Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Kuki (久喜市, Kuki-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 1,900 persons per km². The total area of the city is 82.41 square km (31.82 sq mi).

Geography Kuki is located in north-eastern Saitama Prefecture, approximately 50 km from downtown Tokyo in the alluvial plains of the Tone River.

Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture • Kazo • Satte • Okegawa • Kōnosu • Hasuda • Shiraoka • Sugito • Miyashiro; Ibaraki Prefecture • Koga • Goka.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kuki has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History During the Sengoku period, the Koga kubō Ashikaga Masauji retired to the temple of Kantō-in, which is located within what is now Kuki. During the Edo period, Kuki Domain (10,000 koku) under the control of the Yonekitsu clan existed from 1684 to 1798. The town of Kuki was created within Minamisaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On July 1, 1954, Kuki merged with the neighboring villages of Ota, Ezura and Kiyoku. Kuki was elevated to city status on October 1, 1971. On March 23, 2010, Kuki absorbed the town of Shōbu (Minamisaitama District), and the towns of Kurihashi and Washimiya (both from Kitakatsushika District).

Government Kuki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 27 members. Kuki contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Saitama 13th district and Saitama 14th districts of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Kuki remains primarily an agricultural area, with rice as the predominant crop. The city has three industrial parks.

Education • Tokyo University of Science has a campus at Kuki. • Kuki has 23 public elementary schools and 11 public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail JR East – Utsunomiya Line (Tōhoku Main Line), • Kuki – Higashi-Washinomiya – Kurihashi; Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Isesaki Line • Kuki – Washinomiya; Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Nikkō Line • Kurihashi – Minami-Kurihashi.

Transport: Road • Ken-Ō Expressway – Shobu Parking Area – Kuki-Shiraoka Junction • Tōhoku Expressway – Kuki-Shiraoka Junction – Kuki Interchange • National Route 4 • National Route 122 • National Route 125.

Local attractions The city is famous as the setting of anime series Lucky Star and The Fruit of Grisaia, bringing thousands of anime tourists to see Washinomiya Shrine each year.