Nagakute (長久手市, Nagakute-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the city had an estimated population of 61,503 in 24,352 households,[1] and a population density of 2,854 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 21.55 square kilometres (8.32 sq mi). Nagakute is a member of the World Health Organization’s Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC).[2]

Nagakute
長久手市
Site of Expo 2005
Site of Expo 2005
Flag of Nagakute
Official seal of Nagakute
Location of Nagakute in Aichi Prefecture
Location of Nagakute in Aichi Prefecture
Nagakute is located in Japan
Nagakute
Nagakute
 
Coordinates: 35°11′2.4″N 137°02′55.3″E / 35.184000°N 137.048694°E / 35.184000; 137.048694
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureAichi
Government
 • MayorYumi Satō
Area
 • Total21.55 km2 (8.32 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total61,503
 • Density2,900/km2 (7,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeMaple
- FlowerSatsuki azalea
Phone number0561-63-1111
Address60-1 Yazako, Shironouchi, Nagakute-shi, Aichi, Japan 480-1196
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography edit

 
Skyline of Nagakute City

Nagakute is located in the Owari Hills of central Aichi Prefecture, at an elevation of 43 to 184 meters, and is bordered by the metropolis of Nagoya to the west. Thirteen rivers flow through the city.

Climate edit

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Nagakute is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1641 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.0 °C.[3]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Nagakute has increased dramatically over the past 50 years. The median age of a population in 2020 was 40.2 years old, the youngest in Japan.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 5,138—    
1950 6,638+29.2%
1960 6,639+0.0%
1970 11,317+70.5%
1980 18,610+64.4%
1990 33,714+81.2%
2000 43,306+28.5%
2010 52,399+21.0%
2020 60,162+14.8%

Neighboring municipalities edit

Aichi Prefecture

History edit

Middle Ages edit

During the Sengoku period, the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute was held in this vicinity.

Early modern period edit

During the Edo period area of modern Nagakute was part of the holdings of Owari Domain.

Late modern period edit

Nagakute Village was established within Aichi District on May 10, 1906, through the merger of the hamlets of Nagakute (different spelling as 長湫村), Kamigō and Yazako.

Contemporary history edit

Nagakute was elevated to town status on April 1, 1971.

Expo 2005 was a major boost to the local economy, and led to the construction of the Linimo, a commercial linear motor train, to connect the area with the Nagoya metropolis.

The Nagakute hostage incident occurred within the town limits in May 2007.

Nagakute was elevated to city status on January 4, 2012.[5]

Government edit

 
Nagakute city hall

Nagakute has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes one member to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 7 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

External relations edit

Twin towns – Sister cities edit

International edit

Sister cities

National edit

Friendship city

Economy edit

Secondary sector of the economy edit

Manufacturing edit

Due to its location, Nagakute's economy is centered around the automobile industry. Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc. is located in the city, as is electrical systems manufacturer Nitto Kogyo. Nagakute is also the head office of the Aichi Rapid Transit Co., Ltd., better known as the operator of the Linimo Maglev High Speed Surface Transport.

Education edit

University edit

 
Aichi Prefectural University campus

Primary education edit

  • Nagakute has six public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

International Schools edit

Transportation edit

 
Linimo
 
Linimo

Railways edit

Conventional lines edit

  Linimo

Buses edit

  • The Meitetsu Bus, which serves Nagakute and the surrounding municipalities, operates the Nagoya depot [ja] within the city limits.
  • Nagakute is also served by the N-Bus [ja], which is a community bus owned by the city of Nagakute and operated by Meitetsu Bus.

Roads edit

Expressways edit

  • The Nagoya Seto Expressway [ja], which is designated as a Regional High-Standard Highway, starts from Nagakute and funnels traffic in to the Tōmei Expressway, which passes through Nagakute has no interchange within city limits. However, the Nagoya Interchange, which serves the Tomei and Mei-Nikan Expressways, is close to city limits.

Local attractions edit

Notable people from Nagakute edit

References edit

  1. ^ Nagakute City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Alliance for Healthy Cities official home page
  3. ^ Nagakute climate data
  4. ^ Nagakute population statistics
  5. ^ "「平成24年1月4日長久手市誕生!」". Nagakute City (in Japanese). December 11, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.

External links edit

  Media related to Nagakute, Aichi at Wikimedia Commons