Suzaka (須坂市, Suzaka-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2019, the city had an estimated population of 50,828 in 19,979 households,[1] and a population density of 334 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 149.6 square kilometres (57.8 sq mi).

Suzaka
須坂市
View of downtown Susaka and Garyu Park
View of downtown Susaka and Garyu Park
Flag of Suzaka
Official seal of Suzaka
Location of Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture
Location of Suzaka in Nagano Prefecture
Suzaka is located in Japan
Suzaka
Suzaka
 
Coordinates: 36°39′4″N 138°18′26.1″E / 36.65111°N 138.307250°E / 36.65111; 138.307250
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
PrefectureNagano
Government
 • MayorMasao Miki (since January 2004)
Area
 • Total149.67 km2 (57.79 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2019)
 • Total50,828
 • Density340/km2 (880/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeCryptomeria japonica
• FlowerRhododendron molle
Phone number0268-62-1111
AddressSuzaka 1528-1, Suzaka-shi, Nagano-ken 382-8511
WebsiteOfficial website
Suzaka city hall

Geography

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Suzaka is located in northern Nagano Prefecture on the alluvial fan where the Matsukawa River joins the Chikuma River.

Surrounding municipalities

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Climate

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The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Suzaka is 10.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1189 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.2 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Suzaka has remained relatively stable over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 34,517—    
1950 43,407+25.8%
1960 43,779+0.9%
1970 45,782+4.6%
1980 52,543+14.8%
1990 53,662+2.1%
2000 54,207+1.0%
2010 52,168−3.8%
2020 49,559−5.0%

History

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Suzaka is located in former Shinano Province and was a castle town for Suzaka Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. In the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reform of April 1,1 1889, the modern town of Suzaka was established. Suzuka annexed the village of Hitaki on December 1, 1936 and the villages of Hino and Toyosu on February 11, 1954. Suzaka was elevated to city status on April 1, 1954. On January 1, 1955, Suzaka annexed the neighbouring villages of Inoue and Takahe, followed by the village of Azuma on April 30, 1971.

Government

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Suzaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.

Economy

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The city was noted in the Meiji period for its silk industry. After World War II, an electronics industry was established. Fujitsu Corporation has a plant in Suzaka.[4] The city is also noted for apples and grapes, and the Prefectural Agricultural Research Station is located in Suzaka.[5]

Education

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Suzaka has eleven public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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Highway

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International relations

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ Suzaka City official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. ^ Suzaka climate data
  3. ^ Suzaka population statistics
  4. ^ Fujitsu official home page
  5. ^ Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 1487. ISBN 406205938X.
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