Kazo, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Kazo is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The city is noted for is known throughout Japan for the creation of koinobori, baseballs, kendo equipment, and Kazo-udon noodles.

Geography Kazo is located in far north-eastern Saitama Prefecture, bordered by Gunma Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefectures along the alluvial plain of the Watarase River and Tone River. The terrain is generally low and flat.

Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture • Gyōda • Kōnosu • Kuki • Hanyū; Gunma Prefecture • Itakura; Tochigi Prefecture • Tochigi; Ibaraki Prefecture • Koga.

History The area of modern Kazo has been settled since prehistoric times and many burial mounds from the Kofun period dot the landscape. The name "Kazo" appears in Nara period documents describing within Musashi Province. During the Edo period, the Buddhist temple of Sogan-ji was a popular pilgrimage destination from Edo.

The town of Kazo was created within Kitasaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On May 3, 1954, Kazo annexed the neighboring town of Fudooka, and the villages of Mitsumata, Raiha, Ōkuwa, Mizufuka, Hirakikawa and Shidai and was elevated to city status.

On March 23, 2010, Kazo absorbed the towns of Kisai, Kitakawabe and Ōtone (all from Kitasaitama District) which was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government Kazo has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Kazo contributes three members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy • The computer graphics tablet manufacturer, Wacom is headquartered in Kazo.

Education • Heisei International University • Kazo has 22 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there are one private middle school and two private high schools. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Tobu Railway - Isesaki Line • Kazo - Hanasaki

Tobu Railway - Nikkō Line • Shin-Koga - Yagyū

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Kazo Interchange • National Route 122 • National Route 125 • National Route 354.