Hekinan

Hekinan
碧南市
City

Kokonoe Mirin Co., Ltd.

Flag
Seal

Location of Hekinan in Aichi Prefecture
Hekinan

 

Coordinates: 34°53′4.9″N 136°59′36.3″E / 34.884694°N 136.993417°E / 34.884694; 136.993417Coordinates: 34°53′4.9″N 136°59′36.3″E / 34.884694°N 136.993417°E / 34.884694; 136.993417
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Aichi Prefecture
Area
 • Total 37.17 km2 (14.35 sq mi)
Population (May 2015)
 • Total 70,520
 • Density 1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Oak
- Flower Japanese iris
Phone number 0566-41-3311
Address 28 Matsumoto-chō, Hekinan-shi, Aichi-ken 447-8601
Website Official website
Hekinan city center, 1987
Hekinan City Hall

Hekinan (碧南市 Hekinan-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2015, the city had an estimated population of 70,520 including 3,227 foreigners.[1] and a population density of 1900 persons per km². The total area was 37.17 square kilometres (14.35 sq mi).[2]

Geography

Hekinan is located in south-central Aichi Prefecture, and is surrounded by Lake Aburagafuchi, the Yahagi River, Kinuura Bay, and Mikawa Bay. Most of the city area lies on reclaimed ground, with an average elevation of under seven meters above sea level. The majority of people live in the center of the city. Factories, farms, and harbors occupy the coast.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Gamagōri, Aichi is the closet point that measures climate information.

Climate data for Gamagōri, Aichi (1971–2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 9.7
(49.5)		 13.2
(55.8)		 18.5
(65.3)		 22.7
(72.9)		 25.5
(77.9)		 29.2
(84.6)		 30.9
(87.6)		 27.4
(81.3)		 22.2
(72)		 17.1
(62.8)		 11.9
(53.4)		 19.8
(67.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)		 5.5
(41.9)		 8.9
(48)		 14.2
(57.6)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.9
(71.4)		 25.5
(77.9)		 26.9
(80.4)		 23.6
(74.5)		 18.3
(64.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 15.8
(60.4)
Average low °C (°F) 2.0
(35.6)		 1.9
(35.4)		 4.9
(40.8)		 10.1
(50.2)		 14.7
(58.5)		 18.8
(65.8)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.8
(74.8)		 20.7
(69.3)		 14.9
(58.8)		 9.6
(49.3)		 4.5
(40.1)		 12.4
(54.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 47.9
(1.886)		 59.2
(2.331)		 135.9
(5.35)		 149.5
(5.886)		 178.7
(7.035)		 231.5
(9.114)		 175.3
(6.902)		 157.5
(6.201)		 257.2
(10.126)		 127.8
(5.031)		 93.0
(3.661)		 38.9
(1.531)		 1,649.8
(64.953)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 169.3 173.6 192.9 196.4 190.9 137.0 163.9 215.4 150.4 168.3 169.2 183.9 2,110.7
Source: [3]

History

Hekinan was established on April 5, 1948 by the merger of the towns of Ohama, Shinkawa and Tanao, and the village of Asahi.[2] As it is located on the southern (南) part of Hekikai District (碧海郡), the city was named Hekinan (碧南). Hekinan was the tenth city founded in Aichi Prefecture.[2] Since it had harbors and rails, the city developed quickly after Pacific War. On April 1, 1955, one part of the village of Meiji, which is currently called Nishibata, was incorporated into Hekinan. On September 26, 1959, Typhoon Vera also known as the “Isewan Typhoon” heavily damaged the city. On July 14, 1974, Rinkai Kōen Pool or also known as Kinuura Mammoth Pool was opened. Because the city reclaimed the seaside for industrial purposes in 1960's, Hekinan opened this pool for people who complained about losing their beautiful beach. On May 23, 1988, Hekinan Municipal Hospital was opened.[4] In 1993, Hekinan Thermal Generating Station was created by Chubu Electric Power on the reclaimed ground. This provides high tax revenue to the city. On August 17, 2003, since the facility of the Rinkai Kōen Pool became old and the number of the visitors of the pool was reduced, the city shut down the pool. Instead, the city created Hekinan Rinkai Park on the same place.

Politics

Hekinan is one of the wealthiest cities in Japan. Its financial capability index is 1.70.[5] This is because the city has Hekinan Thermal Generating Station, which is one of largest thermal power plants in the world.

City council

The number of representatives is 26. It is considerably high compared with other cities of similar size.

Economy

Cars, metal, tile, and foods are the main industries in the city. In 2006 the number of factories was 463 with 16,778 workers. The value of shipments was 84,356,533 million yen in total in 2006.[6]

Industry

As Hekinan is located in Aichi, Hekinan's main industry is manufacturing automotive parts. In 2010, there were 9,148 people working in this industry, shipping products worth 47,058,959 yen which is more than half of the amount of shipments in the city.[6] Toyota Industries is the biggest company for the industry in the city. There were 1,722 Toyota employees in Hekinan, or about 10% of the total industrial workers in the city in 2010.[7]

One remarkable industry in the city is related to ceramic roofing tiles. Hekinan is one of the cities that produce Sanshu kawara, a well-known regional brand. In Japan, 58 per cent of tiles, which is about 50,000,000 tiles, are Sanshu kawara.[8]

Agriculture

Even though only 4% of the population of Hekinan engage in agriculture, one-quarter of the area is farmland. The main products are carrots, onions, potatoes and figs. Anjo and Hekinan are the largest producer of figs in Japan.[6][9]

Education

High schools

Middle Schools

Elementary schools

International schools

Transportation

Toyota, as the home city of Toyota Motors is well-served by expressways and national highways. However, it is the largest city in Japan which was not served by the Japanese National Railways (JNR), or its successor, JR Central. The closest Shinkansen station is Mikawa-Anjō Station in the city of Anjō, although the limited-stop Nozomi and Hikari services do not stop there.

Railway

Highways

National Route

Prefectural road

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Hekinan is twinned with:

In April, 2005, the Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia visited to Hekinan in order to participate Expo 2005. During the stay, the Vice Prime Minister proposed to have sister cities relationships between Croatian cities. Hekinan sent officials to Pula in 2006. On April 5, 2007, Hekinan invited the Mayor of Pula for 59th anniversary and established the sister city relationship between the two cities.[12]

In order to build Hekinan citizen's international sensibility, the city was looking for a sister city relationship with a city in the Pacific Ocean coast. At the same time, Edmonds considered to have the relationship with one of Japanese cities. Edmonds sent officials to Hekinan in 1986. The two cities start exchanging people for home stay. Two years later, at the ceremony of 40th anniversary of Hekinan, the two cities established the sister-cities relationship.[13]

Events between Hekinan and Edmonds
  • On April 5, 1988, Hekinan and Edmonds established a Sister city relationship.[14]
  • In 1998, the Hekinan city hall hosted the sculpture by Steve Jensen to celebrate 10th anniversary of the relationships.
  • In 2004, Twenty five Hekinan artists, residents, and officials visited Edmonds to dedicate the Friendship Tree on the Edmonds waterfront.
  • In 2008, Mayor Gary Haakenson visited Hekinan with 18 citizens to celebrate 20th anniversary[15]

About 20 people from Hekikaigun moved to Yuni, Mikawa. Since the sounds of the regions were the same, they developed this region very well. This connection made two cities have the sister city relationship at the same date that Edmonds signed the relationship between Hekinan.[16]

Local attractions

Festivals

Various festivals are held throughout the year in Hekinan.

Schedule of Festivals [17]
Name Date Location Details
Cherry Blossom Festival

[note 1]

 From March to April Onin temple, Akashi Park, Nakayamashinmei shrine, Yahagi river There are many events related to cherry blossom at the festival. During the night time, The trees are illuminated except Yahagi river.
Shiki Bishamonten Spring Festival April 3 Myōfuku Temple (妙福寺/志貴毘沙門天) Pray for your and your family's happiness.
Nishiōninji Rennyohi From April 19 to 25 Ōnin Temple Buddhist event. Tea ceremony or some events held.
Spring Rennyo walking April Ōnin Temple "Walk-rally", Haiku contests, etc. are held.
Kōtō Garden Wisteria Festival

[note 2]

 From April to May Kōtō Garden Enjoy Wistaria. There are a tea ceremony, which costs 500 yen including Japanese snack. During the night time, Wistaria is illuminated by paper lanterns.
Shōmyō Temple Tōshōgū Festival May 5 Shōmyō Temple A lot of cultural assets, especially assets that related to Tokugawa, are treasured. Tokugawa Ieyasu's ancestor's graves exist in the temple. Variety of the events are held.
Henjōin Three faces Jikokuten Spring Festival May 5 Henjōin Pay for success in business, etc.
Hekinan Lake Aburagafuchi Oak Festival[note 3] From May to June Lake Aburagafuchi and Ōnin Temple Art contests, Tea ceremony, etc. are held. There are about 3 million of Oak, more than 100 types of Oak are planted. During the night time, Oak is illuminated by paper lanterns.
Saigu shrine Hydrangea Festival Second Sunday of June Saigu shrine Selling Hydrangea, Nagashi Sōmen events are held.
Abacus Festival August 8 (8-8 pronounce like abacus' sound so August 8 is Abacus day) Shōmyō Temple Thank to old abacus.
Lake Aburagafuchi fishing contests[note 4] Second Sunday of September Lake Aburagafuchi Free fishing contest at Lake Aburagafuch
Ōhama Tera Machi "Haiking" (Haiku Festival)[note 5] Third Sunday of October Ōhama Haiku contests. The theme of Haiku is town. Participants walk around Ōhama and make Haiku.
Shiki Bishamonten Fall Festival November 3 Myōfuku Temple (妙福寺/志貴毘沙門天) Pray for your and your family's happiness.
Henjōin Three faces Dikokuten Fall Festival November 11 Henjōin Pay for success in business, etc.

Noted people from Hekinan

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "碧南市市民課－人口－". Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "碧南はこんなまち". Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 蒲郡". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "碧南市民病院改革プラン" (PDF). Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  5. ↑ "平成２０年度市町村決算カード　愛知" (PDF). Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "業種別･事業所数･従業者数･出荷額等の推移". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "主要国内拠点 碧南工場". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "三州瓦の紹介". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "碧南市の農業". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015. "Endereço: 4-53 Tajiri-cho, Hekinan-shi, Aichi-ken 447-0867"
  11. ↑ "Međunarodna suradnja Grada Pule". Grad Pula (in Croatian and Italian). Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  12. ↑ "もっと知りたい！碧南姉妹都市　クロアチア" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  13. ↑ "エドモンズ市（アメリカ合衆国ワシントン州）". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  14. ↑ "City of Edmonds, Washington - Sister City Commission". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "City of Edmonds, Washington - Sister City Commission - History". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "由仁町（北海道夕張郡由仁町）". Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "碧南市観光協会ホームページ". Retrieved 23 July 2010.
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