Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Anjō (安城市, Anjō-shi) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The total area of the city was 86.05 square km (33.22 sq mi).

Geography Anjō is situated in southern Aichi Prefecture, approximately 30 km (19 mi) from central Nagoya, in the centre of the Okazaki Plain, on the west bank of the Yahagi River. National Route 1 and National Route 23 provide the main east-west access through the city, with Aichi Prefectural Route 48 running between the two.

Neighboring municipalities Aichi Prefecture • Okazaki • Hekinan • Takahama • Kariya • Toyota • Chiryū • Nishio.

History The area of present-day Anjō has been continuously occupied since preshistoric times. Archaeologists have found numerous remains from the Japanese Paleolithic period and burial mounds from the Kofun period.

Ancient history During the Nara period, the area was assigned to ancient Hekikai County, and was divided into several shōen during the Heian period, largely under the control of the Fujiwara clan or the Taira clan.

History: Middle Ages However, in the Kamakura period, parts of the territory came under the control of the Jōdo Shinshū sect, who challenged the secular authority of the various samurai clans, most notably the Matsudaira clan.

During the Sengoku period, numerous fortifications were erected in the area.

Early modern period Tokugawa Ieyasu unified the region and destroyed the power of the Jōdo Shinshū sect in the Battle of Azukizaka (1564). During the Edo period, half of present-day Anjō was controlled by Okazaki Domain and the other half by Kariya Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate with some scattered portions of tenryō territory ruled directly by the shogunate. During this period, the area was noted for its production of cotton and textiles.

Late modern period At the start of the Meiji period, on October 1, 1889, Anjō was one of a collection of villages organized within Hekikai District, Aichi Prefecture by the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on May 1, 1906. The opening of the Meiji Irrigation Canal transformed the area in the 1920s and 1930s into one of the most agriculturally productive regions of the period, sparking the comparison with Denmark, then regarded the most highly advanced agricultural nation in the world. This led to Anjō's moniker of "Japan's Denmark" (日本デンマーク), which remains in the form of Den Park, a Danish theme park, as well as Den Beer, a microbrew available in the park.

Contemporary history Anjō was elevated to city status on May 3, 1952. On April 1, 1967, it annexed the neighboring town of Sakurai.

Government Anjō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 28 members. The city contributes two members to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 13 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Anjō is a regional commercial centre with a mixed economy of manufacturing and agriculture.

Agriculture In addition to rice, wheat, and soybeans, notable agricultural products include figs, Japanese pears, and cucumbers.

Manufacturing Due to its proximity to the various factories of Toyota in neighboring Toyota City, Anjō is host to many factories supplying components into the automobile industry.

Companies headquartered in Anjō • Makita, power tools, founded in Anjō, 1915. • Aisin AW, automotive components • Anden, automotive components • Central Motor Wheel, automotive components • Hekikai Shinkin Bank • Sugi Holdings, pharmaceuticals • Tosho Holdings, real estate.

Education Anjō has 21 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. In addition the prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.

International schools • Escola São Paulo – Brazilian school (Ensinos Fundamental e Médio)

Professional development • Denso Technical Skills Academy.

Tourist attraction National Historic Sites • Honshōji – Buddhist temple that was the site of the Battle of Azukizaka (1564) • Futago Kofun • Himeogawa Kofun

Other historical sites • Anjō Castle – Site of Anjo Castle, built in 1480, destroyed in 1562 • Anjō shrine • Meijigawa Shrine.

Festival • Anjo Tanabata Festival.

Transport: Rail The Tōkaidō Shinkansen stops at Mikawa-Anjō Station, but Anjō Station on the Tōkaidō Main Line and Shin-Anjō Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and Nishio Line serve the commercial centre of the city.

High-speed rail Central Japan Railway Company • Tōkaidō Shinkansen：- Mikawa-Anjō –

Conventional lines Central Japan Railway Company • Tōkaidō Main Line：- Anjō – Mikawa-Anjō –

Meitetsu • Nagoya Main Line：- Shin-Anjō – • Nishio Line：- Shin-Anjō – Kita-Anjō – Minami-Anjō – Hekikai-Furui – Horiuchi-Kōen – Sakurai – Minami-Sakurai –

Transport: Road Expressways • Isewangan Expressway

Japan National Route • National Route 1 • National Route 23.