Kasukabe 春日部市 | |
|---|---|
 View of central Kasukabe | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Kasukabe in Saitama Prefecture | |
  Kasukabe | |
| Coordinates:35°58′30.9″N139°45′8.2″E / 35.975250°N 139.752278°E /35.975250; 139.752278 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Saitama |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kazuhiro Iwaya (from November 2021) |
| Area | |
• Total | 66.00 km2 (25.48 sq mi) |
| Population (February 2021) | |
• Total | 233,278 |
| • Density | 3,535/km2 (9,154/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Paulownia tomentosa |
| - Flower | Wisteria |
| - Bird | Black-headed gull |
| Phone number | 048-736-1111 |
| Address | 7-2-1 Chuo, Kasukabe-shi, Saitama-ken 344-8577 |
| Website | Official website |
Kasukabe (春日部市,Kasukabe-shi) is aspecial city located inSaitama Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 February 2021[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 233,278 in 108,328 households and apopulation density of 3,500 inhabitants per square kilometre (9,100/sq mi).[1] The total area of the city is 66.00 square kilometres (25.48 sq mi). Kasukabe is famous for the production ofkiri-tansu (桐箪笥), traditionaltansu dressers made frompaulownia wood. The cultural and economic value of the paulownia is reflected in its designation as the official town tree.
Kasukabe is located in far eastern Saitama Prefecture, divided between theShimosa Plateau and the Omiya Plateau by the Nakagawa lowlands and theEdogawa River. The eastern portion of the city is still rural, with the largest area ofpaddy fields in Saitama.
Kasukabe has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kasukabe is 14.5 °C (58.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,408 millimetres (55.4 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C (79.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C (37.0 °F).[2]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kasukabe peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 50,088 | — |
| 1970 | 103,828 | +107.3% |
| 1980 | 187,913 | +81.0% |
| 1990 | 226,449 | +20.5% |
| 2000 | 240,924 | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 237,171 | −1.6% |
| 2020 | 229,792 | −3.1% |
| Source:[3] | ||
The area of Kasukabe was part of ancientMusashi Province and has been settled since at least theJomon period as evidenced by manyshell middens and ancient burial mounds. During theEdo period, Kasukabe prospered as apost station on theNikkō Kaidō highway linkingEdo withNikkō.
The town of Kasukabe was created withinMinamisaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1944, Kasukabe annexed the neighboring village of Uchimaki. On July 1, 1954, Kasukabe was elevated to city status after annexing the villages of Toyoharu, Takesato, Komatsu and Toyono. On October 1, 2005, old Kasukabe city and the town ofShōwa (fromKitakatsushika District) were merged into the new and expanded city of Kasukabe. Kasukabe was elevated tospecial city status on April 1, 2008, giving it increased local autonomy.
Kasukabe has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 32 members. Kasukabe contributes three members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofSaitama 16th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Kasukabe is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy.
Tōbu Railway -Tobu Skytree Line
Tōbu Railway -Tobu Urban Park Line
Pasadena, California, United States, friendship city since July 3, 1993. Pasadena's Junior Chamber of Commerce does an exchange program each summer, alternating every year with Kasukabe residents going to Pasadena one summer and Pasadena residents coming to Kasukabe the next summer.[4][5]
Fraser Coast Region,Queensland, Australia, friendship city since April 29, 2007[6]Kasukabe is home to what was formerly one of the twoRobinsons department stores in Japan, which became aSeibu department store in March 2013. The large, seven-story American-style store is a landmark for residents. It is located on the east side ofKasukabe Station. This Seibu location later closed down and the building is now the showroom of a high-end furniture retailer.[7]
Close to the west entrance to the station is a shopping mall, known as Lala Garden, housing several chain retail stores, such asUniqlo,Gap,ABC-Mart, as well as a supermarket,100-yen shop, and more. There was also anIto-Yokado on the west side of the station, however it closed down on November 24, 2024.[8]
In March 2013, anAeon mall opened on National Route 16, which shoppers can either reach by car, or by taking a regularly scheduled bus from the east entrance of the station. This mall, as well as Lala Garden, has a movie theatre.
Kasukabe is the setting of themanga andanime seriesLucky Star andCrayon Shin-chan.
Kasukabe City is the primary setting of the popular anime series "Crayon Shin-chan" is set, and it's a real-life town in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Many locations from the anime, like department stores and supermarkets, are based on real places in Kasukabe. The creator of Crayon Shin-chan,Yoshito Usui, also lived in Kasukabe.[9]He was inspired by his own childhood in Kasukabe, and many familiar locations in the show are based on real places. Kasukabe is a popular tourist destination for fans of Crayon Shin-chan, with attractions based on the anime and manga.
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