Kaisei (開成町, Kaisei-machi) is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2021, the town had an estimated population of 18,335 and a population density of 2800 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 6.56 square kilometres (2.53 sq mi). It is the smallest municipality in Kanagawa Prefecture in terms of area.

Kaisei
開成町
Kaisei Town Hall
Kaisei Town Hall
Flag of Kaisei
Official seal of Kaisei
Location of Kaisei in Kanagawa Prefecture
Location of Kaisei in Kanagawa Prefecture
Kaisei is located in Japan
Kaisei
Kaisei
 
Coordinates: 35°20′N 139°08′E / 35.333°N 139.133°E / 35.333; 139.133
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureKanagawa
DistrictAshigarakami
Area
 • Total6.56 km2 (2.53 sq mi)
Population
 (April 1, 2021)
 • Total18,335
 • Density2,800/km2 (7,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeCastanopsis
- FlowerHydrangea
Phone number0465-83-2331
Address773 Ezawa, Kaisei-machi, Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa-ken 258-8502
WebsiteOfficial website
rural scene in Kaisei

Geography edit

Kaisei is located on the eastern bank of the Sakawa River, in western Kanagawa Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities edit

Kanagawa Prefecture

Climate edit

Kaisei has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kaisei is 13.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2221 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.2 °C.[2]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kaisei has grown steadily since the 1970s.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 3,504—    
1930 3,746+6.9%
1940 3,911+4.4%
1950 4,681+19.7%
1960 4,781+2.1%
1970 8,205+71.6%
1980 10,673+30.1%
1990 11,941+11.9%
2000 13,396+12.2%
2010 16,369+22.2%
2020 18,329+12.0%

History edit

The area of modern Kaisei was part of Odawara Domain in Sagami Province during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the area became part of Ashigarakami District in Kanagawa Prefecture and was divided into several villages with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The town of Kaisei was founded on February 2, 1955 through the merger of Sakata village and Yoshidajima village. It was connected by train on March 14, 1985.

Government edit

Kaisei has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Kaisei, together with the other municipalities in Ashigarakami District and Minamiashigara city, collectively contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 17th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

The economy of Kaisei is based primarily on agriculture and forestry. The main industry is a factory owned by Fujifilm.

Education edit

Kaisei has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation edit

Railroad edit

  Odakyū Odawara Line

Highway edit

  • Kanagawa Prefectural Routes 78, 712, 720

References edit

  1. ^ "Kaisei town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ "Kaisei climate: Temperature Kaisei & Weather By Month". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ "Kanagawa (Japan): Cities, Towns and Villages in Prefecture - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-10-16.

External links edit