Handa (半田市, Handa-shi) is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 118,259 in 51,846 households,[1] and a population density of 2,494 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 47.42 square kilometres (18.31 sq mi).
Geography
Handa is located in northeastern Chita Peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, and is bordered by Mikawa Bay to the east.
Climate
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classificationCfa). The average annual temperature in Handa is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1632 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 40.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around negative 4
°C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Handa has increased steadily over the past 70 years.
In the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, the towns of Handa and Kamezaki were founded, as was the town of Narawa the following year.
These three towns merged on October 1, 1937, to form the city of Handa.
Government
Handa 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 Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 8 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Handa has a strong historical connection with soy sauce, sake and vinegar brewing, and remains the worldwide headquarters of the Mizkan Vinegar Group.[6]
Handa has thirteen public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.
^ ab"International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.