato District, Saitama, Japan.On October 1, 2005 Menuma, along with the town of Ōsato, also from Ōsato District, was merged into the expanded city of Kumagaya and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, both from Ōsato District
Osato District, Saitama
is a district located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 130,305 and a population density of 629.34 persons per km²...
, to form the new city of Kumagaya on October 1, 2005. The old city of Kumagaya was dissolved. Also on February 13, 2007, the city added the town of Kōnan
Konan, Saitama
was a town located in Ōsato District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 13,826 and a density of 605.08 persons per km². The total area is 22.34 km²....
, also from Ōsato District
Osato District, Saitama
is a district located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 130,305 and a population density of 629.34 persons per km²...
, and become the first city ever to have a population of more than 200,000 in Northern Saitama Prefecture. With these mergers, the city has fulfilled the requirements to become a special city, and the city is scheduled to file to become a special city.
On August 16, 2007, the city recorded air temperature of 40.9˚C, breaking the 74 year old record for the highest temperature recorded in Japan (the city of Tajimi
Tajimi, Gifu
is a city located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 112,165, with 40,413 number of households. The total area is 91.24 km²....
in Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
also had the same record). The rest is described below.
Geography
- The city is in northern Saitama Prefecture, and on the east edge of ArakawaArakawa-Family name:* Adele Arakawa, an American evening news anchor* Alan Arakawa, mayor of Maui, Hawaii, USA* Hiromu Arakawa, Japanese manga artist* Minoru Arakawa, former president of Nintendo of America...
alluvial fanAlluvial fanAn alluvial fan is a fan-shaped deposit formed where a fast flowing stream flattens, slows, and spreads typically at the exit of a canyon onto a flatter plain. A convergence of neighboring alluvial fans into a single apron of deposits against a slope is called a bajada, or compound alluvial...
.- 60 km from central Tokyo
- 45 km from Saitama CitySaitama, Saitama' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
- There are two rivers.
- Arakawa RiverArakawa RiverThe is one of the principal rivers flowing through Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. The point of origin is on Mount Kobushi in Saitama Prefecture, and the Arakawa River empties into Tokyo Bay, spanning 173 kilometers. The drainage basin covers 2,940 square kilometers...
- Tone RiverTone RiverThe is a river in the Kantō region of Japan. It is in length and has a drainage area of...
- Arakawa River
- Moto-Arakawa River is a habitat for the Musashi-Tomiyo (Pungitius), which can be seen only here in the world.
Rail
- Kumagaya StationKumagaya Stationis a railway station in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan, operated jointly by East Japan Railway Company and the Chichibu Railway-Lines:Kumagaya Station is served by the JR East Jōetsu Shinkansen and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed shinkansen lines from Tokyo, the Takasaki Line to , and also the privately...
, JR EastEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
Joetsu ShinkansenJoetsu ShinkansenThe is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
and Takasaki LineTakasaki LineThe is a Japanese railway line which runs between Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture and Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company ....
(about 70 minutes from Ueno stationUeno Stationis a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
(Tokyo) to Kumagaya Station by regional train, or 30 minutes by Joetsu Shinkansen.) - Kumagaya station, Chichibu RailwayChichibu Railwayis a small-sector private railway company operating two railway lines in northern Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In addition to its railway operations, the company deals in the real estate and tourism industries. It also manages the Mitsumine Ropeway...
Road
- National HighwayNational highways of JapanJapan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
Routes 17Route 17 (Japan)National Route 17 is a highway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It originates at Nihonbashi in Chūō, Tokyo and terminates in the city of Niigata , where it meets Routes 7, 8, 49, 113 and 116)....
, 125, 140 and 407 run through Kumagaya.
Neighboring cities and towns
Saitama Prefecture- GyōdaGyoda, Saitamais a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 87,089, with 33,570 households and a population density of 1,292.70 persons per km²...
City (行田)
Kumagaya and Gyoda are connected by National Highway Route 125, its by-pass and Chichubu Railway.
- Kōnosu City (鴻巣)
Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass and Takasaki Line.
- HigashimatsuyamaHigashimatsuyama, Saitamais a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 89,647 and a population density of 1,372.22 persons per km²...
City (東松山)
Neither railroad nor National Highway route connects the two cities.
- FukayaFukaya, Saitamais a city located in the north of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In the Edo era, it was an inn-town on the Nakasendō , and grew during this period. It is in the prefecture's leading agricultural area, and claim's to be the biggest producer of leeks in Japan. Fukaya negi are famous. Shibusawa Eiichi,...
City (深谷)
Kumagaya and Kounosu are connected by National Highway Route 17, its by-pass, Takasaki Line and Chichubu Railway.
- Hiki District
- NamegawaNamegawa, Saitamais a town located in Hiki District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 14,328 and a density of 482.26 persons per km². The total area is 29.71 km².-External links:*...
Town (滑川) - RanzanRanzan, Saitamais a town located in Hiki District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 19,629 and a density of 657.59 persons per km². The total area is 29.85 km².-External links:*...
Town (嵐山) - YoshimiYoshimi, Saitamais a town located in Hiki District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 22,232 and a density of 575.51 persons per km². The total area is 38.63 km².-External links:*...
Town (吉見)
- Namegawa
Gunma Prefecture
Gunma Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...
- ŌtaOta, Gunmais a city 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, in eastern Gunma prefecture, Japan. This city is located between the Tone and Watarase rivers. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 219,789, making it the third most populous city in Gunma....
City (太田)
Kumagaya and Ōta are connected by National Highway Route 407.
- Oura District
- OizumiOizumi, Gunmais a town located in Ōra District, Gunma, Japan.As of September 1, 2007, the town had an estimated population of 41,098 and a density of 2292.14 persons per km²...
Town (大泉) - ChiyodaChiyoda, Gunmais a town located in Ōra District, Gunma, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 11,640 and a density of 534.93 persons per km²...
Town (千代田)
- Oizumi
Climate
The city is known for being one of the hottest areas in summer in Japan. This is caused by very hot two winds from Tokyo and the ChichibuChichibu
can refer to:*Chichibu, Saitama - a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan*Prince Chichibu - a member of the Japanese imperial family...
basin in the west of the prefecture. In Central Tokyo, the summer monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
enhanced by sea breeze
Sea breeze
A sea-breeze is a wind from the sea that develops over land near coasts. It is formed by increasing temperature differences between the land and water; these create a pressure minimum over the land due to its relative warmth, and forces higher pressure, cooler air from the sea to move inland...
is heated by Urban heat island
Urban heat island
An urban heat island is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The phenomenon was first investigated and described by Luke Howard in the 1810s, although he was not the one to name the phenomenon. The temperature difference usually is larger at night...
. Also, from the Chichibu Mountains, the Fohn blows. The two winds converge above the city at about 2 pm.
-
- On August 16, 2007, the city recorded air temperature of 40.9°C(105.6°F), breaking the 74 year old record for the highest temperature recorded in Japan.
- "Very Hot! Kumagaya" (あついぞ！熊谷) is a catch phrase of the city.
- There was a large hailstormHailstormHailstorm may refer to:* Hail, a type of precipitation* Hailstorm , a fictional character* Hailstorm , 2010* Hailstorm , a 1994 album by Barathrum-See also:* Halestorm, an American rock band...
on June 29, 1917 at about 5pm. The hailstones had a diameter of 29.6 centimeters and weighed 3.4 kilogram. - There is Kumagaya Local Meteorological Observatory of Japan Meteorological AgencyJapan Meteorological AgencyThe or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport...
.
Historical timeline
- 1889 - The town of Kumagaya merged with the village of Ishiwara from Osato District to form the new town of Kumagaya.
- 1923 - The village of Koizka in Osato District was added.
- 1927 - The village of Narita in North Saitama District was added.
- 1932 - The village of Oohata in Osato District was added.
- 1933 - The town became city.
- 1941 - The village of Sayada in Osato District was added.
- 1945 - Kumagaya Raid
- 1951 - School lunch started.
- 1953 - The song of Kumagaya was composed.
- 1954 - The villages of Chujo, Beppu, Nara and Mishiri in Osato District were added.
- 1955 - The villages of Yoshioka, Ooi and Hoshimiya in Osato District were added.
- 1960 - Kita-oodori was opened for traffic.
- 1965 - City theater was completed.
- 1966 - School lunch center came into operation.
- 1967 - 22nd National Sports FestivalNational Sports Festival of Japanis the national premier sports event of Japan. The abbreviated name is Kokutai . The 65th National Sports Festival of Japan was held in October 2010 in Chiba Prefecture.- Emperor's Cup and Empress Cup Champions :...
was held. - 1969 - New Arakawa Bridge was opened.
- 1971 - The house of Mount AkagiMount Akagiis a mountain in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The broad, low dominantly andesitic stratovolcano rises above the northern end of the Kanto Plain. It contains an elliptical, 3 x 4 km summit caldera with post-caldera lava domes arranged along a NW-SE line. Lake Ono is located at the NE end of the...
was opened. - 1973 - New City Hall was opened.
- 1979 - Cultural Hall was opened.
- 1986 - Central Park was opened.
- 1988 - Saitama Exhibition was held.
- 1988 - Sports Park was opened.
- 1994 - Beppu-marsh Park was opened.
- 1998 - Sakurameito was opened.
- 2003 - Kuge Bridge was opened.
- 2004 - 59th National Sports Festival was held.
- 2005 - The city of Kumagaya merged with the towns of Ōsato and Menuma from Ōsato District to form the new city of Kumagaya.
- 2007 - The town of Kōnan in Ōsato District was added.
Administration
- The city has one city hall and three branch offices.
- Kumagaya City Hall (熊谷市役所)
- Menuma Branch Office (妻沼行政センター)
- Ōsato Branch Office (大里行政センター)
- Kōnan Branch Office (江南行政センター)
Mayors
- Ryosaku Arai (新井良作): April 1933 to May 1939 - 1st, 2nd
- Moya Saitou (齋籐茂八): June 1936 to April 1942 - 3rd
- Takeo Yajima (矢島武男): April 1932 to November 1945 - 4th
- Tadashi Negishi (根岸忠): January 1946 to March 1947 - 5th
- Souichi Kamode (鴨田宗一): April 1947 to April 1958 - 6th to 8th
- Seiichi Kurihara (栗原正一): May 1958 to May 1962 - 9th
- Uminosuke Kuroda (黒田海之助): May 1962 to May, 1982 - 10th to 14th
- Toshio Masuda (増田敏男): May 1982 to June, 1986 - 15th, 16th
- Kazuo Kobayashi (小林一夫): August 1986 to August 2002 - 17th to 20th
- Kiyoshi Tomioka (富岡清): August 3, 2003 to September 30, 2005 - 21st
- Fumio Yoshihara (吉原文雄): October 1, 2005 to November 5, 2005 - Interim mayor
- Kiyoshi Tomioka (富岡清): November 6, 2005 to present
Senior high schools
- Kumagaya Boys' Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷高等学校)
- Nishi-Kumagaya Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷西高等学校)
- Kumagaya Girls' Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷女子高等学校)
- Menuma Senior High School (埼玉県立妻沼高等学校)
- Kumagaya Industrial Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷商業高等学校)
- Kumagaya Agricultural Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷農業高等学校)
- Kumagaya Business Senior High School (埼玉県立熊谷商業高等学校)
- Kita-Saitama Nurses' Training School (埼玉県立北高等看護学校)
- Kumagaya Apparel School (学校法人熊谷文化服装専門学校)
Junior high schools
- Arakawa Junior High School (熊谷市立荒川中学校)
- Ōaso Junior High School (熊谷市立大麻生中学校)
- Ōsato Junior High School (熊谷市立大里中学校)
- Ōhata Junior High School (熊谷市立大幡中学校)
- Ōhara Junior High School (熊谷市立大原中学校)
- Higashi-Kumagaya Junior High School (熊谷市立熊谷東中学校)
- Kounan Junior High School (熊谷市立江南中学校)
- Kojima Junior High School (熊谷市立小島中学校)
- Tamai Junior High School (熊谷市立玉井中学校)
- Chūjō Junior High School (熊谷市立中条中学校)
- Nara Junior High School (熊谷市立奈良中学校)
- Fujimi Junior High School (熊谷市立富士見中学校)
- Beppu Junior High School (熊谷市立別府中学校)
- Mishiri Junior High School (熊谷市立三尻中学校)
- Nishi-Menuma Junior High School (熊谷市立妻沼西中学校)
- Higashi-Menuma Junior High School (熊谷市立妻沼東中学校)
- Yoshioka Junior High School (熊谷市立吉岡中学校)
Elementary schools
- Ishiwara Elementary School(熊谷市立石原小学校)
- Ōaso Elementary School (熊谷市立大麻生小学校)
- Ōta Elementary School (熊谷市立太田小学校)
- Ōhata Elementary School (熊谷市立大幡小学校)
- Onuma Elementary School (熊谷市立男沼小学校)
- Ichida Elementary School (熊谷市立市田小学校)
- Kagohara Elementary School (熊谷市立籠原小学校)
- Kuge Elementary School (熊谷市立久下小学校)
- Nishi-Kumagaya Elementary School (熊谷市立熊谷西小学校)
- Higashi-Kumagaya Elementary School (熊谷市立熊谷東小学校)
- Minami-Kumagaya Elementary School (熊谷市立熊谷南小学校)
- Kita-Kōnan Elementary School (熊谷市立江南北小学校)
- Minami-Kōnan Elementary School (熊谷市立江南南小学校)
- Kojima Elementary School (熊谷市立小島小学校)
- Sakuragi Elementary School (熊谷市立桜木小学校)
- Sayada Elementary School (熊谷市立佐谷田小学校)
- Tamai Elementary School ](熊谷市立玉井小学校)
- Chūjō Elementary School (熊谷市立中条小学校)
- Nara Elementary School (熊谷市立奈良小学校)
- Nagai Elementary School (熊谷市立長井小学校)
- Narita Elementary School (熊谷市立成田小学校)
- Niibori Elementary School (熊谷市立新堀小学校)
- Hata Elementary School (熊谷市立秦小学校)
- Beppu Elementary School (熊谷市立別府小学校)
- Hoshimiya Elementary School (熊谷市立星宮小学校)
- Mishiri Elementary School (熊谷市立三尻小学校)
- Menuma Elementary School (熊谷市立妻沼小学校)
- Minami-Menuma Elementary School (熊谷市立妻沼南小学校)
- Yoshioka Elementary School (熊谷市立吉岡小学校)
- Yoshimi Elementary School (熊谷市立吉見小学校)