Toyokawa, Aichi

Toyokawa
豊川市
City

New Year day in Toyokawa Inari

Flag

Location of Toyokawa in Aichi Prefecture, highlighted in pink
Toyokawa

 

Coordinates: 34°49′36.4″N 137°22′33.3″E / 34.826778°N 137.375917°E / 34.826778; 137.375917Coordinates: 34°49′36.4″N 137°22′33.3″E / 34.826778°N 137.375917°E / 34.826778; 137.375917
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Aichi Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Minoru Yamawaki
Area
 • Total 161.14 km2 (62.22 sq mi)
Population (May 2015)
 • Total 181,051
 • Density 1,120/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Japanese Black Pine
- Flower Dwarf azalea
Phone number 0533-89-2111
Address 1-1 Suwa-chō, Toyokawa-shi, Aichi-ken 442-0068
Website Official website
Toyokawa City Hall

Toyokawa (豊川市 Toyokawa-shi) is a city located in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2015, the city had an estimated population of 181,051 and a population density of 1120 persons per km². The total area was 161.14 square kilometres (62.22 sq mi). Toyokawa, famous for its Toyokawa Inari temple, is blessed with a good balance of industry, commerce, agriculture and forestry spread over its 160 km² boundary, and is situated in an area rich in history, traditions, and culture.

Geography

Toyokawa is located in an area of rolling hills in southeastern Aichi Prefecture. It has a short coastline with Mikawa Bay.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of modern Toyokawa was settled in prehistoric times. During the Nara period, the kokubunji of Mikawa Province was established in 741. The temple of Toyokawa Inari, a popular pilgrimage destination, dates from 1441. A number of daimyō clans under the Tokugawa shogunate originate in what are now parts of Toyokawa, most notably the Makino clan. The area prospered during the Edo period with two post towns along the Tōkaidō, Goyu-shuku and Akasaka.

After the Meiji Restoration, on October 1, 1889 the area was organized into several villages within Hoi District, Aichi Prefecture, including Toyokawa Village. On March 13, 1893, Toyokawa was promoted to town status. Toyokawa City was founded on June 1, 1943 by the merger of Toyokawa town with neighboring Ushikubo Town and Yawata Village, all from Hoi District.

In 1939 the massive Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was established, one of the largest producers of machine guns, aviation ordnance and ammunition in the Empire of Japan. It was also had sections that produced military-issue katana, bayonets, and glass lenses for use in cameras, binoculars, and similar equipment. During World War II, many thousands of civilians were conscripted or volunteered to work at the Arsenal, and towards the end of the war, included hundreds of middle school students and high school girls. On August 7, 1945 the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was targeted by a flight of B-29 bombers. About 2,500 people were killed during the Toyokawa Air Raid. Toyokawa was one of the last places to be targeted using conventional explosive and incendiary bombs in the closing days of World War II, occurring the day after Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb.[1]

After the war, on April 12, 1955 Toyokawa annexed Mikami village from Yana District. This was followed by the neighboring town of Goyu from Hoi District on April 1, 1959. Toyokawa further expanded on February 1, 2006 by annexing Ichinomiya, On January 15, 2008 the towns of Otowa and Mito became part of Toyokawa, and finally on February 1, 2010 the town of Kozakai likewise was merged into Toyokawa City.

Transportation

Railway

Highways

Expressways

National highways

Local attractions

Military facilities

Notable people from Toyokawa

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ Air War Pacific Chronology: America's Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945 by Eric Hammel, (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Press, 1988, ISBN 0-935553-26-6)
  2. ↑ http://www.city.toyokawa.lg.jp/shisei/kokusaikoryu/shimaitoshi/shimaitoshicupertino.html
  3. ↑ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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