Asaka 朝霞市 | |
|---|---|
 Asaka City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Asaka in Saitama Prefecture | |
  Asaka | |
| Coordinates:35°47′49.9″N139°35′38″E / 35.797194°N 139.59389°E /35.797194; 139.59389 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Saitama |
| Area | |
• Total | 18.34 km2 (7.08 sq mi) |
| Population (January 1, 2021) | |
• Total | 143,195 |
| • Density | 7,808/km2 (20,220/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Zelkova serrata |
| - Flower | Azalea |
| Phone number | 048-463-1111 |
| Address | 1-1-1 Honcho, Asaka-shi, Saitama-ken 351-8501 |
| Website | Official website |
Asaka (朝霞市,Asaka-shi) is acity located inSaitama Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 January 2021[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 143,195 and apopulation density of 7800 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 18.34 square kilometres (7.08 sq mi).
Located in far southern Saitama Prefecture, Asaka in the center of theMusashino Terrace on the central reaches of theArakawa River, which runs along the city border withSaitama in the northeastern part of the city,
Asaka has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ageo is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1427 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Asaka has grown roughly tenfold since the 1950s.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14,685 | — |
| 1960 | 24,182 | +64.7% |
| 1970 | 67,938 | +180.9% |
| 1980 | 90,088 | +32.6% |
| 1990 | 103,617 | +15.0% |
| 2000 | 119,712 | +15.5% |
| 2010 | 129,691 | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 141,083 | +8.8% |
The area of modern Asaka developed as a series of fourpost stations on the Kawagoe Kaidō highway from theMuromachi period onwards. During theEdo Period, the area was noted as a center for copper crafts. Following theMeiji restoration, the village of Hizaori was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1894 and became part ofKitaadachi District. It was raised to town status on May 1, 1921, and renamed Asaka afterPrince Yasuhiko Asaka who was an honorary chairman of the Tokyo Golf Club, which relocated to the area at that time. On April 1, 1955, Asaka annexed the neighboring village of Uchimagi. At the1964 Summer Olympics in neighboring Tokyo, the town hosted the riding part of themodern pentathlon event at Asaka Nezu Park. Asaka was elevated to city status on March 15, 1967. In 2005, a proposal to merge Asaka with Shiki, Wako, and Niiza to form a new city with a combined population sufficient to qualify forcore city status was defeated in a referendum, largely due to opposition from Wako.
Asaka has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 24 members. Asaka contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofSaitama 4th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Due to its location, Asaka is primarily abedroom community with over 37% of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis for work. The area is also a distribution hub for northern Tokyo.
Asaka has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.Toyo University also has a campus in Asaka.
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