Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture (愛知県, Aichi-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [aꜜi.tɕi, ai.tɕi̥ꜜ.keɴ]) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 (as of 1 January 2025) and a geographic area of 5,172.92 square kilometres (1,997.28 sq mi) with a population density of 1,442 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,730/sq mi). Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the north, and Shizuoka Prefecture to the east. Nagoya is the capital and largest city of the prefecture.

Source: Wikipedia

Article

Aichi Prefecture

Overview

Aichi Prefecture

Nagoya is the capital and largest city of Aichi Prefecture, and the fourth-largest city in Japan. Other major cities include Toyota, Okazaki, and Ichinomiya. Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya form the core of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Aichi Prefecture is located on Japan's Pacific Ocean coast and forms part of the Tōkai region, a subregion of the Chūbu region and Kansai region. Aichi Prefecture is home to the Toyota Motor Corporation. Aichi Prefecture had many locations with the Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Chubu Centrair International Airport, and the Legoland Japan Resort.

Geography

Aichi Prefecture

Map of Aichi Prefecture Government Ordinance Designated City City Town Village

Aichi Prefectural Government Office

Satellite photo of Mikawa Bay

Located near the centre of the Japanese main island of Honshu, Aichi Prefecture faces the Ise and Mikawa Bays to the south and borders Shizuoka Prefecture to the east, Nagano Prefecture to the northeast, Gifu Prefecture to the north, and Mie Prefecture to the west. It measures 106 km (66 mi) east to west and 94 km (58 mi) south to north and forms a major portion of the Nōbi Plain. With an area of 5,172.48 square kilometres (1,997.11 sq mi) it accounts for approximately 1.36% of the total surface area of Japan. The highest spot is Chausuyama at 1,415 m (4,642 ft) above sea level.

The western part of the prefecture is dominated by Nagoya, Japan's third largest city, and its suburbs, while the eastern part is less densely populated but still contains several major industrial centres. Due to its robust economy, for the period from October 2005 to October 2006, Aichi was the fastest growing prefecture in terms of population, beating Tokyo, at 7.4% and around with after Saitama Prefecture.

As of 1 April 2012, 23% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Aichi Kōgen, Hida-Kisogawa, Mikawa Wan, and Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Parks along with seven Prefectural Natural Parks.

Cities

Thirty-eight cities are located in Aichi Prefecture.

• Gamagōri • Inuyama • Nagoya • Okazaki • Toyota • Tsushima • Toyohashi

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district:

• Ama District, Kanie • Chita District, Minamichita • Kitashitara District, Toyone • Niwa District, Ōguchi • Nukata District, Kōta

Demographics

Aichi prefecture population pyramid in 2020

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Pop.</th><th>±% p.a.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1890</td><td>1,473,099</td><td>— </td></tr><tr><td>1903</td><td>1,752,042</td><td>+1.34%</td></tr><tr><td>1913</td><td>2,073,224</td><td>+1.70%</td></tr><tr><td>1920</td><td>2,089,762</td><td>+0.11%</td></tr><tr><td>1925</td><td>2,319,494</td><td>+2.11%</td></tr><tr><td>1930</td><td>2,567,413</td><td>+2.05%</td></tr><tr><td>1935</td><td>2,862,701</td><td>+2.20%</td></tr><tr><td>1940</td><td>3,166,592</td><td>+2.04%</td></tr><tr><td>1945</td><td>2,857,851</td><td>−2.03%</td></tr><tr><td>1950</td><td>3,390,585</td><td>+3.48%</td></tr><tr><td>1955</td><td>3,769,209</td><td>+2.14%</td></tr><tr><td>1960</td><td>4,206,313</td><td>+2.22%</td></tr><tr><td>1965</td><td>4,798,653</td><td>+2.67%</td></tr><tr><td>1970</td><td>5,386,163</td><td>+2.34%</td></tr><tr><td>1975</td><td>5,923,569</td><td>+1.92%</td></tr><tr><td>1980</td><td>6,221,638</td><td>+0.99%</td></tr><tr><td>1985</td><td>6,455,172</td><td>+0.74%</td></tr><tr><td>1990</td><td>6,690,603</td><td>+0.72%</td></tr><tr><td>1995</td><td>6,868,336</td><td>+0.53%</td></tr><tr><td>2000</td><td>7,043,300</td><td>+0.50%</td></tr><tr><td>2005</td><td>7,254,704</td><td>+0.59%</td></tr><tr><td>2010</td><td>7,410,719</td><td>+0.43%</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>7,484,094</td><td>+0.20%</td></tr><tr><td>Source: Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications</td></tr></tbody></table>

As of 2001, Aichi Prefecture's population was 50.03% male and 49.97% female. 139,540 residents (nearly 2% of the population) are of foreign nationality.

Population by age (2001)

<table><thead><tr><th>Age</th><th>% population</th><th>% male</th><th>% female</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>0–9</td><td>10.21</td><td>10.45</td><td>9.96</td></tr><tr><td>10–19</td><td>10.75</td><td>11.02</td><td>10.48</td></tr><tr><td>20–29</td><td>15.23</td><td>15.71</td><td>14.75</td></tr><tr><td>30–39</td><td>14.81</td><td>15.31</td><td>14.30</td></tr><tr><td>40–49</td><td>12.21</td><td>12.41</td><td>12.01</td></tr><tr><td>50–59</td><td>15.22</td><td>15.31</td><td>15.12</td></tr><tr><td>60–69</td><td>11.31</td><td>11.22</td><td>11.41</td></tr><tr><td>70–79</td><td>6.76</td><td>6.01</td><td>7.52</td></tr><tr><td>Over 80</td><td>3.12</td><td>2.01</td><td>4.23</td></tr><tr><td>Unknown</td><td>0.38</td><td>0.54</td><td>0.23</td></tr></tbody></table>

History

Aichi Prefecture

Originally, the region was divided into two provinces of Owari and Mikawa. After the Meiji Restoration, Owari and Mikawa were united into a single entity. In 1871, after the abolition of the han system, Owari, with the exception of the Chita Peninsula, was established as Nagoya Prefecture, while Mikawa combined with the Chita Peninsula and formed Nukata Prefecture. Nagoya Prefecture was renamed to Aichi Prefecture in April 1872 and was united with Nukata Prefecture on 27 November of the same year.

The government of Aichi Prefecture is located in the Aichi Prefectural Government Office in Nagoya, which is the old capital of Owari. The Aichi Prefectural Police and its predecessor organisations have been responsible for law enforcement in the prefecture since 1871.

The Expo 2005 World Exposition was held in Seto and Nagakute.

Etymology

In the third volume of the Man'yōshū there is a poem by Takechi Kurohito that reads: "The cry of the crane, calling to Sakurada; it sounds like the tide, draining from Ayuchi flats, hearing the crane cry". Ayuchi is the original form of the name Aichi, and the Fujimae tidal flat is all that remains of the earlier Ayuchi-gata. It is now a protected area.

For a time, an Aichi Station existed on the Kansai Line (at the time the Kansai Railway) between Nagoya and Hatta stations, but its role was overtaken by Sasashima-raibu Station on the Aonami Line and Komeno Station on the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Economy

Aichi Prefecture

Chūkyō Metropolitan Area

Gross domestic product (2018) is the second largest in Japan, the shipment value of manufactured goods (2018) is the first in Japan, annual product sales (2019) is the third largest in Japan, and its agricultural output (2018) is eighth in Japan. Aichi's agriculture industry and commerce are all ranked high in Japan, and the industrial structure is well-balanced.

• Aerospace Industry • Automotive industry • Ceramics Industry • Steel, Alloy steel Industry

Companies headquartered in Aichi include the following.

<table><thead><tr><th>Aichi Steel</th><th>Tōkai</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Aisin Seiki</td><td>Kariya</td></tr><tr><td>Brother Industries, Ltd.</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Central Japan Railway Company</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Denso Corporation</td><td>Kariya</td></tr><tr><td>Eisaku Noro Company</td><td>Ichinomiya</td></tr><tr><td>Kanesue Corporation</td><td>Ichinomiya</td></tr><tr><td>Makita Corporation</td><td>Anjō</td></tr><tr><td>Matsuzakaya</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Mizkan Corporation</td><td>Handa</td></tr><tr><td>Nagoya Railroad</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Nippon Sharyo</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Noritake</td><td>Nagoya</td></tr><tr><td>Okuma Corporation</td><td>Ōguchi</td></tr><tr><td>Sumitomo Riko</td><td>Komaki</td></tr><tr><td>Toyota Motor Corporation</td><td>Toyota</td></tr></tbody></table>

Companies such as Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Motors, Pfizer, Sony, Suzuki, Bodycote, and Volkswagen Group also operate plants or branch offices in Aichi.

International relations

Aichi Prefecture

Expo 2005

Transport

Rail

Nagoya Station and Nagoya Station building

Toyohashi Station and Toyohashi Railroad

Komaki Junction

Nagoya Expressway

Chubu Centrair International Airport, constructed on an artificial island

Nagoya Airfield

Port of Nagoya

Port of Mikawa

JR Central: Tokaido Shinkansen ■Tokaido Line ■Chūō Main Line ■Kansai Line ■Taketoyo Line ■Iida Line Meitetsu: NH Nagoya Line IY Inuyama Line KM Komaki Line TA Centrair Line TA Tokoname Line ST Seto Line TK Toyokawa Line GN Gamagori Line TT Toyota Line KC Chita Line MU MY Mikawa Line TB Bisai Line CH Chikko Line TB Tsushima Line Kintetsu: E Nagoya Line Aonami Line: Nagoya Municipal Subway: Higashiyama Line Meijo Line Tsurumai Line (connecting to Meitetsu Toyota and Inuyama Line) Sakura-dori Line Meiko Line Kamiiida Line (connecting to Meitetsu Komaki Line) Toyohashi Railroad: Aichi Loop Line:

People movers and tramways

• Linimo • Nagoya Guideway Bus • Toyohashi Railroad

Airports

• Chubu Centrair International Airport • Nagoya Airfield

Ports

• Kinuura Port – Handa and Hekinan • Mikawa Port – mainly automobile and car parts export and part of inport base • Nagoya Port – International Container hub and ferry route to Sendai and Tomakomai, Hokkaido

Education

Universities

• Aichi University of Education • Graduate University for Advanced Studies - Okazaki Campus (National Institute for Basic Biology, Japan, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan) • Nagoya Institute of Technology • Nagoya University • Toyohashi University of Technology

• Aichi University of Education • Graduate University for Advanced Studies • Nagoya Institute of Technology • Nagoya University • Toyohashi University of Technology

• Aichi Prefectural University • Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts • Nagoya City University

• Aichi University • Aichi Gakuin University • Chubu University • Chukyo University • Meijo University • Nagoya University of Foreign Studies • Nanzan University • Toyota Technological Institute

Sports

Aichi Prefecture

Nagoya Dome （Nagoya Higashi-ku）

Toyota Stadium （Toyota）

Wing Arena Kariya （Kariya）

Teva Ocean Arena （Nagoya Minato-ku）

Paloma Mizuho Stadium （Nagoya Mizuho-ku）

Baseball

• Chunichi Dragons (Nagoya)

Soccer

• Nagoya Grampus (Nagoya and Toyota)

• FC Maruyasu Okazaki (Okazaki)

• FC Kariya (Kariya)

• NGU Loveledge Nagoya (Nagoya)

Basketball

• Aisin AW Areions Anjo (Anjō) • Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (Nagoya) • SAN-EN NeoPhoenix (Toyohashi and Hamamatsu) • SeaHorses Mikawa (Kariya) • Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya (Nagoya)

Volleyball

• Denso Airybees (Nishio) • JTEKT Stings (Kariya) • Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza (Inazawa) • Toyota Auto Body Queenseis (Kariya)

Rugby

Japan Rugby League One:

• Shuttles Aichi (Kariya) • Toyota Verblitz (Toyota)

Futsal

• Nagoya Oceans (Nagoya)

Football

• Aichi Golden Wings (Nagoya and Toyota) • Kirix Toyota Bull Fighters (Toyota) • Nagoya Cyclones (Nagoya)

• Nagoya Redbacks Australian Football Club (AFL Japan) (Nagoya)

Tourism

Aichi Prefecture

Nagoya Castle

Ōsu Kannon, Naka, Nagoya

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology

SCMaglev and Railway Park

Daiju-ji

Akabane Beach, Tahara

Twin Arch 138 Tower in Kiso River Park, Ichinomiya

Notable sites in Aichi include the Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum in Inuyama, which preserves historic buildings from Japan's Meiji and Taishō periods, including the reconstructed lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright's old Imperial Hotel (which originally stood in Tokyo from 1923 to 1967).

Other popular sites in Aichi include the tour of Toyota car factory in the city by the same name, the monkey park in Inuyama, and the castles in Nagoya, Okazaki, Toyohashi, and Inuyama.

Aichi Prefecture has many wonderful beaches. For example, Himakajima Beach, Shinojima Beach, Akabane Beach and Utsumi Beach.

• Atsuta Shrine • Toyokawa Inari • Inuyama Castle • Kiyosu Castle and Kiyosu Castle Park in Kiyosu • Okazaki Castle • Tokugawa Art Museum • Meiji-mura • Toyota Automobile Museum • Flight of Dreams • Tokoname pottery footpath • Laguna Ten Bosch • Utsumi Beach(Chidorigahama) • Himakajima • Shinojima • Sakushima • Nishiura Onsen • Site of Expo 2005 • Field Mustard, Tahara • Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens • Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium • Chiiwa Gorge • Mount Hōraiji • Obara shikizakura • Chausuyama Plateau • Katahara Onsen(Hydrangea Park) • The ruins of Matsudaira • Sakurabuchi Park • Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya • Kisogawazutsumi • Nomazaki Lighthouse • View of Cape Irago from Irago Ocean Resort • Legoland Japan

Notable people from Aichi

Aichi Prefecture

• F Chopper Koga (Japanese: FチョッパーKOGA, romanized: Efu Choppā Koga), bass player and leader of the rock band Gacharic Spin • Yūki Ishikawa (石川祐希), professional volleyball player, Japan National Team, Power Volley Milano Italy Super Lega • Takahiro Sakurai (born 1974), Japanese actor, narrator and radio personality • Kansuke Yamamoto (1914–1987), avant-garde photographer and poet from Nagoya • Syoh Yoshida (born 1984), Japanese artist • Yuki Yamada (actor) (born 1990), Japanese actor • Yoshiaki Katayama (born 1993), racing driver • Tatsuya Kataoka (born 1975), racing driver • Haruna Ono (musician), lead vocals and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Scandal • Mami Sasazaki (musician), lead guitar and vocalist for the rock band Scandal • Suzuki Ichiro, professional baseball player, member of Japan national baseball team, 2x time World Baseball Classic Champion and National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee • Koji Kondo (born 1961), composer and pianist born in Nagoya who works on video game soundtracks for Nintendo • Kazuchika Okada (born 1987), professional wrestler from Anjō • Akira Toriyama (1955–2024), manga artist and character designer from Kiyosu • Aoi Morikawa (born 1995), actress and model • Sato Keigo (born 1998), singer, member of JO1 • Kimata Syoya (born 2000), singer, member of JO1 • Kimura Masaya (born 1997), singer, dancer, member of INI (Japanese boy group) • Sakurai Miu (born 2002), singer, member of Me:I • Kato Cocoro (born 2000), singer, member of Me:I • Maria Makino, idol singer and member of Morning Musume • Mei Ehara, Japanese singer-songwriter, filmmaker, designer and artist.

Festival and events

Aichi Prefecture

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage:

• Owari Tsushima Tenno Matsuri (Aisai, Tsushima) • Inuyama Festival (Inuyama) • Kamezaki Shiohi Festival (Handa) • Chiryu Festival (Chiryū) • Sunari Festival (Ama District Kanie)

• Owari Tsushima Tennōsai (eve) • Inuyama Festival • Kamezaki Shiohi Festival • Chiryu Festival • Sunari Festival

• Nagoya Festival (Nagoya City) • Tsutsui-chō/Dekimachi Tennō Festival (Nagoya Higashi-ku) • Miya Festival (Gamagōri) • Toyohama Sea bream Festival (Chita District Minamichita Town) • Okkawa Festival (Handa) • Hōnen Matsuri (Komaki) • Omanto festival (Takahama) • Kōnomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Inazawa) • Tezutsu Matsuri (Toyohashi, Toyokawa) • Nagashino festival (Shinshiro) • Mando festival (Kariya) • Isshiki Lantern Festival (Nishio) • Toba Fire Festival (Nishio) • Owari Tsushima Autumn Festival (Tsushima)

• Nagoya Festival • Tsutsui-chō/Dekimachi Tennō Festival • Miya Festival • Toyohama Sea bream Festival • Okkawa Festival • Hōnen Matsuri • Omanto festival • Kōnomiya Hadaka Matsuri • Toyokawa Tezutsu Matsuri • Nagashino festival • Mando festival • Isshiki Lantern Festival • Toba Fire Festival • Owari Tsushima Autumn Festival