Tendō, Yamagata Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tendō (天童市, Tendō-shi) is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The total area of the city is 113.01 square km (43.63 square miles).

Geography

Tendō is located in the east-central portion of the Yamagata Basin, bordered by the Ōu Mountains to the east.

Neighboring municipalities Yamagata Prefecture ◦ Yamagata ◦ Higashine ◦ Sagae ◦ Nakayama ◦ Kahoku.

History During the Edo period, the area of present-day Tendō was part of Tendō Domain, a 20,000 koku feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate controlled by the Oda clan, who ruled from 1831 to 1871.

After the start of the Meiji period, the area organized as Tendō Village under Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture in 1878. It was elevated to town status on April 27, 1892 and became a city on October 1, 1958.

Government Tendō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. The city contributes two members to the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Yamagata District 1 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Tendō is based on seasonal tourism, agriculture and wood products. The city is traditionally known for its production of the wooden pieces (koma) used in Japanese chess (shogi), and games of "human shogi" have been played since 1966. The city also has numerous onsen hot springs within its borders.

Education • Uyō-Gakuen College • Tendō has twelve public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. There is als one private high school.

Transport: Rail East Japan Railway Company - Yamagata Shinkansen • Tendō

East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line • Takatama- Tendō-Minami - Tendō - Midaregawa

Transport: Road • Tōhoku-Chūō Expressway – Tendō Interchange • National Route 13 • National Route 48